Charlz dela Cruz

The moment
you become
a rose,
you shall
feel
the thorns.

The birds in the wild woods sing
of the unearthly beauty that you bring
I ask, "What beauty does this woman hold?"
They answer, "It's more than all the sky and gold"

They say that you can talk with flowers
then they lead me to a garden of fire
I see you dancing with earth's great lovers
while I make friends with Sadness and Desire

Indeed, you are most pure
majestic and heavenly in all your ways
so now I'm unsure
for my eyes are too dim to behold your face

This hits me like a heavy lance
that my dream of dreams can't come true
until you return my gaze with a sudden glance
and your eyes speak, "I love you."

Sitting by the bonfire, the stars fell upon us
We were young enough to hold its light with our dreams
But then we grew, and outgrew ourselves
Now only the stars remember the dreams we left

And yet a fire still burns
the fire we carry in our hearts, forever burning
reminding us to sit and watch the stars
and be like the bonfire that burns, ever-still
full of dreams of a child, alive
with a Soul.

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a drop of water once spoke of a river a river endless as time its bright waters passionately streaming and waves ebbing a joyful rhyme
you don't know
you don't know how much my fingers bled when i removed the thorns from your heart
you are
you are         a rare creature   a myth        buried    in a secret page      of literature one day   the world will have        to dig in and exhume you     from my heart to see  how your soul spills   from your body              giving light      to the stars
do not move a mountain
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

A woman walked into a village
bending on tiptoes, swaying
to a silent rhythm

A woman walked into a village
Yes, that woman in a white dress,
with gold, flowing hair

A woman walked into a village
A little boy watched her smooth and fluid steps
An old lady by the hut saw her liquid motion
The man tending the field was enthralled
by her sweet and tender frame, face divine
For who would not love a woman
with wild eyes, body of fire?

A woman walked into a village
and soon enough, the whole town
was dancing in a frenzy
as if in a hypnotic hold
or was it all just her beauty?

A woman walked into a village
and they all danced without end
for days and days
until a child fell
dead on the floor, and then the old woman,
the man -- everyone danced
to death...

The woman walked into another village
and danced,
and danced.

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

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

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

(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.

you are
        a rare creature
  a myth
       buried
   in a secret page
     of literature
one day
  the world will have
       to dig in
and exhume you
    from my heart
to see
 how your soul
spills
  from your body
             giving light
     to the stars