Kangitngit

*** Kangitngit is Bisaya for darkness, but in this complex dialect it takes on various definitions with such vivid applications as to imagery. This poem of mine which is  a silly attempt at literature seeks to showcase the power of the word and the intricacies of the Bisaya language.

Samtang ginasubay nako kining dalan

Dalan nga ngitngit, dalan nga bala-an

Akong ginapangandoy nga magkita na ta

Maskin lang man sa kangitngit atong kalag mag-abot na

Sa kangingit gikawat akong pahiyom

Sa ngalan sa sapi,sa diyot, sa ilimnon

Ug sa mabugnawong kilid ako gipasagdan

Kangitngit, kahadlok, akong nasudlan

Ug ikaw gahulat sa eskina sa may mangga

Para kanako, nga abi nimo muabot pa

Ug karon akong subayon kining dalana

Padulong kanimo, maskin dili man ta magkita

Dawata akong gugma, kasing-kasing og pagkatawo

Sa kangitngit man lang pasaylo-a ko intawon

Samtang akong pagasubayn kining dalana

Hinaot atong kasingksaing mag-abot na.

TRANSLATION:

As I follow this road,

This dark and holy road,

I yearn that we finally meet.

Even in this nothingness our souls would finally meet.

My smile was stolen in the darkness.

In the name of money, of having, of liquor.

And in that cold damp corner I was left to wait.

Death, fear was what I have entered.

And you wait there at the curb, by the mango tree,

For me, whom you thought was still coming.

And now, I follow this path

To you, even though we shall never meet.

Receive my love, my heart, my soul.

Even just in the end, forgive me please.

While I follow this path,

I hope that our hearts finally meet.