Poem/Tula: "Ang Hugis Nitong Umaga"

by ZOS!MO

In honor of National Poetry Month (April), we are proud to share this Tagalog poem by Zosimo Quibilan, Jr. He also wrote the accompanying English translation.

Ang Hugis Nitong Umaga

by Zosimo Quibilan, Jr.

Hindi nalalayo sa piniritong itlog
Ang hugis nitong umaga. Nagiging tiyak ang mga kulay
Sa itim na kawali – mala-uhog puti,
Nahihinog na plemang dilaw. Nangilo ako
Sa paggayat mo ng pipino sa porselanang plato.
Masinsin nating kinayas, winisikan ng paombong
Ang bumbong na sinahogan ng giniling na baboy, salitre,
Bawang. Pawang ang pinakuluang kapeng bigas ang papawi
Sa asim ng panahon. Sa asing simpino ng ambon,
Hihilamusan ang sinangag, gatla-gatlang kamatis
Papantayan ang anumang tapang at anta
Ng nilamukos na itlog na pula, nilupak
Sa matigas-tigas na kaning pilit na bumabalik
Sa pagkabigas matapos mabigkas ang mga unang
Pasasalamat at pangarap sa pagitan
Ng paghigop, pagnguya, pagsinghap.

Kanina ka pa nagpasyang maggisa,
At marami sanang naisalang kung di lang
Naging mailap ang pihitan ng gas,
Kung di ka lang napuwing sa mga tahip,
Kung tuyo lang sana ang kusot
At pinanggatong ang palo-palo
Sa halip na pinampitpit
Ng paminta, pinampukpok
Sa lamog na lamog na kalamnan
Para sa isa na namang araw
Ng paghahanap ng hanapbuhay
Na mas malimit pang makita
Habang dilat ang mga mata,
Kapag mulat ang akong humihinga.

---

The Shape of This Morning

It’s not much different from a fried egg
The shape of this morning. The colors turn resolute
On a well-seasoned pan – gooey white,
Yellow, ripening like phlegm. My teeth twinge
As you slice cucumbers thinly on a porcelain plate
We mince with utmost care, drizzle with paombong
A sausage stuffed with ground pork, saltpeter,
Garlic. Only stepped rice coffee can temper
This season’s sourness. With salt as delicate as rain
Sprinkling over sinangag, wedges of tomatoes.
Matching any sharp flavor or rancidness
From scooped salted egg, mashed
on rice returning to uncookedness
And speech after expressing the firsts
of gratitudes and wishes in between
Sips, chewing, and gasps.

You decided earlier to sautee
And could have cooked more if only
The gas tank’s valve is not slippery,
If you only didn’t get rice husks in your eyes,
If only the sawdust kindling was dry
And the laundry beater was used only as fuel
Not pestle to black pepper, not paddle
On bodies as if severely beaten
For another day
Of looking for work
That’s easier to find
While my eyes are wide open
When I breathe wide awake.

About the Author and the Poem:

ZOS!MO is an award-winning fictionist, musician, and playwright based in Los Angeles. He is the Founder of No Sisig, No Rakenrol, a new creative collective for original Filipino American rock music.

According to Z, “My book is called “Ang Tanging Natagpuan.” It’s divided into 3 sections and "Ang Hugis ng Umaga" is under the section called “Sa Tamang Kanto Na Ako Papara” which includes poems about being a commuter in Manila. It’s an ode to breakfast and yes, looking for work.”

Click here to watch ZOS!MO’s entry to NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest.