Dancing Are The Shadows

(Poem)

on the screen of my mind

dancing are the shadows

of former comrades

who had all departed long ago

but had left indelible imprints

of rebellious memories

on hills and cliffs

of unyielding struggle

against the exploitative

gluttonous ruling class

lyncean eyes

clenched fists of protest

heaving breasts

of anger and rebellion

feet violently kicking

the shrubby path

of liberating dreams

accusing forefingers

against the conscienceless demigods

of a rotten worm-infested society.

dancing are the shadows

even on the curtain of my eyes

not the pandanggo or rigodon

of the rich and powerful

not the dance of joy

of plunderers of public funds

but performing they are

war dances of valiant struggle

like the buza of russia

or it-tahtib of egypt

or combat hopak of ukraine

or yarkhushta of armenia.

dancing are the shadows

and i will not soundly sleep

till i see thousands

and thousands of flaming torches

in the darkness of my beloved land!