nameabledays Archive One

National Artist Bienvenido Lumber


“MGA KULAY NG LUMBAY”
by Bienvenido Lumbera

The Colors of Sadness
Translation
by Marne L. Kilates


Himala

Dumadaluyong ang mga salita
Inaanod ako sa daloy ng wika.
May isinasampa sa pampang ng dila,
Lunday na may lulang babasaging tula.

Laot ng hiwaga‘y tila walang hanggan,
Karatig ng langit ang tubig na bughaw.
Sa aking ulunan, halos abot-kamay
Ang sutlang bandila ng isang balangaw.

Subalit, ay, aba, ang kristal na tula,
Tulad ng balangaw, kaydaling mawala.
Malikmata yatang sindupok ng bula,
Kasisilay lamang, mamaya’y gunita.

Halina, hiwaga ng mga salita,
Nais kong malunod sa inyong himala!


Magic

Words are the surge of a tide,
In its swift current I am adrift.
It washes on the shore of the tongue
A dugout bearing a fragile poem.

This sea of mystery is without end:
Blue of water touches blue of sky.
Above I can reach for the rainbow,
A banner fluttering its silken hem.

But, oh, behold the fragile poem,
Like the rainbow how soon it is gone.
Flimsy as froth, it vanishes in a blink,
A memory no sooner than the glimpse.

Come, mystery and magic of words,
Drown me in your wonder.


Ang Lumbay

Ang kinakatha ko ay mumunting awit,
Awit na matimyas, tigib ng pag-ibig.
Taong umibig pag kimi at umid,
Aking binibigyan ng pusok at tinig.

Minsan may salitang inaanyayahan
Upang makabuo ng tulang mainam,
Mula sa malayo sa kung saan-saan,
Papagpasok sa tula’y may dalang ligamgam.

Dinadalisay ko ang bawat salita,
At hinuhugasan ang dilang dalita.
Ang ungol at daing ay sinasawata
At binubura ko ang bakas ng luha.

Subalit ang lumbay ay di-maitaboy,
Lalayo-lalapit na mumunting alon.
Sa pampang ng puso’y aahon-lulusong,
Ngayo’y bumubulong, mamaya’y daluyong.


Sadness

Sweet little songs I make,
Tunes so pure and full of love.
When lovers are timid and mute,
I give them voice, I make them bold.

Once I bid a word to come
And help me put together a poem.
From far and near, from wherever,
The word brought the poem warmth.

Each word I painstakingly refine,
And I wash the impoverished tongue.
I soothe and salve the cry of pain,
I banish any trace of tears.

But sadness I cannot send away—
Its little waves lap and leave,
Lap and leave the shore of the heart,
This moment a whisper, next a storm.

September 4-19, 2006