Ullaw (Kite) - Haiku in Ilokano

Dr Abe V Rotor

Mural and Verse by Abe V Rotor

Kimat, gurruod:
Panagbuteng, panag-raem,
Igges, u’ong.

(Lightning, thunder spawn fear and respect,
vermin and mushroom)

Angin ammianan,
Kannaway agsangpetdan,
Nepnep umayen.

(Wind from the South brings in herons and monsoon rains)

Agkankanta
'Diay kakawkawayanan,
Angin abagatan.

[The north wind (amihan) makes the bamboos creak.]

Denggem ti kanta:
Arado nga sumilsilap,
Andidit ken kuriat.

(Listen to the chorus of plowshare, cicada and crickets, indicating good crop year.)

Ullaw nasapa,
Ubbing agkakatawa,
Umpes ti dawa.

(Early kite flying and boisterous urchins predict empty grains.)

Bangir inaladan,
Sanga marmargu-uyan,
Amin mairaman.

(All shares bounty of a branch across the fence.)

Agbarbaraniw,
Nagatud nga nasapa,
Gumurgura.

(Early pruning retards growth of the plant.)

Makaguyugoy,
Pul-oy iti mumalmalem,
Sirok mangga.

(It’s conducive to take siesta under the mango tree.)

Minuyungan,
Agri-ing dagiti bittuen,
Maturugen

(Stars are seen under bare trees in fall.)

Agawidkan,
Bulong ti akasia
Nakaturugen.

(It’s time to go home when the leaves of the acacia tree start to droop.)

Kalgaw nalpasen:
Saan nga masapulan
Lapis ken papel.

(Summer is over - it's hard to go back to school.)

x x x