After roaming safari, our friend, Nery Ronatay is now shopping in the floating markets and eating tom yum in Thailand. But still, he has a time for writing poems. Below is another contribution from this vagabond while adoring Ankor Wat.
Epilogo sa Isang walang Hanggan
Tinatangay ka sa hibla ng mga alaalang
nagkukubli sa gayad ng nakaraan.
Tinitingnan kita at sinasalat ko
ang kabang laging kumakatok
sa dibdib ko tuwing kaharap ka.
Hindi na nga ako kinakabahan.
At nakakatakot pala iyon—
ang isang araw gumising
kang hindi mo na kailangan
ang taong pinili mong buuhin
ang iyong walang hanggan.
Inaanod ka na kasama ng mga
pangarap na nilaro natin.
Hindi mo kasi magawang
kumapit sa lubid na minsan
nating hinabi upang tumawid
sa milya-milya nating
Pagitan. Parang pangitaing
binura ang lahat-lahat sa laot
ng puso nating nilayag ng takot.
Nawawala ka nang unti-unti
kahit noon pang tinatahi
natin ang ating mga labi.
Ah! Napakahirap mangulilala
sa tulad mong hindi mawawala.
Umiiyak ako tuwing mararamdaman
kita kahit di kita nakikita
Ngunit matapos ang lahat, nakakalitong
Ikaw ay narito sa aking harapan
Ngunit di na kita maramdaman.
www.biklish.com 
an attempt at translating Mr. Ronatay’s piece:
Epilogue to an infinitude
You are drawn by strands of memories
Hidden in the helms of the past.
I am looking at you and guarding
the anxiety that pounds on my chest
Each time I gaze at you.
Now I no longer grow agitated.
And I find it frightening–
That one day you’ll awaken
And discover you no longer need me
The person you made whole; your eternity.
You are drifting away, as our dreams.
If only you held steadfast
the rope we carefully wove to bridge the
distance between us.
Like a phantasm that
banished everything from the abyss of our hearts,
that sail in fear…
You are slipping away, swiftly.
Even then whilst our lips touch.
Oh, such an ordeal to long for someone
like you, who will never truly be away.
I cry each time I feel you, though you’re out of sight.
After everything, the root of confusion
is that you’re here, and yet
I feel nothing.
I think someone else can do a much better job than this. I find the last stanza difficult. I hope the message is not lost in translation. Wonderful poem from the globetrotter!
More power to Bikol lit. [Biklit?]
🙂
but you did it well. thanks for the translation 🙂
DTN It think you are doing an excellent job..
u should consider a job on translation. ur pretty good at this.
thank you, Mr. Ronatay!
~Nice to see us represented: http://panitikan.com.ph/regional.htm