Lit 100: 21st Century Literature from the Philippines to the World.

Yang Puerta ng Biniya'an na Bay

By Danny Castillones Sillada

Unàn sà yang mgá panghitabô

na kanaàn ikit-àn, sàng pag-abré

haw pagserá, pag-abòt haw pagpanaw,

sàng kaduŏm o ka-adlaw,

sàng kalipayon o kamasulob-òn?

Unàn sa yáng hinungdàn

o misteryoso na mgá rasón sàng kanaàn

makahahadlòk na kahungáy,

yaàgnas haw yahugnô hináy-hináy

sàng mahayab na pag-inusara?

Pagkàmingaway sa tanawón—

yang malipayon na puerta sàng- awŏn

doón sarado italìkdan intawon

sin-o mán yang mgá gahuyâ ngànsin-i:

yapanaw silán, wâ dà gayod ulií.

The Door of an Old Abandoned House
By Danny Castillones Sillada

What occurrences did it witness

Amid opening and closing,

Arrival and Departure,

In evening or in daytime,

In Joy or in sorrow?

What rational or mysterious

Circumstances that finally brought

To its frightening silence,

Decaying and crumbling

From its decrepit solitude?

How sad and tragic –

The once effervescent door

Was permanently shuttered

By those who used to live here:

They left and never came back.