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Have you heard the whisper of the trees? Amongst the birds who's songs are those of undying chivalry. Placid, like everything you see, like gifts, always Plentiful and free. I wish to travel there, to a place where suffering is all but None, where grass envelops the fields, ever green and warm like the sun. Ecstacy, to your hearts content Soaring high, our dreams reach no sky's end. Spare me no sympthay, nor doubt, nor mercy, for I've found what I need, and its something I shall protect

-mlki

Out the window, I watch, knowing we’ll never split in two.

My mind infused with what i wish to pursue

Amongst my thoughts, what stands out is you.

Poetry, i make through your words and eyes,

A place where I hear and see where your love lies.

Sitting with you as we watch the sun rise,

Being with your presence feels like paradise.

Love is as pleasing as it leaves a trail back home,

Leaves no reason for my heart to roam.

It may not be perfect, but all will be fine,

For our love will age, just like fine wine.

A gift that i cherish, is to look at her and say:

“When someone says love—‘Tis you i define.”

-mkli

tinted with yellow, shine of the sun

stars all over, fallen meteorites

tell me now, not to run

strip me, and see a zebra’s skin

a tiger’s, a hyena’s, your eyes of dismay

no less dangerous, even within

tell me now, will you run away?

strip me and see

rid me of my leaves

lend me an apple

set me free

strip me, and see me

my open skin, my bare bones

touch, caress me

tell me i am home

-biyuda

-bacchus

A single thought flows into a sea of words I find myself drowning in. I feel suffocated by the words the ink forms on the paper in front of me.

Your silhouette pops up, and the image of your smile gets tattooed once again in my mind. Your honey-sweet voice echoes words that I was used to hearing.

You’re the ink, and my mind’s the paper you attach yourself to. I desperately try to erase you but can’t do anything besides cover it up. Still, a remnant and a reminder of you exist.

But every time I set my eyes on you, the ink resurfaces. Once again, I am lost in love’s maze. How come I can’t find a way out?

Everything I write revolves around you. Hopelessly captivated, I continue to hold on to our promise even if we already bid our farewells.

May it even be at the cost of my soul, I long to bask in your warmth's embrace. To feel once more like a child playing on the streets, using stones to write on the pavement.

It hurts to love you, but I will anyway.

- sempurna

pag-isip sa'yo'y dumalas.

Kahit pag asa’y malayo,

pag-irog ay walang tumbas.

Anumang pagsubok iyan,

ako ay maninindigan.

Ang puso'y 'di mapigilan,

at damdami'y 'di mailagan.

Katulad ng karagatan,

kay lalim at ‘di paglangan.

Nakaraa'y kalimutan,

Pag-ibig na walang hanggan.

Pinaramdam mo'y mahika,

ito'y 'di sinapantaha.

Ikaw ang aking adhika,

sa'yong wangis, ako'y mangha.

Aking pagsintang kay tatag,

magiging iyong kalampi.

Kahit ang puso'y mabasag,

nais ko ang iyong dampi.

-porcelain

Nasa dulo’t ilalim tayo'y ituring kay baba, Hindi parin tayo kailanman magpapagiba. Ngayo’y kilalanin ang pundasyon nitong tagilo,

Wala nang iba kundi mamamayang Pilipino.

Sistemang namamayani’y nagsisilbing prueba,

Laro ng buhay ay kailanma’y di-nag-iiba. Layunin nitong tagilo’y may umuwing panalo

“Ang nasa tuktok ang siya pang walang kamalayan”

Silang hinirang ang dapat na ating maasahan,

Kung magtutulungan lahat tayo mag-aabante,

Ating bansa ang nararapat lang na pagsilbihan.

Aangat bawat isa, lalaki man o babae. Tandaan na ang pagiging tao ay karangalan.

-moral

Luscious hair, visage stunning, smile full of glee,

But I ask myself, when the stars look down on me,

a pitiful boy like me, what do they see?

I could only speak for myself, yet I'm speechless,

This emotion I hold for you, I could not express,

If love is a friendship set to music,

Love is not for me then, when I'm a complete mess.

Time goes by, yet I'm still stuck on you,

Still daydreaming, oh, stupid things I do,

Yes, I know, I'm far from good, it's true,

And in this heart's symphony, I play the fool.

I go to approach you for the means to confess,

To ask you one question, no more, no less,

Your response struck my chest like lightning,

How come I’m unlucky, no matter how hard I’m trying?

Inside, I’m a mess, but I don’t let it show,

I’m just hanging on, but you’d never know,

I am a deck of cards, vice or a game of hearts,

I was the despondent, and I thought you were my hope.

Spending my days, cursing my soul,

Wishing I could paint thy scars and make me whole,

My self-deprecation got the best of me,

Nevertheless, I press on, undeterred and free.

I thought love can satisfy my depressing life,

But love leads to rejection, rejection hurts like a knife.

I still wage my war, on the world inside,

I take my gun to the enemy’s side.

This poem is not a poem of love,

My importance in this world, I shall prove, Start looking on the bright side, insecurities, I’ll improve,

And I shall start flying like a vicious dove.

My heart shattered, my feelings destroyed,

However, negativity, I am completely devoid,

Possibly, love might be a polaroid;

Better in picture, but never can fill the void.

-jsl

For after all what is man in nature? A nothing in relation to infinity, all in relation to nothing, a central point between nothing and all and infinitely far from understanding either

Then nothingness was not, nor existence. There was no air then, nor heavens beyond it. Who covered it? Where was it? In whose keeping? Was there then cosmic water, in depths unfathomed?

All held the finite and infinite as unrelated. None could foresee that the history of the two would become one.

Without beginning or end, the ring stretches into the infinite.

-Foulke

To be loved is to be seen, you feel safe and happy with that person that gives you assurance that they love you as much as you love them. Love is ineffable, when you're in love you feel emotions bursting within you—emotions you can't explain or describe.

Love is when you are comfortable with that person. when you're miffed because of something and suddenly you saw the person you love, you feel like resting—

your pahinga.

They make loving you so easy. They weave beautiful things and thread it to the world. They let their warmth seep through even with the knowledge that the sun shines bright enough to save the world. They make living worthwhile. They make living hurt less.

To the one who holds my heart, if I died in your arms, I would've died smiling. For even if I died, I died beside what made life worth living for.

-Jeonghan AU (kilala mo na sarili mo)

If only I could lend you my eyes, you would see the truth that resides within your being. You are a masterpiece, a vision of ethereal elegance, a muse that inspires awe and admiration. In your presence, I am in the presence of a rare gem, a treasure beyond compare.

Your laughter, a melody that dances in the wind, brings joy to my world. Your strength, a fortress that stands unwavering, gives me courage to face any storm. Your love, a symphony of emotions that echoes in my heart, fills me with a sense of belonging and purpose.

Thank you for being the light in my life, the compass that guides me home. I promise to cherish and honor you, to love you with every fiber of my being, now and for all eternity.

-Jeonghan AU (kilala mo na sarili mo 🫵)

Ngunit, siyang naging laman ng puso.

At ngayon, ang lahat ay nagbago,

Isang taong minahal at tinago.

Patuloy na minahal ng lubos,

At inamin, at siya’y tinanggihan.

Ang kanyang pag-ibig di naubos,

Tuloy, ang puso niya’y sugatan.

Di na tayo katulad ng dati,

Biglang lumayo, walang sinabi.

Nagbago lahat sa isang iglap,

Kay tagal din kitang di maharap.

Ito'y isang kwento ng pag-ibig.

Pag-ibig na hindi tinadhana.

Sa ibang mundo ay nakatakda,

Di ba pwede na dito, mahal ko?

Ngayon, ang pag-ibig ay nawala,

At ang pag-asa ay ala-ala.

Salamat. Sa saya na dinulot.

Ako’y uusad na. Paalam.

-bacchus

Kasalanan bang umibig kapag parehas ang kasarian?

Kung gano'n ako na ang makasalanan. Pa'no ba naman kasing hindi ako mahuhulog?

Ang hirap palang mahalin nang ganito ang kaibigan 'no? Napakahirap. Halos araw-araw mo siyang nakikita at nakakausap, minsan nga'y may kasabay pang yakap. Pa'nong hindi ka mahuhulog nang tuluyan?

Hindi naman ganito 'yung tibok ng puso ko dati sa tuwing makikita ka o kahit marinig nga lang ang iyong pangalan. Bakit nga ba?

Bakit biglang nag-iba ang ningning ng iyong mga mata, tila mas maliwanag na?

Bakit biglang nakatutunaw ang iyong ngiti?

Bakit biglang ang boses mo lang ang tanging naririnig kapag ika'y nagsasalita?

Bakit biglang tumitigil ang mundo sa tuwing makikita ka?

Andami kong tanong, napakarami. Ngunit 'wag na lang muna. 'Wag nalang at baka masira pa ang ating pagkakaibigan at tuluyan kang dumulas sa aking mga daliri.

Mahal kita, mahal kita, mahal kita. Lubos-lubos ang nararamdaman kong pagmamahal para sa'yo. Natatakot nga ako at baka bigla ko nalang masabi kapag nadala ng bugso ng damdamin.

Mahal kita, mahal kita, mahal kita. Ngunit palihim nalang muna akong susulyap sa iyong liwanag.

Ibubulong ko na lamang ang mga katagang "napaka-ganda mo" kasama ang agos ng hangin.

Maririnig mo kaya ang lihim na damdamin?

-sempurna

Ako’y handang maghintay

Tamang panahon ay aabangan,

Alam kong mamahalin ka na walang alinlangan

Hindi man sang-ayunan ng mundo,

Panatag ang aking puso na muling pagtatagpo

Titiisin ang habang buhay

Para lamang ipakita na ang nadarama ay tunay

Minamahal ko ang buong ikaw,

Kahit nasasaktan, kahit malinaw

Kitang-kita ang pagsuko,

Kaya ako’y nagsusumamo

-moral

to the boy i loved.

all the crumpled letters in my hand

wondering, what did we ever have?

was everything just a bittersweet dream,

or far worse, a delusion of reality.

“the princess doesn’t need a prince.”

but i’m still trapped in that dream.

a dream of you

your glittering eyes

your fast mind

your face

your smile

god knows how much i love your smile

how ethereal it is.

“where do you see yourself in 10 years?”

down bad, writing poems for that one man.

there’s this urge of mine to stop everything,

and reminisce on those happy memories,

that feeds my heart pain.

what happened to you and me?

whenever i see your eyes,

i never hesitate to smile.

a smile so warm.

it’s you

have always been you

forever will be you

love

is

just

a

word

— something i will never fathom.

it hurts, truly, to see you with someone else, but my happiness will forever be your happiness. it’s not your fault that my heart aches for you. you’re better off without me.

my heart is fighting for you, despite my instinct telling me to stop.

in a thousand lives, i will always choose love you, forevermore.

- ria

Ang aking pag-ibig sayo di’ masuway

Nangungulila, “musta na kaya siya?”

‘Yong mga mata, ligaya’y nakikita.

Sa bawat tingin, ramdam ang ating layo,

Ating dating pag-ibig ay nangangaapoy

Ating dating saya, ngayo’y naging taghoy

Mga puso’t pangako nating naglaho

Mga mata'y sumulyap, ngunit may layo

Tanglaw ng pag-asa, ngayo’y naglalaho

Sulyap ng pag-ibig, ako’y naghihirap

‘Yong paglisan, parang kandilang hinipan

Pag-ibig na akala mo'y walang hanggan,

Wakas ay nangyari nang di inasahan.

Pag-ibig natin parang rosas nalanta

Gabi-gabi iniisip, “miss na kita”.

Akala ko mahal mo'ko, hindi pala Pagmamahal ko sayo ay lumalaban

‘Di ko makalimutan ang nakaraan

Balik ka na, pinagpalit mo na ba ‘ko?

Sa alon ng lunkot ako’y nawawala

Binigay ko lahat sayo, kulang pa ba?

Sana hindi nalang tayo pinagtagpo

Kung lahat ito’y magwawakas sa tampo.

-Yxa

Pero, hindi tayo perpekto, hindi sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay magkakahawak tayo, minsa'y sadya nating inaalis ang mga daliring nakakapit sa isa't isa. Ang mga nabanggit ay parte lamang ng isang maskara na ating sinusuot dahil nakatatak na sa'tin ang mga katangiang iyan. May bahid pa rin ng dugo sa'ting mga kamay, may bahid na kasinungalingan ang mga binibitawang salita, at may bahid na panlilinlang sa'ting mga kilos. Ito ang realidad na ginagalawan ng mga Pilipino. Ipinapakita lamang ang nais ipakita, ngunit hindi ang katotohanan.

Matutong tumingin sa iba pang anggulo pagkat ito ang magpapakita ng tunay na kwento ng isang larawan.

-Silay

Kwento'y naglalakbay ngunit hindi natatapos.

Ano ba talaga tayo?

Kasi sayong sayo naman na ako

Ang sakit ng puso ko

parang inaagos ng ilog ng pagluha

Ganon pala pakiramdam ng mga binaliwala Akala ko ako na yung para sayo

Mukha bakong di kasugalsugal?

Kaya ba ‘di mo’ko pinaninindigan?

Ang tagal na natin mag kaibigan

Ayaw mo ba makipag-ibigan?

Kahit sa panaginip lang magiging tayo

Hinahanap ka na ng puso ko

Handa ako ibigay lahat sayo

Basta tayo ay ipagtagpo

Ikaw lang talaga ang namimiss ko

Kahit hindi naman tayo

Asan ba yung karapatan ko?

Basta, alalahanin mo, nandito lang ako

-Yxa

Ngunit kinamumuhian ng nakararami

Pagmamahal niya sa bayan ang namamayani

"Negosyo o kalayaan? Bayan o sarili?"

Tanong na hindi masagot-sagot ng marami.

Siya ay mapag-mahal sa bansang pinagsilangan,

Hinding-hindi niya 'to tatalikuran kailanman.

Kayamanan man, hindi 'to ipagpapapalit.

At poprotektahan 'to hanggang kamatayan man

Ang hindi magmahal sa kanyang sariling bayan,

higit pa ito sa hayop at malansang isda.

O, mutyang bayan ko, ay perlas ng silanganan,

Kilala sa ganda't sa iwing taglay na yaman.

Paborito niyang linya ang salitang "punyeta!"

Ngunit 'di ito'y dahilan para siya'y husgahan

Mga salita ay malulutong at malaswa,

Tila'y mga pana na tumatagos sa puso,

Sapagka't siya ay bayaning mahilig magmura.

Sa pagnais ng kalayaan para sa bayan,

Siya'y trinaydor, tinalikuran, pinagtulungan

Mas nakakatakot ang sariling kababayan,

Kaysa sa mga dayuhang sumakop ng bayan.

Sa ugat nananalaytay, ating kababayan

Ngunit sila naman ang nag-ugaling dayuhan

-Jeonghan AU

-moral

that my love for you would never cease to flow,

just like the unending tide of the ocean.

Just like the endless waves,

I'll promise to give you all of me,

crashing against your shore with unwavering devotion.

Just as the ocean never tires of kissing the sand,

my love for you will never fade away.

The shells remind me of you.

The unique patterns and shapes,

just like the intricacies of our love.

And just as the ocean holds countless treasures within its depths,

so too do I hold a treasure in you.

As I collect unique and beautiful shells along the shore,

I am reminded of the special moments we share together.

Each shell represents a memory, a token of our love that I will cherish forever.

Just as the ocean is vast and full of wonder so too is my love for you - deep, endless, and ever-growing.

Never forget that;

these endless waves,

are my unwavering love for you.

-dagat

How unfair it is that life never gave us a chance. Do you think that in another place, somewhere far and different from here, we make it? That is, if there is an 'us' in the first place. I've been unlucky that I have never gotten to experience your touch in this life. How lucky do I have to be in the next one? Is it really luck, or do you simply just don't want me?

-scartel

this is the place where i met countless of wonderful people, all different in their own ways. the place where i found my true self and purpose in life. i've never considered myself to be sentimental, but here i am.

i will hold all of my experiences and challenges i've faced here close to my heart.

marisci is the place where i realized that i'm not just a boy.

-ivantill