EKSENA SA DYIP
Aga. Pagkapuno
kag dyip.
Nupay nagrudog kag kalibutansa pagsalida.
Trapik. Pagtungon
it dyip
ay nagsakay kag usang anak sa karsada.
Rali-rali, pakablit-kablit,
gingrut-an it raying pamahir
kag sikihan it kag mga pasahero:
mga siking goma, siking balat, sarisari…
Karamuan ay goma.
Pagkatapos ay
igingbukyar
kag bukog nak payar
sa mga udang rahagto. Naghuhuyat
nak mahuyugan it para sa ida
ay kabaydo nak maisoting limos.
Inggwa it nagpamidong,
inggwa it napaliungliong.
Pero kag karam-an ay nakamuyat yang
sa waya s mayado.
Hastang inggwa't
usang matabang kabade
(kung buko misis ay kabulig)
kag nagkuot it sensilyo
ag sa ank ay igingtao.
Marali rang nakapilhig kag apas
nak waya narugay ay ginghangkab
ray it karsada
pagharurot ray liwat it kag dyip.
"Para!"
siling it kag kabade pagtungor
it kag sasakyan sa usang kanto.
Pagtinrog ay bitbit
kag bitas nak tsinelas.
ag nagpilhig nak nakabaktas.
Translation
by Ish Fabicon
Morning. The
jeepney was packed
Seemed the earth shook
when it started.
Traffic!
When the jeepney
stopped,
Hastefully, in came a street urchin
Poked each passenger
with her fingers
And with a wash cloth
wiped their feet - so many feet
in rubber sandals and leather
....(but most of all, rubber)
Done, the street
smart
Opened her bony palm
Against the faces
of those in the jeepney.
She waited for a just reward
of her efforts.
There were eyes that blinked
Sarcastically; some were sharp
retorts; some shook their heads
But the rest looked away
nonchalantly.
Yet, there
was a fat lady
(probably a matron or a housemaid)
Who shelled a few loose change
and gave to the girl.
Who took it and got off
Hurriedly, getting lost
In the streets once more.
The jeepney
gathered speed.
"Stop."
Said the fat lady.
As the transport
inched towards an intersection.
She stood up, holding
a pair of strapless slippers
And walked
out of the jeep
bare-foot.
