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Lucia Makabayan 22 Marso 1979
Poem Written Beside a Peasant Comrade's Grave on the First Anniversary of His Death
Today the children brought you flowers
unmindful of the violent rain
beating upon their backs
their lamentations and vows
of revenge no longer a sign
of innocence.
Remember? It also rained
in your village that day
eight seasons ago when
they came from the cities
raw youths
with their crude inferior weapons
their social message
and sterling courage
bringing light to centuries
of ignorance -
a sharp contrast indeed
to the hacienderos who grabbed your lands
the bandits who plundered your homes
the constables who raped your sisters
and murdered your brothers. . .
So you listened
and wondered
and understood
and thus enlightened
also rose up in revolt
against the hunger
the wickedness
the genuflection
the filth. . . .
It was not hard then when
the moment came to engage
the enemy in mortal combat
to choose
between self and self's death
between betrayal and honor
between that moment and forever.
Kasama! The day when we encircle
the enemy camp is still far off.
Today we are still concerned
with enlightenment and land reform
and hounding the ICHDFs to their graves.
We remain undaunted.
Today the children brought you flowers
singing hymns of battle
in the bloodred sunset.
They have not forgotten.
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