ENCHANTING DEATH 5
(for Maningning Miclat)

Can not dispel as
playing with my thoughts
your final moments
before you left the security
of the firm ledge
plunging to your physical
demise, as your mortal
being fragment and pulverize
in re-entry

you may be gone but
still a waft of your emotional scent
permeate and continue to haunt
us who see your deaath as
a statement of breaking free
like a butterfly from
its chrysalis, or is it?
as paint with words giving
glory to your exit as we shudder …

MIGRANTENG MANGGAGAWA

sa bakit umaalis at nililisan
ang bansang kinamulatan
iwan ang irog at kasintahan
at pananahimik ng kinagisnang duyan

isinusuko ang kalayaan at respeto
mga bansang ating lahi ay inaabuso
dangal at puri'y isinusuko
iglesya ng pagpagkatao'y nagsusumamo

sa yaman tayo ay wala
nililisan ang irog, umaasa sa himala
kasaganaang lungkot din ang kalakip at dala
sinasampay ang diwa sa kawang-gawa

babalik din tayo sa lupang iniwan
manggagawang Pilipino na hanap ay kasaganaan
babalik at babalik bago bawiin ng kamatayan
ating isipan at kalahata'y nawa'y silayan

Read more of Mr. Agudana's poems at http://home.talkcity.com/easelst/rofr/index.html.