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What is poetry? According to William Wordsworth that poetry is "the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings. Poetry is an art that utilizes metaphorical imagery and figurative language to express feelings or spread a message to readers ina deeper way. In Philippine history, poetry is not just a standard way of artistic writing. Filipino poets use poetry to express their desire for societal changes, love for one's motherland, and devotion for unfulfilled dreams. As such, poetry serves as literary works that brought massive influence to Filipino culture and help in shaping out lives today. Join with me and let us explore the best poets in our history.

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Hands down! The greatest Filipino poet of all time. The William Shakespeare of Philippines and "Ang Prinsipe ng Makatang Tagalog" preserve the Filipino language and create the living Tagalog Dictionary through his work Florante at Laura which consists of 427 stanzas and 1,708 lines effectively preserving more than 10,000 tagalog words from the 18th Century. He wrote in metered Tagalog poetic style of Awit and Korido through his native tongue— Tagalog (which eventually became Filipino – the official and national language of the independent Philippnes) during the time wherein the Philippines was still a colony of Spain.

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Kay Selya

Kung pagsaulan kong basahin sa isip

ang nangakaraang araw ng pag-ibig,

may mahahagilap kayang natititik

liban na kay Selyang namugad sa dibdib?

Yaong Selyang laging pinanganganiban,

baka makalimot sa pag-iibigan;

ang ikinalubog niring kapalaran

sa lubhang malalim na karalitaan.

Makaligtaan ko kayang ‘di basahin,

nagdaang panahon ng suyuan namin?

kaniyang pagsintang ginugol sa akin

at pinuhunan kong pagod at hilahil?

Lumipas ang araw na lubhang matamis

at walang natira kundi ang pag-ibig,

tapat na pagsuyong lalagi sa dibdib

hanggang sa libingan bangkay ko’y maidlip.

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José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda[7] (Spanish: [xoˈse riˈsal, -ˈθal], Tagalog: [hoˈse ɾiˈsal]; June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896) was a Filipino nationalist, writer and polymath active at the end of the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines. He is considered a national hero (pambansang bayani) of the Philippines.[8][9] An ophthalmologist by profession, Rizal became a writer and a key member of the Filipino Propaganda Movement, which advocated political reforms for the colony under Spain.

He was executed by the Spanish colonial government for the crime of rebellion after the Philippine Revolution broke out; it was inspired by his writings. Though he was not actively involved in its planning or conduct, he ultimately approved of its goals which eventually resulted in Philippine independence.

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Sa Aking Mga Kabata

Kapagka ang baya’y sadyang umiibig

Sa kanyang salitang kaloob ng langit,

Sanlang kalayaan nasa ring masapit

Katulad ng ibong nasa himpapawid.

Pagka’t ang salita’y isang kahatulan

Sa bayan, sa nayo’t mga kaharian,

At ang isang tao’y katulad, kabagay

Ng alin mang likha noong kalayaan.

Ang hindi magmahal sa kanyang salita

Mahigit sa hayop at malansang isda,

Kaya ang marapat pagyamaning kusa

Na tulad sa inang tunay na nagpala.

Ang wikang Tagalog tulad din sa Latin

Sa Ingles, Kastila at salitang anghel,

Sapagka’t ang Poong maalam tumingin

Ang siyang naggawad, nagbigay sa atin.

Ang salita nati’y huwad din sa iba

Na may alfabeto at sariling letra,

Na kaya nawala’y dinatnan ng sigwa

Ang lunday sa lawa noong dakong una.

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José Cecilio Corazón de Jesús y Pangilinan (November 22, 1894 – May 26, 1932), also known by his pen name Huseng Batute, was a Filipino poet who used Tagalog poetry to express the Filipinos' desire for independence during the American occupation of the Philippines, a period that lasted from 1901 to 1946. He is best known for being the "Hari ng Balagtasan" (transl. King of Balagtasan), and for being the lyricist of the Filipino patriotic song "Bayan Ko".

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KALUPI NG PUSO

Talaan ng aking mga dinaramdam,

Kasangguning lihim ng nais tandaan,

bawat dahon niya ay kinalalagyan

ng isang gunitang pagkamahal-mahal

Kaluping maliit sa tapat ng puso

ang bawat talata’y puno ng pagsuyo,

ang takip ay bughaw, dito nakatago

ang lihim ng aking ligaya’t siphayo.

Nang buwan ng Mayo kami nagkilala

at tila Mayo rin nang magkalayo na;

sa kaluping ito nababasa-basa

ang lahat ng aking mga alaala.

Nakatala rito ang buwan at araw

ng aking ligaya at kapighatian…

isang dapithapo’y nagugunam-gunam

sa mga mata ko ang luha’y umapaw…

Anupa’t kung ako’y tila nalulungkot

binabasa-basa ang nagdaang lugod;

ang alaala ko’y dito nagagamot,

sa munting kaluping puno ng himutok.

Matandang kalupi ng aking sinapit

dala mo nang lahat ang tuwa ko’t hapis;

kung binubuksan ka’y parang lumalapit

ang lahat ng aking nabigong pag-ibig.

Sa dilaw mong dahong ngayon ay kupas na

ang lumang pagsuyo’y naaalaala,

O, kaluping bughaw, kung kita’y mabasa

masayang malungkot na hinahagkan ka…

May ilang bulaklak at dahong natuyo

na sa iyo’y lihim na nangakatago,

tuwi kong mamasdan, luha’y tumutulo

tuwi kong hahagkan, puso’y nagdurugo.

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Ildefonso Santiago Santos (January 23, 1897 – January 28, 1984) was a Filipino educator, poet, and linguist. Recognized as one of the finest poets in Tagalog,[1] Santos was also renowned with his translations of Rubaiyat of Omar Khayam and of the Philippine National Anthem, and for his use of the ancient Filipino form of poetry known as Tanaga.

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Ang Guryon

Tanggapin mo, anak, itong munting guryon

na yari sa patpat at papel de Hapon;

magandang laruang pula, puti, asul,

na may pangalan mong sa gitna naroon.

Ang hiling ko lamang, bago paliparin

ang guryon mong ito ay pakatimbangin;

ang solo’t paulo’y sukating magaling

nang hindi mag-ikit o kaya’y magkiling.

Saka pag sumimoy ang hangin, ilabas

at sa papawiri’y bayaang lumipad;

datapwa’t ang pisi’y tibayan mo, anak,

at baka lagutin ng hanging malakas.

Ibigin mo’t hindi, balang araw ikaw

ay mapapabuyong makipagdagitan;

makipaglaban ka, subali’t tandaan

na ang nagwawagi’y ang pusong marangal.

At kung ang guryon mo’y sakaling madaig,

matangay ng iba o kaya’y mapatid;

kung saka-sakaling di na mapabalik,

maawaing kamay nawa ang magkamit!

Ang buhay ay guryon: marupok, malikot,

dagiti’t dumagit, saanman sumuot…

O, paliparin mo’t ihalik sa Diyos,

bago pa tuluyang sa lupa’y sumubsob!