I am giving you this smoke
rolled tobacco, flowered herbs
tanglad and clean fire, I burn
sandalwood incense, I burn
crackling pine branches, I burn
verses carved on bamboo stalks
verses from dreams and full moons
candles that smell like roses
handfuls of soil, I bring you
bayabas, mangga for you
ampalaya from the vine
sayote, fresh fragrant green
flores de kalabasa
sampaguita from the vine
pinecones, smooth stones I bring you
seashells, polished mollusk bells
abalone and leather
tethered to my wrists, ringing
brass bells and silver, ringing
ankles dancing, bells jangling
seed-filled gourd, shaking shaking
anting-anting I bring you
Virgin Mary prayer cards
sacred heart, rosario
silk-threaded pearls I bring you
slick mah jong tiles I bring you
swishing, clacking on soft cloth
silver coins and chicken eggs
bowl of pinakbet for you
inapoy ken bibingka
I bring you gata, drink, drink
I bring you hot salabat
I give you the softest plumes
take the brightest songbird song
take the birdsong from my throat
I open my throat for you
I open my hands for you
take agila from my throat
take lawin cry from my throat
sa hangin, nagsisigaw
sa langit, nagsisigaw
sa katawan, nagsisigaw
in prayer, yawp and holler
in prayer, we sing your names
intone through hollow wingbone
we give you our lungs, inhale
this air, this drumming drumming
hands cracking, hard soles cracking
earth rumbling drumming thunder
in prayer, breastbone thumping
in prayer, drumbeat, heartbeat
in prayer, the body calls
kapuso, isang mahal
in prayer, we call your names