Quaere Verum

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. I love thee to the level of everyday's Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints,—I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life!—and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death. - Elizabeth Barret Browning

If in my deep slumber I would awaken, And find my world And life’s dreams To be forsaken, Let me hold onto my credence Of someday I’ll find you home. Back to where my heart is longing, Ease my heart that’s breaking, Stop the tears falling, And come back home. If by chance we meet And you see that I am confused, Put a stop to my confusion And carry me home. Destiny’s already woven We’ve got to keep believing That ours are interwoven, That’s all I could do to Keep apart from you, Hoping someday Love would see us through. Though troubles and despairs may Be cast upon our ways, but God would see us through. Home, will be the place in my heart Where you’ll stay for a lifetime, I’ll wait for you in the meantime When the time would be right For us to decide What’s next in line. Just remember that – I will always love you, For my home is your heart… and yours is in mine. - Lynae

The summer air: saps my strength I sit in my chair. Yes. That's it.

Bounded by the thoughts of what once was I lingered, filled with emotions that’ll never come to pass Trapped in a time I thought won't ever last Silenced by the memories of the past. Within these walls, I blindly walk Not knowing when or where to go. Shadows of doubt had loomed so free, Trying to fill the void that once was me. In this emptiness, I quietly lay, Waiting and hoping for time to make haste Fading the delusions of the mind, Of dreams that I can never find. - Lynae

I stare into the distance thinking of what once was... I reach out to you with my thoughts but you were nowhere. I listen to my beating heart the heart that still beats for you... I strain to hear your heartbeat but I hear only silence. I remember the warmth of your touch the soft caress that once gave me repose... I try to hold on to you but you have long since gone. Then there is a hollow emptiness a bleak void of nothingness in my soul... I shed my tears for you in despair and I go on my way.

I don't love you as if you were the salt-rose, topaz or arrow of carnations that propagate fire: I love you as certain dark things are loved, secretly, between the shadow and the soul. I love you as the plant that doesn't bloom and carries hidden within itself the light of those flowers, and thanks to your love, darkly in my body lives the dense fragrance that rises from the earth. I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where, I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I don't know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep it is your eyes that close. - Pablo Neruda For Lynae.

I sat and think of you releasing my mind and letting it go, to the farthest ends of thought, to where my mind can reach you to where my heart can love you to where my arms can hold you, endlessly... to the farthest reach of dreams I'll hold you, to the deepest depths of my heart I will love you, till reality finds me I'll be thinking of you. - Lynae

As I gazed into the looking glass I can see a forlorn mortal shell Caught between dilemmas of the past And stories I feel that I must tell The perplexity of my own life Never can I ever comprehend With all the conflict and all the strife And emotions that I cannot mend As I gazed at my reflection’s eyes Tranquil oceans of sorrow appeared For my failures may have made me wise But from the angst I have not been spared For of the mind, the soul and the heart The heart heeds nothing else but itself Even if all things must fall apart It is truly that which guides one’s self As I gazed into the dark, blue sky And count the stars that remain above I go ask myself the question why… Is it not enough to be in love? But the mind says it is not enough For to live is really that complex As even smooth seas at times turn rough And loved ones sometimes we tend to vex As I gazed at the depths of the sea And ponder on choices to be made Fearing the future, that I must be As designs are set and plans ar...

I was going over some of my old stuff several days ago, looking for trash to throw out, when I chanced upon an old folded piece of paper carefully tucked among some knick knacks. A bit curious, I carefully unfolded it, and I saw a long forgotten poem that was written for me a long time ago. It happened about thirteen years ago, give or take a year or so. I was still in college at the time. Someone...I have no idea who, gave me this poem. I found the poem elegant in its simplicity and expressiveness - the author definitely had a way with words. I guess it was written by someone who, well, judging from the sentiment of the poem, had a crush on me or something (I hope I'm not being too presumptuous). I was flattered to say the least, and quite impressed. Unfortunately, I never did get to know who wrote this, much less meet the person. It happened so long ago that I don't remember much about it anymore. However, the poem, to my mind, remains what it was when I first read it...a be...

Its been raining a lot lately. Its been this way for several days now. Somehow, I don't really mind. I like the rain . I like the dark and gloomy skies, the cold wind, the feeling of raindrops falling on my face, the pitter-patter I hear when the rain hits the ground, the splash I hear with every step I take. Actually, I like the rainy season even more than I like summer. During cloudless days when the sun is shining brightly, with skies so blue and so clear that you can almost see forever, with birds singing, and children playing in the streets, I somehow feel obligated to be happy and cheerful. Its like you can't be sad, because you'll be sad all by your lonesome. Its like the old saying: "Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone." I like rainy days better. Maybe its true when they say that misery loves company . Somehow I feel better about myself during rainy and stormy days. Perhaps its because everyone else feels so miserable about th...

somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond any experience, your eyes have their silence: in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me, or which i cannot touch because they are too near your slightest look easily will unclose me though i have closed myself as fingers, you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens (touching skilfully, mysteriously) her first rose or if your wish be to close me, i and my life will shut very beautifully, suddenly, as when the heart of this flower imagines the snow carefully everywhere descending; nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals the power of your intense fragility: whose texture compels me with the colour of its countries, rendering death and forever with each breathing (i do not know what it is about you that closes and opens; only something in me understands the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses) nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands - E.E. Cummings Edward Estlin Cummings published this poe...

This is a poem that Nao and I collaborated on during our stint as college writers so many years past. It was also an experiment... "sa paggamit ng malalim na Tagalog." Hahaha. The poem is meant to be read alternately between the girl and guy parts. Nao! In case you already forgot this, or lost your copy, here it is! Hope you guys enjoy it...:-) Guryon ng Pag-Ibig BABAE: Oh, lumipad ka, mahal! Sige, taasan mo pa Tangan ko yaring tali Kaya’t ‘wag mag-alala At sa iyong paglipad Nasalubong mga ulap Dami, kulay at hugis Saglit mong inapuhap Ang araw nga ay sumapit ‘di kita pipigilin B’onhigpit aking kapit Huwag patangay sa hangin. Ngunit sa paglipad mo Nawa’y ibaba ‘yong tinging Isipin mo lamang ako Pangako mo sana’y dinggin Sa iyong pagbabalik At sa iyong pagbaba Tamis ng iyong halik ‘di pa rin nawawala Sinta, ika’y nagbalik Nang walang pagpipilit Kaya’t ako’y nananabik Sa tali’y ika’y kumapit Ngayo’y nasa ‘king muli Guryon ng ‘king pinawalan Wagas na pag-ibig ang Siyang pinawa...

X Yet, love, mere love, is beautiful indeed And worthy of acceptation. Fire is bright, Let temple burn, or flax; an equal light Leaps in the flame from cedar-plank or weed: And love is fire. And when I say at need I love thee...mark!...I love thee--in thy sight I stand transfigured, glorified aright, With conscience of the new rays that proceed Out of my face toward thine. There's nothing low In love, when love the lowest: meanest creatures Who love God, God accepts while loving so. And what I feel, across the inferior features Of what I am, doth flash itself, and show How that great work of Love enhances Nature's. XIV If thou must love me, let it be for nought Except for love's sake only. Do not say I love her for her smile--her look--her way Of speaking gently,--for a trick of thought That falls in well with mine, and certes brought A sense of ease on such a day-- For these things in themselves, Belovèd, may Be changed, or change for thee,--and love, so wrought, May be un...