Tag-ulan Na Naman...
Pag nagkapera, magrerenta Ng condo unit. Sa ika-sampung palapag. At kapag umuulan, tatabi Sa bintana. Aasa na sa pagtila'y May aarkong tsambang Bahaghari. O kahit man lang silang Mga naglalakad sa lansangan Ay sisilong sa mga payong Na iba't iba ang kulay. Para masaya.
It’s Rainy Season Again…
If I earn some money, I’ll rent
A condo unit.
On the 10th floor.
And when it rains, I’ll stay
By the window.
I’ll hope for a rare rainbow
To arc in the sky.
Or at least for the people
Walking along the street below
To take shelter under umbrellas
Of different colors.
So it will be happy.
Karlo Sevilla writes from Quezon City, Philippines and authored “Metro Manila Mammal” (Soma Publishing, 2018), a full-length poetry collection, and “You” (Origami Poems Project, 2017), a microchap. Also in 2018, his poem won third place in Tanggol Wika's DALITEXT 2018 poetry contest, and his partial translation into Tagalog of Dylan Thomas’ poem, “And Death Shall Have No Dominion,” won a reader's choice award from Human Rights Online Philippines’ 8th HR Pinduteros Choice Awards. His poems appear in Philippines Graphic, Philippines Free Press, ALPAS Journal, Rambutan Literary, Eastlit, Kitaab, Anak Sastra, and elsewhere. He tweets at @KarloSevilla.