Subject Matter:  A Nationalistic piece depicting our Motherland holding its last flame of hope

Themes: Politics, Patriotism, Freedom, Light on Dark, Chiaroscuro, Modernist

Referenced National Artist: Carlos “Botong” Francisco (November 4, 1912 – March 31, 1969)

Ang larawang guhit ay nagtatampok ng isang modernong piyesa na ipinapakita ang mga Pilipino na pinanghahawakan at pinaniniwalaan ang pag-asa ng sangkatauhan. Sa madilim na kapaligiran, makikita ang isang misteryosong tauhan na hawak ang isang matingkad na kandila, na ipinahihiwatig ang pagkakaroon ng liwanag sa gitna ng karimlan at karangyaan ng buhay. Sa ibang pananaw, ang liwanag ay sinisimbolo din ang pag-asang inaasam ng mga mamamayan sa mapait at magulong sistema ng politika ng bansa. Kung kaya’t pinaniniwalaan ng mga mangguguhit, na sa kabila ng pagkukunwari at pagmamalabis ng mga politiko sa mga Pilipino, mayroon pa ring tumatayong “Pag-asa sa ‘dilim”, na magbubukas sa makulay at magandang pamumuno sa ating Inang Bayan.

Days, weeks, months, years, decades, centuries –

We cannot deny the passage of time.

Time heals all wounds – but it undeniably causes them, too.

As I roam this space, in search of my meaning; I can see.

I can see the way you have taken care of me.

You are our home.

Provided, but we were not grateful

Sheltered, yet we remain ingrates.

We abandoned you, but you remained.

Still providing, still sheltering, still nurturing,

Even if there’s no return.

The blue sky;

The chirping of the birds,

The sound of flowing water,

The air that filled us with hope.

Where have they gone?

These eyes are blind,

It failed to see

The catastrophe.

This disaster, this calamity.

Who brought it upon this world

Other than me?

Days, weeks, months, years, decades, centuries –

We cannot deny the passage of time.

Time heals all wounds – but it undeniably causes them, too.

Time has passed and I can see,

The product of my carelessness.

The product of my ignorance,

The product of my foolishness.

The sky, once blue;

Is now showering us with gloom.

The chirping can no longer be heard,

I hear nothing but a deafening silence.

The air that once gave me hope,

Now suffocates my being.

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This poem is about human negligence. We take our home planet for granted, as if it would just ignore all the damage we have caused to it. At times, humans fail to realize our effect on nature; this effect is mostly, if not entirely negative. We do not realize it, but slowly, our negligence is coming into fruition. When the time comes where we realize what we have done, it would be too late.