Poetry at Sangam
Poetry at Sangam showcases poetry in English and translations as well as essays on poetics and news of new releases.
Leon lean in the lane with élan
He runs as fast as he can.
He owns the now for now.
Through rain and sun,
He will have his run.
He is of his time, down
With the beat and the rhyme,
His heart and life in sync.
No need to think:
He will swim and never sink.
Leon lean in the lane with élan
He runs as fast as he can
He owns the now for now.
Through rain and sun,
He will have his run.
But the dogs with guns run as fast
And even when Leon doesn’t stop
He will suffer, he will
Suffer on these streets that
Are his track and where he leaves
His mark. He wishes the world to see
A young buck growing up, but
The dogs with guns now run faster
Leon through the alleys narrow
More a gazelle than a lion
Leaps in pursuit of a glorious tomorrow
But the dogs are hunting,
The dogs run faster
At his heels they bay—Leon in a corner!
They bark, Leon, here is a gun
Take it and run!
Young Leon hears the sky thunder
Don’t pick it up, pare!*
Hears the the sari-sari** stores whisper,
We are sorry, we are sorry!
Into his hands the dogs thrust a gun.
Pale Leon wonders, why, what have I done?
I may be poor but I am
Neither addict nor pusher.
The dogs bark, and so do their guns.
Seized by unfathomable lust, they
All but lave themselves in his blood,
The blood of the sacrificial lamb.
Leon, the bloom of his youth is gone.
The beauty of one never to be
A man. Lean in the lane with élan
Leon ran as fast as he could,
Bright philosopher of the streets,
Leon, loved by all, was given a gun.
And now he is gone.
*slang for “man,” “pal,” “buddy”
** Filipino for “sundry”
Originally published in Heights