THE SUN OUR KIN

THE SUN OUR KIN

Erle Frayne Argonza y Delago

It’s true the Sun will lay to rest

On the day’s end after his toil

And give way to the nighttime hours

When ravagers despoil amid our slumbers

But sure enough the morning comes

And Sun radiates our Land anew

Each smile he sports enervates our longings

For better times of wealth and wellbeing

He never tires to shed us rays of care

He never retreats without sharing heraldries

Of what our strivings will bring forth

A sturdier and well esteemed commonwealth

He shall ever be there when we need him

A kin indeed our light of liberty

[Writ. 07 October 1988, Proj. 8, Quezon City, M.Manila]

WHY MOTHERLAND?

WHY MOTHERLAND?

Erle Frayne Argonza y Delago

Why ought we call Motherland

The cradle of us loyal citizens?

Why not just call it Land

For the sake of propriety and brevity?

Likewise we shan’t label Fatherland

Each lustrous land of alien conquerors

Who enslaved our forbears in servitude

Over epochs of lamentable tribulations.

A Mother is she who never dares forsake

Her children whom she lovingly nourishes.

And yet all children grow to bid farewell

To the hardships of infantile life

And so to bid farewell as well

To the Mother who soon faces retirement.

Habits of old are hard to die

Like thoughts on Motherland or Fatherland

Even as we’re not overgrown infants

Of a country that professes eternal Motherhood

And neither could we all say farewell

To our benign Land: our Provider.

[Writ. 06 October 1988, Proj. 8, Quezon City, M.Manila]

LOVE’S MURMUR

LOVE’S MURMUR

Erle Frayne Argonza y Delago

I hear the murmur of love

Like rattles of tree branches.

It is coming, marching triumphantly

On the ground of eternal merriment.

It seizes me, bless of my wishes,

It its delightful gallows of wonderment.

It’s message clear—“Heed my call!”

To my woman ‘tis selflessly shared.

[Writ. 24 July 1988, Proj. 8, Quezon City, M.Manila]

SENTIMENTS FROM EROS

SENTIMENTS FROM EROS

Erle Frayne Argonza y Delago

Sentiments from Eros’ royal house

Here it lies within my being.

A chasm it shall try to bridge

And warm up your cold heart a-glow.

It will grow, it will merge

From the shadows of the iceberg’s underneath.

It will seek its proper moorings

In your heart it is wont

To nestle; only in your heart or nevermore.

[Writ. 24 July 1988, Proj. 8, Quezon City, M.Manila.]

WISH SHE COMES O! COCONUT TREE!

WISH SHE COMES O! COCONUT TREE!

Erle Frayne Argonza y Delago

Wish for me O! Coconut Tree!

Of benign Filipinas that She comes in beauty

Her luggage filled to the brims

With love and tenderness. Let her caress

My longing heart. I shall meet her

Under your secure shade O! Coconut Tree!

Where we shall pledge the vow

Of eternal sharing of trust and care;

A bnd you’ll judge with favors

One stroke like a million devoted caretakers’.

[Writ. 19 June 1988, Proj. 8, Quezon City, M.Manila]