Poems of Maningning

I just would like to share one of my favorite poems.

Laughter – Maningning Miclat

He left me
when he could
no longer stand the laughter

that I gave him
while he begged me not
to keep memories

alive in poems
to hurt myself
and make those
who read

sad. I laughed
when he shared
his life with me
while holding him

to make it easier
and maybe
less painful
to live on.

Laugh! I told
him, but
could not get
his attention.

Laugh! I asked
him, but
he left in
anger.

And left
before he understood
the courage
that held my laughter.

Ginugunita Kita #2

Marikit na tala ang tanglaw sa dilim,
Sa halimuyak ng matamis na hangin,
Sa gubat ng gabi ay hinihintay ko,
Mga kislap ng nilimot na pangako.

Habang may hapdi ang sugat ng kahapon,
Di maalpasan ang diwang nakakahon,
Inaawit ang kundiman ng pagsinta
Sa dalamhati ng pusong umaasa.

Ginuguni-gunita kita,
Binubuo sa alaala.
Pinapanga-pangarap ka,
Inuukit sa haraya.

Maningning is my favorite Filipino artist. I stumbled on her paintings via Tumblr 2 years ago and fell in love with it, then read her poems and become hooked. Her poem — Laughter feels like something I could have written but could never put the right words. Maningning puts life in it and so much emotions.

She died by jumping off the building at Far Eastern University in Manila when she was 28.