Poems by Mesándel Virtusio Arguelles, translated by Kristine Ong Muslim

Reptile

He had been visited
by countless frogs
and snakes were nesting
in his room.
Although he was always trapped
between trepidation and awe,
he relished each encounter
as forewarning,
as ultimate realization
of his potential.
One night, he snatched
a rat from his chest
and grinned as he tore it open
with his teeth.

Reptilya

Dinalaw siya
ng sanlaksang palaka
at may mga ahas na nakiidlip
sa kanyang silid.
Bagama’t laging sumasagila
ang kaba’t pagkamangha,
inaangkin niyang bawat gayong engkuwentro’y
isang antimanong pagtiyak,
pagtiyap sa kaganapan
ng sariling kamandag.
Isang gabi, dinukot niya
ang daga sa dibdib
at nakangising binistay
sa pagitan ng kanyang mga ngipin.

Among the Ruins

I wish we’re still farther away
from tonight’s destination.
Now that we can almost count
our every step.
We sit among the shadows
of the trees in the grassland.
Old melancholy
waits for us
at the edge of our imagined world.
I wish we’re still farther away from our destination
even if we travel while grounded
by exhaustion. We must never
fear ending up among the ruins.

Sa Mga Guho

Sana’y malayo pa
ang ating patutunguhan ngayong gabi.
Ngayong halos nabibilang
ang ating mga hakbang.
Nakiupo tayo sa mga anino
ng mga puno sa damuhan.
May lumang lumbay
na nakaabang sa atin
sa dulo ng mithing daigdig.
Sana’y malayo pa ang ating patutunguhan
maglakbay man tayong nagsasalikop
ang pagod. Hindi tayo kailanman
matatakot humantong sa mga guho.

Comrade

Here, on opposite
sides of the station,
we are separated from each other
by separate
and adjacent railways.
One leads to that direction.
The other leads here.
Between us, who goes
where? To what end?
Deviating from, alternating:
our paths,
something I do not
want to believe. True,
we have met once.
But that was only because
you came back for me
after setting out for
a long trip.
Now you are ready
to travel again;
as for me, I fervently
wait. Breaking away,
comrade, is just another way
to reunite.

Kasama

Dito sa magkabilang
panig ng estasyon,
pinaghiwalay tayo
ng magkahiwalay
at magkasikbay na riles.
Isang patungo roon.
Isang patungo rito.
Sino sa atin ang patungo
saan? Saang hangganan?
Masasabing lihis, salisi,
ang ating landas,
subalit ayokong ganap
na maniwala. Tama,
nagkasalubong tayo.
Subalit yun ay dahil
binalikan mo ako
matapos maihanda
ang malayo-layong kilometro.
Ngayon ay handa
ka nang muling maglakbay;
ako naman ay talagang
naghihintay. Ang paghihiwalay,
kasama, ay paraan
lamang ng pagtatagpo.

Postscript

I don’t remember anything. I am talking to him. When there’s something that needs to be said. But not once have we actually talked. As fast as the wind blows, I step closer to him. To myself.

Postscript

Wala akong matandaan. Kinakausap ko siya. Kapag may kailangang sabihin. Pero hindi kami nagkausap kahit minsan. Simbilis ng hangin akong humakbang palapit sa kanya. Sa sarili.