Magnanakaw/ Thief

A 1962 Painting by Ben Alano

Tulad ng nasusulat, dumarating
siyang ni walang pasabi
kung kailan sinlalim ng gabi
ang ating kawalan
ng pag-intindi.
Dilim siyang nakapaglalagos
sa lahat ng ating pasadyang
pag-iingat, nakapaghahalungkat
sa bawat lingid na silid o sulok
ng ating mga lugod at pag-iimbot.
Ginigising tayo ng alinsangang
dulot ng kaniyang pangahas
na hininga ngunit dagling
naglalaho siya sa pagmulat
ng ating pangamba.
Napapabalikwas ang ating
takot, at kahit bantulot,
hinahagilap natin ang ikinubling
tapang, iniuumang saanman
may hinalang kumaluskos.
Ngunit tulad ng dapat
asahan, tanging tagumpay niya
ang ating nasusumpungan
sa pinto o bintanang
kaniyang dinestrungka.
Malaking puwang sa ating
loob ang iniiwang bakas
ng kaniyang pagdalaw sapagkat
tinatangay niya pati ang liwanag
sa palad nating binutas ng bagabag.

Like what’s written, he comes

without warning

when, deep as the night,

we simply lose

our guard.

He is the darkness

barging, no matter how

cautious we are,

shuffling through

every secret nook and shelter

of our joys and loathing.

We’re startled where his warm

breath dares,

but quickly he darts

off even as our trembling

stirs, its eyes wide open.

Our terror comes

alive and quite fickle,

we fumble for the secret courage,

pointing it at every place

where conspiring noises stir.

But expect it,

to meet his victory, at last,

on the door or window

through which he has broken.

A gaping void he

leaves within

when he comes visiting,

taking even the torch

that slips off our palm,

all shot through with fear.

(Translation by D. M. Reyes)

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