By Raymund B. Villanueva

TA ZIGEBEBANNAG NGA KAVULU

Para kani Rita “Tarits’ Baua

Nu tiyempu na aggaradu ta komang

Nu aranni ngana mas-si y kapayakang

Y danung malimakang, kaddo masipakang

Mala ta gukag na abayaw y negalu tu nuang.

Namegafu ta aggig sittam nga kusetseru

Napakaga ta malapo tu davvun y aradu

Nage na nabaling y aggaw na Yafu

Nagalla-gallakang ngana y anteru fugu.

Sangau, ta nappange tu umma

Magite-takki ittam nga lumakag dua

Ta davvun y vukal itetaga ta

Innam mu, mattatalovu nepagi-mula.

Angngarigang tu ariam mu meyennag gapa

Kannammuam-mu, maddarawa ngana

Umara-ranni aggaw, affu-fusi na vunga

Mapannu-pannu sangau yore y kareta.

-6 Eneru 2022
1:49 n.f.
Syudad nak-Quezon

FOR A COMRADE GONE TO REST

For Rita “Tarits” Baua

When the fields cry out to be plowed

The ponds from the rains are drying out

What water remains is drained, the grass is cut

And the carabao is fetched from where it’s tethered.

We start often from the edges

Our plows biting into softened soil

Just like that, before the day is through

What once was flat is now furrowed.

The new morn that on us shall dawn

Will then welcome our unshod feet

Gently covering kernels we drop

That soon shall see tender leaves sprouting.

In the chance you no longer can wait

We are certain of their flowering, fruiting

As are the days for gathering

And the carts will groan with our bountiful harvest.

-Translated 7 February 2022
8:49 AM
Calatagan, Batangas

PARA ITI KADUA A NAPANEN NAGINANA*

For Rita “Tarits” Baua

(An Ilokano translation)

No agsaning-in dagiti kelleng a maarado

Dagiti piskiria a nadanuman maatianan

Ania man danum a nabati, dagiti ruot maparaspas

Ti nuang maala manipud nakaigalutanna.

Rugian kadagiti sidsidiran

Tangbaw bukwalenna dagiti naruka a daga

Kasta latta, sakbay a malpas ti aldaw

Dati a natanap itan naaradon.

Agbukarton ti maysa a parbangon

Mangsarabo kadagiti lamulamo a dapan

Abbungan bukbukel a matmatnag

A di agpaut pagrusingan adu a bulong.

No bilang ta dikan makapaguray

Siguradokami iti panagsabongda, panagbunga

Kas kadagiti aldaw a panagburas

Dagiti karison agarasaas kinabaknang ti ani.

–Honor Blanco Cabie,
2105-2112; Feb 9, 2022, Metro Manila, Wednesday.