Charlz dela Cruz

the alchemist sat
chewing the philosopher's stone
in his mouth
and
reclining on his chair
he looked at the sky
and laughed

for while base metals
turn
into gold

so does Man
into God

there is a reason why most people
do not understand poems
somewhere along the way,
they lost their Soul, their humanity
and so their hearts
are simply not ready
for Poetry
hence, there is no wonder
why there are more thorns
than roses
rather, it is a wonder
how roses still bloom
despite the pain

"Why do you close your eyes
when you meditate?"

'Because the world has become so cruel'

"And when you close your eyes
what do you see?"

'I see the world
so I open my eyes again.'

she bleeds poetry
in the dark

a sweet, beautiful heart
shattering, like an echoing kiss
from miles, and miles away

sometimes she sees him
because she is in his eyes
and in every book of life
there is always a page where he loves her
half body, whole soul

and every night, as she returns
to the moon with a poem
he returns to her in a dream.

do not move a mountain with your faith it is a crime only move me with your love and mountains will swim  across the oceans trees will touch the stars for even a rose could love a thorn if you were mine

he has an obsession with death that nobody  could understand
he laughs as his soul breaks
life could not tame the fire

do not be afraid    to dance   with the Devil     show him     how well        you have grown
you have           a hell    of your own

everyone wants to be a flower
yet most end up
as a thorn

remember:

to be a thorn,
be like everybody else

to be a flower,
be yourself

love the rose
  but also
 kiss
the thorns
      or
   you do not
 love
   at all

(Note: This poem is written in Filipino.)

Aking mahal, kung maaari,
paki baon mo sa bawat paksa,
parirala, at kataga
ang aking sasabihin:

Ang aking puso ay taimtim na tumitibok
sa iyong kaluluwa—
isang pagsibol ng pangarap
tulad ng pag-agos ng gatas
mula sa mga bituin
upang masulyapan ang iyong
mapanuksong mga mata

Hindi mo ba napapansin
ang pagbuntong-hininga ng mga ibon
tuwing ika'y dumaraan o tumatawid
sa kalsada?
Tulad nito ang aking naramdaman
nung ika'y palihim kong pinagmasdan
sa ating munting eskwelahan

Aking sinta, mula noon,
araw-araw at gabi-gabi,
ako'y humihinga ng rosas
mula sa halimuyak ng iyong bibig
Kaya't huwag mo sanang ipagtaka
ang katas ng aking pag-ibig:
"Mahal kita, mahal kita..."
tila walang tigil na inuukit
sa aking katawan
"Mahal kita, mahal kita..."
aking bulong sa buwan

At sa bawat dampi ng aking labi
sa iyong sagradong balat,
sana'y iyong dinggin
at dahan-dahang bigkasin
na ako'y
mahal
mo rin.