"Ang Guryon"

ni Ildefonso Santos
Tanggapin mo, anak, itong munting guryon
na yari sa patpat at papel de Hapon;
magandang laruang pula, puti, asul,
na may pangalan mong sa gitna naroon.
Ang hiling ko lamang, bago paliparin
ang guryon mong ito ay pakatimbangin;
ang solo't paulo'y sukating magaling
nang hindi mag-ikit o kaya'y magkiling.
Saka pag sumimoy ang hangin , ilabas
at sa papawiri'y bayaang lumipad;
datapwa't ang pisi'y tibayan mo, anak,
at baka lagutin ng hanging malakas.
Ibigin mo't hindi, balang araw ikaw
ay mapapabuyong makipagdagitan;
makipaglaban ka, subali't tandaan
na ang nagwawagi'y ang pusong marangal.
At kung ang guryon mo'y sakaling madaig,
matangay ng iba o kaya'y mapatid;
kung saka-sakaling di na mapabalik,
maawaing kamay nawa ang magkamit!
Ang buhay ay guryon: marupok, malikot,
dagiti't dumagit, saanman sumuot...
O, paliparin mo't ihalik sa Diyos,
bago pa tuluyang sa lupa'y sumubsob!
"The Kite"
by Ildefonso Santos
Take this my son, this little kite
A kite of stick and Japanese paper
Pretty red, white and blue toy
With your name at its center
My only wish, before you fly it
Take care of this little kite's balance
Take care of its every end
So it won't turn upside down nor sway
Like it or not, the day will come
When you'll be enticed into a kite-fight
Struggle o struggle, but always remember
Only a clean heart scores a victory
And if in case, your kite has fell
Taken by others, or the string was cut
If it has not been returned
May merciful hands claim it as theirs
Life is a kite, weak and turbulent
Fight or be fought, wherever it goes
O let it fly and kiss our God
Before it fell unto the earth.