Radical (Translated from the Cebuano by Freya Natasha Fernandez-Dy)

 

Here,

come to me.

Hug me real tight.

Not enough. Tighter.

There. Savor the warmth

of my being. But come to think of it

you and I -- are just one. Different but

the same. Now, let it go. Do not keep it in.

Do not hold your breath because such is what you

do when you are enslaved. Let it flow. Let fall, your

river of tears. Flood out your resentments and distress. Fears

and worries. Disappointments and weariness. Sadness and torment.

Now, breathe deeply. There. Until you have reached the very core of your

humanity. Now, once again, you are ready to continue the mission you have

started. Let me see, yet again, that smile of yours that is full of purpose. Hold

my hands. Do not ever let go. For at this very moment, we will look for them

together. We will light that path in the wilderness with our astute view. Again,

we will fuel the ones who are exhausted with the flames of our love. We

will restore to life the deafening shrill and rejoicing. The melodies and

the songs, we will let echo. We will envelop both the earth and the

skies with the rainbow of a love that eternally soothes.

"Huwag kang manghinayang. Hindi tayo nabigo.  Tiba-

yan ang inyong loob. Kahit may dilim na umaaligid.

Ang liwanag sa puso'y di pasisiil. Namulat

sa pag-asa, sa pag-ibig. Hindi na

muling pipikit."