UHIPAN
Centipede
Nagkutas na kos romansa sa dagang
I was panting with my romance with words
dihang nasiplatan ko ang dakong uhipan, isang dangaw kapin.
when I glanced upon a big centipede, more than a palm’s length.
Ang iyang panit daw porselanang mahalon, nagsinaw.
Its skin was like a dear porcelain, shiny,
ang iyang mga tiil nag-ilis-ilis nga bugsay
its legs were like paddles
diha sa iyang malinawong pagsuroy-suroy sa bongbong.
in its peaceful promenade in the wall.
Daw tren nga motul-id, moliko, daw igat ng halas.
Like a train which goes straight and turns wherever, like a sexy snake.
Kalami niyang haploson, palatay-latayon sa akong kalawasan.
How nice it is to touch it, let it crawl in my whole body.
Apan. . . la. . . la . . . ang ikog sa maong uhipan.
But the tail of the centipede is poisonous, poisonous.
Tingalig mapaakan ako o bisan kinsa sa among pamilya.
It might bite me or any member of my family.
Kinahanglang honosan kini sa hayop niyang kinabuhi
Its animal life must be ended
o putlan og ikog aron unya madulaan.
or its tail cut so it could be played with.
Kagilok, kahadlok, kalami baya niya diha unya sa hilakon kong panit.
How tickling, how fearful, how nice it would be to feel it in my onion skin.
Dala ang ruler, akong gidut-an ang iyang lawas, sa ikog dapit.
I pressed a ruler to its body, near the tail.
Idlas pas manantad, nakaikyas kini sa pikas lawak.
Swift as the bird manatad, it escaped into the next room.
Misunod ako, may dalang taas ng tukon.
I followed with a long pole.
Akong gidut-an ang iyang lawas aron maputol ang iyang ikog.
I pressed the pole to its body to cut its tail.
Gipaak niya ang tukon. Gipaak. Giduot pa nakog samot. Dugay.
It bit the pole. Bit. I pressed the pole harder. For a long time.
Hangtud nga gihawoy ako, gipaubos nako ang tukon.
Until I got tired. I brought down the pole.
Aron adto ko siya tiwasan sa salog.
So I can finish it in the floor.
Hunahuna ko, pidyaton na lang gayud. Apan sa usa ka pamilok,
I thought, I would finally smash him. In one click.
sa akong katingala, nawala ang uhipan. Tagolilong.
to my surprise, the centipede was lost. Like one with disappearing power.
Gisilhigan ko ang salog. Giyabyab ang mga sanina didto.
I swept the floor. I fanned it with clothes.
Gisilhigan ang mga dingding, Wala gihapon. Nakaikyas ang uhipan.
I swept the walls. Still not there. The centipede had escaped.
Buhi pa kini. Mamaak unya.
It is still alive. It might bite later.
Aduna pa kiniy kauban. Asawa o bana? Anak?
It still has company. Wife or husband? Children?
Uhipan gihapon. Modagko. Dagko. Mamaak. Mopaak. Bangis. La.
Also centipedes. Which will grow. Big. Which will bite. Will bite. Wild. Poisonous.
La pag-ayo paras katawhan.
Very poisonous for the people.
Daghang uhipan sa atong katilingban.
There are many centipedes in our society.
EL CUEZON (1987) Jimenez, Misamis Occidental