On The Shore Of Consciousness
(Poem)
on the shore of consciousness
am waiting for the tsunami
of hatred of the dispossessed
on the high seas of awakening
surging and rumbling
the waves of tears and blood
of the “wretched of the earth”
will it be a storm surge
bashing the wall of greediness
drowning the scribes and pharisees
the rulers and demigods
of a society trampling upon
our sacred dignity and rights?
will the deluge of change
demolish to ground zero
the deceiving temples
and oppressive palaces
of the exploitative class?
on the shore of consciousness
revolting is the naked picture
of extreme poverty and grief
grieving hopeless souls they are
prostrate inside miserable “condo”
under the bridge of despair
living with insects and rats
under an unjust loony system
daily smelling the pungent canals
on the city’s shoulders and arms
daily eating “pagpag”
from worm-infested trash cans
faceless-nameless shadows they are
holding vigil in the darkness of night
in some haciendas and factories
unrelentlessly enslaving them.
yes, on the shore of consciousness
am not bored, am not impatient
waiting for the tsunami
of hatred of the dispossessed
sooner exploding bombs it will be
on the table of ruthless power
and detestable extravagance
while heartless big thieves
even steal the lonely coins
inside the pockets of the poor
and the god of mammon
joyfully smells the fragrance
of their hugo boss, miyaki
bulgari and pierre cardin
yes, a limit there is
and everything will soon end
when the tsunami of hatred
of the dispossessed
unmercilessly surge to smash
the wall of injustice and greed
deluge of radical change it will be
and the tsunami of hatred
of the dispossessed
will drown and pulverize, at last,
the rotten worm-infested
unjust exploitative society!
(My English version of SA PASIGAN NG KAMALAYAN. “Condo” is an improvised miserable dwelling of those forced to live under some city’s bridges of Metro Manila. “Pagpag” is left-over food inside trash bins being picked-up by scavengers to be cooked again so they can appease their hunger. Hugo Boss, Miyaki, Bulgari and Pierre Cardin are expensive perfumes of the rich.)
