Trees by Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
~Joyce Kilmer, “Trees,” 1914

Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa ni Andres Bonifacio

Aling pag-ibig pa ang hihigit kaya
Sa pagkadalisay at pagkadakila
Gaya ng pag-ibig sa tinub’ang lupa?
Aling pag-ibig pa? Wala na nga, wala…
Walang mahalagang hindi inihandog
Ng may pusong mahal sa Bayang kumupkop;
Dugo, yaman, dunong, katiisa’t pagod,
Buhay ma’y abuting magkalagot-lagot…
Sa kaniya’y utang ang unang pagtanggap
Ng simoy ng hanging nagbigay-lunas
Sa inis na puso na sisinghap-singhap
Sa balong malalim ng siphayo’t hirap…
Ang nangakarang panahon ng aliw
Ang inaasahang araw na darating
Ng pagkatimawa ng mga alipin,
Liban pa sa bayan saan tatanghalin?…
Kung ang bayang ito’y nasasapanganib
At siya ay dapat ipagtangkilik
Ang anak, asawa, magulang, kapatid
Isang tawag niya’y tatalikdang pilit…
Nasaan ang dangal ng mga Tagalog?
Nasaan ang dugong dapat na ibuhos?
Baya’y inaapi, bakit di kumilos
At natitilihang ito’y mapanood?…
Kayong mga dukhang walang tanging [palad]
Kundi ang mabuhay sa dalita’t hirap
Ampunin ang Bayan kung nasa ay lunas
Pagkat ang ginhawa niya ay sa lahat.
Ipaghandog-handog ang buong pag-ibig,
Hangang sa may dugo’y ubusing itigis,
Kung sa pagtatanggol buhay ay [mapatid]
Ito’y kapalaran at tunay na langit.

I have fallen in love with the same woman three times

Ninoy Aquino’s poem for his wife, Cory, while he was imprisoned by the dictator Ferdinand Marcos:

I have fallen in love
with the same woman three times;
In a day spanning 19 years
of tearful joys and joyful tears.

I loved her first when she was young,
enchanting and vibrant, eternally new.
She was brilliant, fragrant,
and cool as the morning dew.

I fell in love with her the second time;
when first she bore her child and mine
always by my side, the source of my strength,
helping to turn the tide.

But there were candles to burn
the world was my concern;
while our home was her domain.
and the people were mine
while the children were hers to maintain;

So it was in those eighteen years and a day.
’till I was detained; forced in prison to stay.

Suddenly she’s our sole support;
source of comfort,
our wellspring of Hope.
on her shoulders felt the burden of Life.

I fell in love again,
with the same woman the third time.
Looming from the battle,
her courage will never fade

Amidst the hardships she has remained,
undaunted and unafraid.
she is calm and composed,
she is God’s lovely maid.

A Piece of Paper

Below is an example of a long quatrain (four-line stanza) with 7 syllables and AABB rhyming scheme:

A Piece of Paper

I was made out of a tree
When stones, woods, leaves as men see
No longer fulfill their needs
Especially for their deeds

I can be simple and plain
But you can use me to feign
You can spray me with sweet scent
In any special event

I can be everyone’s toy
Airplanes, boats, masks for a boy
Puppets, ribbons for a girl
Tear me or crumple or twirl

Out of me you make decors
Hang me on the walls or doors
Produce me creatively
Show me artistically

I am useful everyday
Use me to wipe dirt away
Whenever there’s no tissue
Or to wrap foods or gifts, too

You see me where I’m needed
To make sure you are guided
And to help you become smart
At home, office or mart

Be sure to use me wisely
And please plant at least one tree
Or recycle me instead
For success and growth ahead

I am of great importance
I am precious to humans
I am useful forever
I am a piece of paper

— msmeowf (2001)

Haiku (Rain)

Rhythm, sensation;
slipping down, smooching my skin;
so warm, so sweet. Rain.

— msmeowf (2007)

God’s Gift

When bliss doesn’t seem to manifest
Is it a challenge or is it a test?
Is it man’s will or is it God’s message?
To change the world, it takes courage

People, emotions, things come and go
But the love of God, I don’t think so
He sometimes makes things difficult
For us to produce a good result

I asked Him for strength
I asked Him for wealth
But He made me weak
And taught me to become meek

I asked Him to be with me
But He stepped apart so He could oversee
He gave me a family and a friend
To walk with me until the end

If I have only one reason to live
It is my passion to give
I want nothing more
Than the gift of love I haven’t realized before

— msmeowf (2000)