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Poetry

Eyes of the Wave

By Francis C. Macansantos
Translated from Zamboangueño Chavacano by the author
In this self-translation, the late Filipino poet Francis C. Macansantos masks the dark side of the ocean with deceptively seductive language.
A mirrored image of a blue ceramic bowl in the shape of a wave
Wave bowl attributed to Christopher Dresser, ca. 1880. Glazed earthenware. Public domain, courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Purchase, James David Draper Gift, in memory of Robert Isaacson, 2001.
Listen to Dr. Sonia Macansantos Alensub read Francis C. Macansantos's "Ojos del marijada" in the original Zamboangueño Chavacano.
 
 

Stop looking for the wave’s eyes.
With its whole body it gazes at you,
Eyes of blue-green watch you,
Dimpled smiles hidden in water.

Laughter of clouds at its crest
Doing a little dance before hurtling down,
Crashing against your chest because it knows you,
Pulling you out to sea, summoning you
To a home where you lived long ago.


“Ojos del marijada” © Francis C. Macansantos. Translation © Francis C. Macansantos. By arrangement with the estate of Francis C. Macansantos. All rights reserved.

English Zamboangueño Chavacano (Original)

Stop looking for the wave’s eyes.
With its whole body it gazes at you,
Eyes of blue-green watch you,
Dimpled smiles hidden in water.

Laughter of clouds at its crest
Doing a little dance before hurtling down,
Crashing against your chest because it knows you,
Pulling you out to sea, summoning you
To a home where you lived long ago.


“Ojos del marijada” © Francis C. Macansantos. Translation © Francis C. Macansantos. By arrangement with the estate of Francis C. Macansantos. All rights reserved.

Ojos del marijada

No mas busca con el ojos del marijada.
Su entero cuerpo ta pija contigo,
Ojos de azul-verde ta bisia contigo,
Sonrisas de kandiis escondido na agua.

Risas de nube amo su crestas
Ta baila-baila antes de man butapung,
Man sabulak na tu pecho cay conoce contigo,
Y hala contigo paapuera, ta imbita,
Na un hogar donde tu antes ta queda.
“Ojos del marijada” © Francis C. Macansantos. By arrangement with the estate of Francis C. Macansantos. All rights reserved.

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