Ang Akon Utod/My Brother

How much he had changed...

Akon natyempuhan ang akon utod,

malinong nga gakatulog.

Tandaan ko pa ang tyempo sang una.

Ligad tatlo katuig, di gani lima...

Dungan kami gatulog kung hapon.

Kung galigo, ga-agaway pa sang  habon.

Daw pulbos gid ang amon hamot.

Patas pa kami nga inosente kag mabuot.

Indi gid kami mabulag kaangay sang duha ka tuko.

Baw! Daw ano ko gid kapalangga si toto!

Ginhimutadan ko pa ang iya hitsura...

Ang akon utod, indi ko na kilala.

---------English Translation---------

I chanced upon my brother,

sleeping peacefully.

I can still remember the old times.

Three years ago or maybe five.

We took afternoon naps together,

       fought over a soap during baths,

       smelled so much like powder.

We were both innocent and good.

Like two geckos, we were inseparable.

Oh! How I love my brother!

I scrutinized his face...

I don't know him anymore.

Author's Note

We had a poem-writing activity in our class and we had to write using our dialect (Hiligaynon). We did this for ten minutes. I have never been comfortable in my own dialect since I'm very much in love with English but I was surprised when I was having fun with Hiligaynon. :) However, I believe the beauty of the original version is incomparable to the English one. More often than not, a poem's power is lost when translated.)

I sent RRs for this because I'm proud of my dialect. :)

P.S. "Toto" is an endearment for a brother.

Reviews

[Leeci]

Your dialect sounds magical and the meaning of the piece is so sweet when translated. Captured the joy of having a brother during your childhood. It ended on a sad note, but don't worry you will rekindle that relationship with him. You have your whole life ahead of you :)
P.S I don't have a brother, I wish I had but this poem captures that bond of how special that relationship was and gave me some insight into it :)

[Azure Montessa (Blue)]

Having a brother is really sweet and special especially if you are really close to each other. thanks for your wonderful review, Leeci. :)

[Prime]

Haha ! It's a good thing I understand both languages. Mas klaro gid ang hiligaynon aa. :D

[Azure Montessa (Blue)]

Yessss. :) Mayu kay naintindihan mo, Gem. Mas nami ang buot silingon sang poem sa Hiligaynon. I just translated it for the convenience of others. :)

[Leslie Philibert]

I like both versions, the English version for its quality, and the original for the fantastic sound of the language Hiligaynon, which I didn`t know about. Excellent !

[Azure Montessa (Blue)]

Did you read the poem aloud in its Hiligaynon version? :) I might try to do an audio of this one so that you'd have a clue on how this dialect sounds like. Thank you so much, Leslie, for your kind words. :)

[wordwarrior]

Good for you! To be bi-lingual is awesome(wish I was) Don't lose your native tongue. They are both a part of you and can be used all the time. Stay proud of your dialect! Use it more often.

[Azure Montessa (Blue)]

My dialect in my province is Hiligaynon. My country's language is Filipino/Tagalog. My favorite language is English (and I'm taking up a course on this). Being a bi-lingual or a multi-lingual is fun! Your tongue becomes very flexible and you get to communicate to various people. You might want to learn other languages, you know. So that you'd be a bi-lingual, too? ;) Thank you for this wordwarrior! :)

[rutherford]

I'm sorry I can only read the English. The thought though remains--sadness from childhood closeness transformed into separation later in life.

[Azure Montessa (Blue)]

Thanks, Rutherford. :)

[Eddie Davis]

Well, I can only comment on the English translation, but it seems to be very powerful in English too. The ending hits you like a bucket of cold water in the face.

[Azure Montessa (Blue)]

You think so, Eddie? I'm not feeling good with this poem especially in the English translation. But thanks a lot. :)

[Eddie Davis]

I think it works because it translates simple and you create a pleasant series of images of you and your brother, then suddenly your last statement just hits you like a wall, as if you are joining the speaker in realization of not recognizing him for the first time.

[Zachary Dary]

Very nicely penned. I wish i knew Hiligaynon so I could feel the power of the original, true poem.

[Azure Montessa (Blue)]

I might do an audio of the original version, Zach... I'll keep you posted. :)

[Zachary Dary]

Thanks Blue :)

[Rita L. Sev]

You should be very proud, Blue!

It is sad when siblings grow apart - but often they find each other again... Wonderful poem.

[Azure Montessa (Blue)]

I wonder when that will be but I'm hoping. Haha. Thanks, Rita! :)

[icelandicblue]

I love this poem. It's so very touching and poignant. It speaks from the heart.

[Azure Montessa (Blue)]

Wow, thanks a lot! :)

[Daisie Vergara (Dhaye)]

Haha! Cutie-cute-cute, sis. I like this. FYI, I know also Bisaya not only because my mother is a native of Romblon but also some people here in our place came from different provinces (some are from Panay). My one uncle's wife is from Antique, the other one is from Capiz, and my co-teacher is from Dingle, Iloilo.

That's a good attitude. Be proud of who you are and what you have.

Change is a part of life...and progress. It's inevitable. A sad change is a change in a person... when you realize someone dear to you is not the same as before.

I have a brother, too and we call him "Totoy". Imagine, even if he's old enough he's still our "Totoy" because he's our "bunso". May usa pa ako nga utod nga bayi, and I love her so much. She's more beautiful than me (that means I'm beautiful. LOL).

Wonderful poem, sis!

[Azure Montessa (Blue)]

Wow, that's quite a rich environment you have, Ate! :)

Anyway, I also know someone who's 40 years old yet she's still called "Baby". Haha.

Thanks for the encouragement! :)

[Daisie Vergara (Dhaye)]

You're always welcome, Baby....sis. Hehehe.