Translation
Because it is lovely to look at the grass,
John Ruskin is often found
outside. It is not enough
to look through his window.
He needs to draw closer. He needs
to be closer. He finds it is also
not enough to hold what can be held.
He cannot own it. Cannot
claim it. He confessed to numerous attempts
to eat it, consume it. Drawing close,
he lies on the lawn and sketches it.
The pencil strokes the image repeatedly
while he eyed the forming likeness
from what is being drawn
to what he is drawing.
Ensure no detail gets left behind
and that that is the closest possible.
.
The Letter-writer
People crowd around her.
It’s not certain if all of them
are not able to read or write.
She listens
to the words begging
to be written.
I have forgiven you
if not,
Forgive me.
Slips it
into an envelope.
Seals it with candle wax.
During vespers, she sets fire
to the letters. Watches them turn to ash.
She has long been doing this.
At times, some are haunted
by fear of the letters not being delivered.
There is nothing they can do.
Sometimes, it is futile.
Smoke is always heaven-bound.
© Nikka Osorio Abeleda
Nikka Osorio Abeleda teaches Philippine literature at De La Salle University-Manila and Ateneo de Manila University. She has been a member of LIRA (Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo), a group of young poets writing in Filipino since 2003. Her poems have been included in anthologies such as Latay sa Isipan: Mga Bagong Tulang Filipino, and Lila: Mga Tula. She has a poetry collection, Ang Nalalabi Rito, published by High Chair in 2012.
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