Sug-Ang

S

Pagkawaray la pulos
hini nga sug-ang!
Puthaw, ugaring,
usa nga tuko, baliko
an usa utod, sanglit halipot.
Baga la hit ak kaluluthan
bisan anhon pagbangil,
sige it kinimpang-kimpang.

Diin daw la ini
napurutan ni Zenai?
Dibris man daw
ini ni Yolanda.
Maliwanan ko gihap ini.
Kunta, sunod nga semana.
Di pa man ngani kinahanglan
pumalit hin bugas,
kay, mayda pa man
salin han relip.
Pati tinapa.
Igo-igo gad la
para kanan usa nga semana.
Sus, han ugsa ni Yolanda,
it nga relip, di gud seman-an.
Han una lima, yana,
kami nala nga duha.

Oy, anok na it kan-on.
Sakto, nasidlit na it adlaw.
Naglalarab na it kalangitan.
Di maiha, magmamata na hi Zenai,
mag-aandam pag-iskwela.
Yakan han iya Grade 6 nga maestra
hit Marso traynte na it ira martsa.
Kanugon, di makita
iya kamagurangan.
ngan iya amay.

Anay daw, subhan ko anay
bangin la it kalayo maglarab.
Mauupos it amon tent
upod kanan kaamyawan.
Tipigon ko daw anay,
bangin la lootingon,
kay bisan la nakimpang
nahagamitan pa
ini nga sug-ang.


Wood Stove

This wood stove is useless!
Yes, made of iron
but one leg is crooked.
The other is shorter.
Just like my bones
no matter how it is propped up
it is unbalanced, it sways.

Where did Zenai find this?
She said it is a debris of Yolanda.
I will replace it.
Hopefully, next week.
No need to buy rice,
there are still some relief goods left
including canned sardines.
Enough for a week.
Sus, if it were before Yolanda
those relief goods
would not have lasted a week.
Then, we were five.
Now, there are just two of us.

Oy, the rice is almost cooked.
Just but right, the sun is now rising
The skies are on fire
In a few, Zenai will wake
and prepare for school
Her Grade 6 teacher said
their graduation is on March 30
What a waste,
her elder sibling won’t be there
her father, too.

Wait, I have to put out the fire
or else, the flame might burn the tent
including that of the neighbors.
I will keep this tripod stove
someone might loot it
It may be unbalanced
but it is still of use.

About the author

Jenelyn V. Garcia

Lider ng Katig Writers Network at mahusay na propesor. Aktibo sa mga pampanitikang gawain. Isa sa mga nangungunang manunulat ng kanilang rehiyon.

By Jenelyn V. Garcia