Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Tag: May 13, 2013

Metal music put into canvas

CONTEMPORARY artist Costantino Zicarelli pays tribute to rock music in his latest exhibit, As White As Moonlight, As White As Bone, As Dark As the Snake, As Dark As the Throne, which features “bits and pieces” of artistically arranged paintings and installations, evoking the ambiance of rock concerts. The exhibit is running at the Silverlens Gallery in Makati City up to June 1.

“Burned Out (broken structure)” serves as the centerpiece of the exhibit. Made of burned wood placed over a mirror, the piece recalls the practice of setting up bonfires during rock concerts.

Behind the artwork hangs “Burned Out (broken ritual),” three graphite-on-paper paintings of bonfires which complement the centerpiece.

Feeding the little children

IN THE middle of the clinic, a machine filled with colorful balls stood. Juan looked at them from a distance, hungrily, his mouth watered as he imagined eating them all. He ran towards it, panting in the process due to his protruding belly. Immediately, he dug his hand deep into his pocket and frantically searched for coins. He smiled in relief as he felt the metal chips from the confines of his pocket.

“Juan, the doctor’s now available!” his mother called.

Juan looked at his mother and pouted, giving emphasis to his fat cheeks.

He knew he was going to be checked by the physician and get lectured about his weight again.

The song of Odile

As graceful as the moonshine glows,

rare and dark as ebony rose,

this feathered fowl discreetly hides,

a secret deep in her insides.

For on her head was once her crown

and dreams before she let them drown,

she took this cloak, a sly disguise

to hide from her enemy’s eyes.

“Now who could ever love a swan?”

she asked, and she discovered one—

a strapping lad, about nineteen,

whose heart was good and soul pristine.

She knew that he would be the one

to break the curse, turn it undone,

and if she played her cards just right

she might just steal him off tonight.

For this one swan whose heart was black

Baby tooth

A place where you once resided

is now a tiny, gaping hole.

Since you left,

your absence has caused so much discomfort.

An impulsive sting in my head,

a twinge in my jaw,

and a disarray on my demeanor, that

not even the flesh and bone

you held on to,

can possibly endure.

Since you left,

I lost the will to eat.

Not even my favorite food

made it down

my throat.

But isn’t it ironic?

That even in your absence,

sooner or later, someone tougher,

and permanent would fill

the tiny, gaping hole you once left.

3 Thomasians take their place in world of letters

THREE Thomasian writers were introduced to the literary community via the Philippine Center of International PEN (Poets & Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists), the well-known writers group founded by National Artist F. Sionil Jose and chaired by National Artist Bienivenido Lumbera, both Thomasians, through the regular PEN book club discussion at Solidaridad Bookshop in Ermita, Manila last April 27.

Launched—and discussed—were Augusto Antonio Aguila’s The Heart of Need and Other Stories, Ralph Semino Galan’s Discernments, and John Jack Wigley’s Falling into the Manhole: A Memoir. The books are published by the UST Publishing House.

Book casts critically ‘discerning’ eye on literature

DISCERNMENT: noun \di-?s?rn-m?nt, -?z?rn-\; according to Merriam-Webster, the quality of grasping something obscure.

In his latest book, Discernments (UST, 2013), poet and critic Ralph Semino Galan shares through his essays his extensive insights on poetry, literature and culture.

Every section of the book aims to simplify the troublesome topics of literature and her meanderings.

The essays that stand out are analyses of the love poems of Edith Tiempo and Ophelia Alcantara-Dimalanta.

Supernovae

What does it matter if we flash and fade

If in one moment—however brief—we outshine

The sun and all the stars, if for a few seconds

We reduce the sun into nothing but a chunk of ice

And turn the stars into blind men’s light?

The imminence of ending serves to fuel fire;

A slow, weak burn only teases the spirit

But a flaming burst and its blinding flare is a wonder,

Is mythic, is remembered for that perfect moment

When it illuminates all corners of the universe

And mocks the darkness

Of what we are content to call light.

True, the heavens will outlive us both,

But in that moment, we are the heavens.

Posters ni mayor

ALAS-SAIS.

Oras na para magpahinga; oras na para maglatag.

Simula nang mawalay ako kay Inay, ito ang oras na palagi kong inaabangan dahil ito ang nag-iisang pagkakataon kung kailan may pag-asa kaming magkasama… sa panaginip.

Ramdam ng likod ko ang mainit na singaw ng semento sa likod ng barangay hall. Pakiramdam ko’y katas ng basurang nakatambak sa malapit na basketball court ang pawis ko. Ang alinsangan, buti na lang mayroon akong pamaypay.

Sana may telebisyon ako para mapanood ko ang cartoons na nakaguhit sa dyip. Sana rin, may cellphone ako para ma-text ‘yung crush kong nakatira sa subdivision na kinakalapan ko ng bakal at bote.

Hinagpis ni Maria

SABAY tayong nangarap sa ilalim ng araw at ng buwan—ang ating kamusmusan,

Sabay tayong naligaw, nagkatagpo, sumuko’t muling naligaw.

Sabay tayong humakbang, naglakad, tumakbo’t lumundag.

Kulang na lang, pumagaspas nang marating na ang mga pangarap.

Sabay tayong nagdasal sa Ama, sa Anak, at sa Espiritu Santo,

Humingi ng gabay… ‘di ko inasahang sa Kaniya mo itutuloy ang paglalakbay.

Sa bawat taon na lumisan ang pagkabata, gumuhit ang pagnanais lumaya,

Tumanda ang isip at dumunong ang puso… ang bukas lamang ang nanatiling bubot.

Ikaw ang pumuno sa dapat punan, ikaw ang lumiban sa bawat puwang.

Sabay tayong nasaktan, pumiglas, lumuha at naiwanan ng tadhana,

Uwian

IPINAGPALIBAN muna niya

Ang pagsipat sa pagtatalik ng silahis sa dilim

Bago mag-ala singko

Kailangang marating ang España

Kundi baka walang masakyang FX

Baka abutin pa ng hatinggabi kahihintay

Nakipagbunuan sa mga estudyante sa Morayta

Pinasok ang lagusan papuntang Quiapo

Bumalik na lang muli sa España

Saka nakakita ng FX na may bakante

Hinawi niya ang unang dapat sasakay

Nang nakaupo na’t napadungaw sa bintana

Naakit siya sa alindog ng dagitab

Naibunyag ang ikinukubling kariktan ng Maynila.

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