Words that rang true and glowed like burning coal

I like reading poems, but I love poems that crack me up. I’m going to introduce you to one poet who’s a very good friend of mine. He’s Filipino, obviously, and his writings could make you roll on the floor laughing. We call him Kabayan, and I couldn’t find any other suitable name that fits him to a T.

Here’s a sampling, titled Manok.

Ang Manok (baw!)

malinamnam kainin masarap na manok
type ng marami lalo na si Niknok
prito ma't pasingaw kahit lasang usok
t'yak ang kasiyahan 'wag lang amoy bulok

dibdib na malaman ang ibig ng iba
ang iba nama'y sebo ng kuyom na paa
ang bitukang isaw 'pagpapalit mo ba?
leeg, atay, hita, p'wet idagdag pa

sa tsiken o' pok kung papipiliin
iwasang mag-'yah-yah' sabihin mo'y tsiken
paka-asahan mo't mag-eenjoy ka rin
lalo't merong sili at toyong kay itim

nais ding isali sa usapang manok
ang nais ng iba'y maitim ang buhok
ke dibdib o puwet kahit amoy bulok
basta nga't matikas at ayos ang lilok

ayyy! 'nong manok yan nasasambit mo ba
huwag pakalayo't sasabungin lang pala
sa maganda ang tindig dito ka pumusta
lalo na't ang palong'y me buhok na hibla

(baw uli)

For more poems, come and visit his place in the tangled world of the world wide web.

We all write poems; it is simply that poets are the ones who write in words. – John Fowles