Sunset After the Storm

I watch in awe as you slowly walk to the horizon’s end
Amber and gold flashing; I imagine that is you winking.
I feel the calm of your peace, taste the truth in your promise
I know you’ll be back to hold me tight in your embrace.

You pause a little and wave to me one last time
Before disappearing to give way to the impatient night.
I linger a moment longer, caressing the mist of your scent
Then slowly walk back home for a well-deserved rest.


//Sherma E. Benosa
19 November 2007; 10:35pm

The Pawn

I am the pawn you could have easily sacrificed
An unworthy soldier next to the dashing knight
But you guided me instead, you stayed by my side
Now I am a queen; my King, together we’ll fight!

You and I, we will vanquish our opponent’s might
Their army is strong, but we will give it a good try
Let me go conquer their queen, I will leave your side,
But I’ll come back, my King; I am your loyal ally.


A chess-inspired poem


//Sherma E. Benosa
09 November 2007; 4:15pm

Senses

Listen to the tapping of the falling rain
And you’d hear the beating of my heart
Whispering nothing but your name —
A love so true, a music that won’t stop.

Caress the soft rays of the beaming sun
And you’d feel the warmth of my embrace
Soothing your spirit, clasping your hand —
A balm that takes the worry off your face.

Savor the dampness of the morning breeze
And you’d taste the flavor of my love
As sweet as those saccharine toffees —
A special treat for you from up above.

See Mother Nature’s painting before you
And you’d notice the bareness of my soul
Resilient yet gentle, trusting and true —
A simple abode of things that are humble.

Smell the freshness of the morning dew
And you’d sniff the scent of my bliss
My regrets and worries, they are very few —
A simple life I live, your kiss is all I miss.


//Sherma E. Benosa
09 November 2007; 3:09am

Nalailo Ti Umar-arubayan nga Agsapa

Nalamuyot angin-parbangon ken angep
Nangbalkot nakaturog a tagainep
Nangdalepdep salemsemen a rikna:
Nalailo ti umar-arubayan nga agsapa.

Naragsak samiweng dagiti taraken
Mangpaspasungad aranaar a dumteng
Marikna, yik-ikkisda a sangapada:
Nalailo ti umar-arubayan nga agsapa.

Naisem ti sumirsirip a raya ti init;
In-inut, naparmek agkapsuten a sipnget;
Makikinkinnumusta nalalangto a mula:
Nalailo ti umar-arubayan nga agsapa.

‘Di makaidna agpaspasangbay a rikna
Dagiti mata, sangkataliawda't daya
A sumungadan ti baro a namnama:
Nalailo ti umar-arubayan nga agsapa.


For my "Nalailo nga Agsapa.” Hope you’ll be home soon, Buddy.


//Sherma E. Benosa
28 October 2007; 9:41 pm

A Love Letter for MCP

I sing hymns of hope
At the top of my lungs
And beg the wings
Of the wind to carry
My songs and lay them
Neatly upon your heart;

I ask the eagles to fly
Across the horizons
To bring you my love —
Gentle as the breeze,
Lovely as a dove,
Unending and profound.

I bare the contents
Of my heart to the
Sympathetic moon and
Pray that she would
Show them to you
And you’d know

That as you swim the oceans
To capture my smile;
As you move the mountains
To reach for my hand;
I am trudging winding paths
Towards you, my love!


//Sherma Benosa
06 NOvember 2007; 11:57pm

To My Buddy, My Destiny

[from the Traveller]

I’ll take your hand and I won’t get lost
For the voice in you is the guide I sought.
The travels of longing shall soon be gone
For your smile, Buddy, is my morning sun.

I’ve travelled a long and tortuous path
Of low clouds and their ominous wrath;
The elusive light is now a buried past
For my destiny is the bottom of your heart.

I thank you, Buddy, for guiding my way
Those gentle whispers when I go astray;
The strength I feel every time you pray
And fight for life when the day is grey.

There’ll be no more dark lanes to wander
Nor false stars to get lost and meander;
My treacherous path has now gone asunder
For you built a flowered trail for us together.

Together, we walk this path hand in hand
And follow your torch, never minding a bend;
Should this road become thorny again
Together we'll travel it out; hand in hand.


Clifton Pascua; 12 September 2007

The Traveler

Unpaved, the path’s long and winding
Curves abound and humps are plenty.
The trek’s arduous, the journey’s taxing
And the trail, narrow, rough and thorny.

You walk still, despite that your lane
Present you no refreshing scenery.
And your companion, a searing pain
Of your fruitless search, your misery.

Then finally you learn to listen
You start hearing your heart’s melody.
Then your eyes, you learn to open
The beauty around you, you begin to see.

You notice the compass guiding you
And the northern star lighting your way.
The open arms reaching out to you
Marking your track so you won’t stray.

Things, no longer do they seem bleak
The clouds that hovered above, now part.
The beams of light you used to seek
No longer elusive, now inside your heart.

You walk on; the journey’s not yet ended.
Beckoning, cheering you not to concede
Is destiny, waiting for you up ahead.
You take her hand; her voice you heed.


//Sherma E. Benosa;
11 September 2007; 1:26am

Clifton's 'Chaikus' for Sherma

VF’s CHAIKUS


I FOUND YOU

Looking for real love
in the hollowness of nowhere
among false deities
and of nights of wilderness
void of happiness.

I saw your beauty
radiating above others
floating like lilies
the first warm day of spring
brought me happiness.



HOW MUCH I LOVE THEE

I love you today
Perhaps even yesterday
I love you each day
Tomorrow is a promise
Love is to stay.

Love is all but you
You mean everything to me
You are my strength
You give me inspiration
Everyday, today.



I LOVE YOU BECAUSE

I love you because
Of all other things in life
You understand me
I love you because I find
My Sunset in you.

I love you because
You give so much love to me
I love you because
You give me a place to breath
And you love me too.


//Clifton Pascua

Bukel

Ti bukel nga intukitko
a sinibugak iti lailo,
ayat ti pinangaladko,
dungngo’t pinangtarakenko
simmantak, rimmungbo
ket saanto pulos agpullo.

Kayawakto ti panawen
ikiddayda’t talingenngen
kadagiti rabii ni umbi
wenno tiempo’t saning-i
ket mataginayon ni lailo
iti bukel nga intukitko.

//Clifton Pascua
April 1, 2007

Bukel

Nalamiis ‘ta dakulap
a nangitukit iti bukel.
Ket ni ayat
Nagrusing a nagsantak;
dimmakkel.

Kasla idi laeng kalman
a ti daga kimraang.
‘Di na kayat
ti makali, agsangit
a mamulaan.

Kasla idi laeng rabii
a nalusiaw dagiti bituen.
Mabainda a rummuar
ta ti rimatda
nalidem.

Kasla itay laeng bigat
a kimleb ni apo init.
Masadut a sumingising
ta dagiti rayana
kimriit.

Ngem ita pati puso
a nanglaylay, simmaranta
Kas man la bukel nga intukit
nalamiis a dakulap
iti nadam-eg a daga.


//Sherma E. Benosa
March 29, 2007; 11:20pm

Lugar a Naikari

(arasaasko kenni Sherma iti Lugar a Naikari)

Bay-am nga idiay lugar a naikari ket innakto akilisen
ni dagidagi’n ayat, pudot barukongko’t mangtagiben
ken manglagda kenni Kari tapno inna buangayen
ni namnama ken panagtinnalek ket inna pagrusingen.

Bay-am nga idiay lugar a naikari ket innakto itukit
dagiti bin-i ni namnama, kaduak nga agsibog ni Langit
tapno ti dalanmo ket nalasbang –uray pay addanto pait
bumangonka a sisasantak, dupirem dagiti palso a karit.

Bay-am nga idiay lugar a naikari ket innakto irakurak
timek ni Panagtalek, ayatko kenka innak ipaduyakyak
diakto denggen tanabutob ni umsi wenno ublag dagiti salaksak
ta dagita balikasmo Sherma, iti agnanayon, isunto’t dumngegak.

Bay-am nga idiay lugar a naikari ket ilemmak ti tugot
ti Anghel a kagabayko tapno punasenna dagiti ut-ot
ni pasidumri-ni-ilem ket maandingay rigat ni subbot
tapno maiyaon nagkammayet-dua-a-puso kenni tuok.

Bay-am a sangalek ti pakarso ni panangipateg nga ingget sudi
ken lagaen dagiti tagainep, kinasimbeng ni ayat ti mangtagibi
ket imdengamto ti samiweng ni duayya, ramayko’t nangtibbi
ta ngamin ayatko, sikanto laeng ti kaduak idiay lugar a naikari.

//Clifton Pascua
March 27, 2007

Lugar a Naikari

Awan kaimudingan
Ladingit ni lagip
Nga umay sumallisallin
Mangburibor iti isip
Ta addaka a mangibabaet
Mangipalpalagip
Ayat ken karin-kari
Dua puso a naglantip.

Ni napudno nga ayan-ayat
Adu a tagainep inna linaga
Nga mangitundanto iti dalan
Agturong kenni inanama
Tapno makadanontanto
Nga awan sawsawirna
Iti dayta lugar a nangayed
naikari para kadata.

Idiay, adunto dagiti sulisog
Ngem dakkelto met ni talek
Idiay adunto dagiti ublag
Ngem saantanto ida italtalek
Idiay adunto dagiti rigat ken suot
Ngem pagbinnuligantanto ida a risuten
Idiay adunto’t anay a mangrakrak
Ngem ditanto ida pagballaigien.

Ta idiay nabuslonto met ti ayat
Kasta met ti panagpinnateg.
Idiay aglaplapusananto iti garakgak
Awanto’t adu a sasaibbek.
Idiay nabuslonto ti isem
Awanto’t adu a sangsangit
Ta idiay, duatanto laeng
Ditanto ammo ti agladingit.

Wen Dungngo
Awanto kaimudingan
Ladingit ni lagip
Mabainto nga umay sumallisallin
Mangburibor iti isip
Ta datanto a dua iti agpinnalagip
Ayat ken karin-kari
Dua puso a naglantip.


//Sherma E. Benosa, 5:30am
For my MCP, myTatang
March 24, 2007, 5am; during my final stopover on my trip to NV

Nagulimek Dagiti Billit Tuleng

Naulimek ti angin, kumkumpasanna’t aweng
Ken sagawisiw dagiti billit tuleng
A dangdanggayan met dagiti bulong
Mangliklikmot naiisem a sabsabong
A mangpaypayapay, mangaw-awis kenka
Tapno makipagragsakka kadakuada.

Immisemka, ngem apay a napait
Naibus kadin isemmo a nasam-it
Imbunbunongmo kadagiti papagayam
Inarub-obda kadin a naminpinsan?
Naatianan kadin daydi bubon
Pagsaksakduan isemmo naruay a kas danum?

Idiay laud, aggargarakgak ti init
Mangbuybuya mulmula a masinsinit
‘Di mangikankano kadagiti sangit a maip-ipit
Ken rungaab dagiti mula a naiburang-it
Agpapaarayat, dumawdawat iti asi
Sangkabassit a danum a maiwarsi.

Naikulengka, ngem apagapaman laeng
Ta pagamuan adda nangikut kenka nga aweng
A nangidiktar iti aramidem. Wen, gayyem
Luam nagarubosda, ket dagiti mula nagungarda
Ngem anian, saanmon a nakita nasam-it nga isemda
Ta idin, pagayam, ket naglusdoyka.

Nagulimek metten dagiti billit tuleng.


//Sherma E. Benosa;
March 20, 2007

My Home

It is neither made of steel nor stone
Nor wood nor glass nor iron;
But amidst any misfortune and storm
It stands, magnificent and strong —
Such is my home.

Built not by machine nor by hand
It stands not on a barren land;
On a lofty plane it is nestled deftly
It’s foundation, as hard as anything can be —
Well-built, it must be.

Rooms, it has; and doors and windows, too
All wide open for everyone to pass through;
Walls, I know there is none
And locks, I can’t think of a need for one —
My home welcomes everyone.

Inside, it is warm and soft and cozy
Everyone who visits is hummed a melody;
Its rhythm, not quite out of the ordinary
But its beat, sincere and steady —
In it, I dwell comfortably.

At night, the dweller in my home sleeps peacefully
Of the howling winds, she does not worry;
The wars outside, she is not at all bothered
The good always wins, she is assured —
A secure heart doesn’t easily get injured.


//Sherma E. Benosa
February 26, 2007; 12:37am

Sunset by the Sea

Fiery shades of red
Dazzle across the canvas;
A tint of orange
Lingers in the Painter’s brush;
Hush the vast expanse.

Enchanting music
Of waves coming home to shore
Serenades the Sun
Lulling in the horizon;
Precious peace, she hums!

Breathtaking colors
Gleam in the serene waters;
A few shades of gray
Serve as the tableau’s backdrop;
What a lovely sight!

Two souls sit in awe
Enthralled by the glorious scene
Flashing above them
The masterpiece, the treasure
Of the Master’s hand.

Two hearts deeply touched
Go warm and supple and lithe
Turn to each other
Talking of love and prom’ses;
A soft vow is made

As gleaming silh’ette
Gracefully makes her entrance;
And li’l sparklers
Disperse themselves far and wide;
Night has fin’lly come.



Sherma Benosa
4/11/2007 11:36:43 PM

Sika Amang

Natibkerka nga inkam’ nagsadagan
Iti naunday a panawen sika’t kamang
Adigi a nalinteg, naanus a nangiwanwan
Sarikedkedmi, sika laeng Amang.

Sika daydi bukel nagdisso nadam-eg a daga
A rimmusing, nagagawa ket rimmangpaya
Sika ti puon dagiti amin a nagtagisanga
Nga apon dagiti tumatayab, agawidda kenka.

Sika ti urat pagtalaytayan naruay a taraon
Maibisibis kadagiti sanga ken kadagiti bulong
Sika ti sappupo dagiti bunga ken sabong
Nabsogda’t pammagbaga, ta sikat’ salinong.

Palubusannak nga agkurno kenka, Amang
‘Toy bungat’ saringitmo, itandudona dayta nagan
Iti agnanayon sika ti innak pagtamedan
Tibker pammatim, isu’t innak pagtaklinan.


//Sherma E. Benosa; April 12, 2007; 11:07pm
For myAmang, Roman Bona Benosa
on his 88th birthday, March 28, 2007