Two Poems by Ronan Lingatong

by Ronan Lingatong

Trough

I’ll count the rising of the shoulders of the waves.  

One.    Two.   Three.   Four! 

I’ll look at its white snorting of bubbles  

And count again the seafoam; 

First to be felt are the troughs kneeling, 

Watch as there are more like it coming.  

In the second rumbling of the trough,  

The wind will be sucked in, prepare yourself. 

In the third groaning of the trough,  

Wrap your calloused fingers on the Lawaan gunwale  

In the fourth treachery of the trough.  

Hold the boom wound around the catgut of trust.  

When the sobbing sea brightens, it will sweep the sand grains. 

There! Push right away the skiff loaded with nets of adventure.

Dawn

Manoy, would that you know

Visits are prepared for

Might bring fish for healing—

Red mullet, Giant Trevally

I’ve prepared for you fresh

Anchovy, Mongpong

I’ve fermented for you fish roe—

Sea urchin, Tuna

Manoy, I hope you know

I made for you a small boat—

Tablon, Bigiw, Islaysir

Gave you stainless hooks—

Shark, Mustad, Dolphin

I bought you fishing line also—

Yamato, Seahorse, Fortune

When dawn broke

The northeast wind swelled

Waves broke into pieces

Smell of black smoke erupted

From the lamp that burned down

Sound of the Pungaw echoing the news.