Cursed

Sampaguita petals shone like
helpless whte stars
trapped in her hair
black as the moonless sky.

The smile of Maria Makiling
enugh to capture the hearts of all
men. I could not help
but to close like makahiya
at the sight of her graceful
countenance.

Three of us were brave enough
to dare look straight at the lady
that shone brighter than the sun.

Three of us dared to speak to
her who whispers more softly than
the falling of the raindrops.

Captain Lara, Juan and I—
Imprisoned by her beauty more
graceful than dawn, more musical
than a flute’s note and more majestic
than the torments of the sea!

Lara of high Spanish blood,
leader of men, headstrong
as a mustang. Ambitious of Maria’s
power.

Juan a mere Indiyo farmer,
foolish and poor who follows naught
but his heart and stomach,
a chicken pecking for seeds and worms.

And I, Joselito, having been born
a hybrid of two races. But whole in my soul,
my love. A meek maya who’s song
trails for Maria’s hearing.

But when we heard her decision
under the cold moon,
The mountain fell on me.
Her voice I could not bear
to hear
her say:
“Juan.”

My eyes are wet but I could
see well her eyes
also wet.
The despair on her face.
Her jet hair framing a
sad face.
Maria’s brown eyes looked
pierced my heart with
longing,
I could feel her
warm
sweet
love
in that
look.

How Juan persuaded her,
I will never know.
The cunning bastard.
Her mouth neither smiled
nor laughed nor spoke.

Anger fed on my soul.
Fire, Blood and Death!
Fire, Blood and Death!
Lara and I once rivals
now partners.
Taking Juan’s life
I hated.
Love has gone.

But the anger of Maria was
a powerful storm.

Lara killed in battle,
massacred like swine
by the Indiyos
with no respects nor
honor.
Cursed to death.

I condemned with sickness,
incurable.
To see. To know.
Trapped in walls of mirrors.
A wandering dog.
Cursed to life.

And she remained Maria
Makiling,
lost.

-Javin Jet Tevar-