Gihiluang Asin by Ava Arnejo

Gihiluang Asin
Ava Arnejo

Sumala nila, sa pagtapus aduna’y katahum

Apan wala’y katahum niining pagtapos
Wala’y huni, wala’y talidhay
Ang hunasan ug ang kayo lamang nagpabilin

Karon ang pag-awit sa mga kataw, nalumos
Sa ilang mga pagbakho tungod sa gihiluang asin

Kanus-a pa ba mahibalik ang kadagatan?
Magpugas pa kaha kini ug mga linghod nga balod?

Poisoned Salt
Ava Arnejo

They always tell me, in endings we see beauty.

But there is no beauty in this ending.
There is no song, no sweet laughter lingering —
only the ebbing tide and the burning

Now only the siren’s songs are drowned out
by their cries for their poisoned salt

When will this ocean return to what it was?
Will it ever sow budding waves into blue waters?

This contribution is from Poets for Climate, a collaborative project among the branches of The Climate Reality Project in the Philippines, Africa, and Canada in support of When Is Now. The Agam Agenda, together with mentors from each branch, facilitated virtual Pebble Poem Workshops for Climate Reality Leaders every Thursday from 4 August to 1 September 2022. This is one of the many poems that emerged from the workshops. Read more.

This poem sprouted in the Philippines. The lines highlighted above are from “Semillas que resisten” by Daniela Catrileo in Wallmapu (“Seeds that resist”, translated from the original Spanish by Helen Dixon).

Let’s work together

Wanna join our crazy team?

Gihiluang Asin
Ava Arnejo

Poisoned Salt
Ava Arnejo

This poem sprouted in the Philippines. The lines highlighted above are from “Semillas que resisten” by Daniela Catrileo in Wallmapu (“Seeds that resist”, translated from the original Spanish by Helen Dixon).

Thank you, Ava Arnejo, for responding to the public call for poem seeds and sprouts! Every voice matters. Everything counts.

Let’s work together

Wanna join our crazy team?

Gihiluang Asin Ava Arnejo

Poisoned Salt Ava Arnejo

This poem sprouted in the Philippines. The lines highlighted above are from “Semillas que resisten” by Daniela Catrileo in Wallmapu (“Seeds that resist”, translated from the original Spanish by Helen Dixon).

Thank you, Ava Arnejo, for responding to the public call for poem seeds and sprouts! Every voice matters. Everything counts.

Gihiluang Asin
Ava Arnejo

Poisoned Salt
Ava Arnejo