Hello..just a heads up. This is not my poem but a poem of Francisco Balagtas'. I just wanted to share this to you because I was touched by its beauty and the story behind it.

This is a poem by Fransisco "kiko" Balagtas for the love of his life, Maria "Selya /Celia" Asuncion Rivera.

Written while he was in prison because of his rival in love, Mariano Capule. Who kept him in prison to avoid being a hindrance to his courtship to Maria. They got married whilst he was in prison.

A poem from his broken heart, of love overflowing for Celia.

____________

If I recall and read again 
those days in love’s long-faded script, 
would there be not a mark or trace 
but Celia’s, imprinted on my breast? 

The Celia whom I’ve always 
feared might forget our love, 
who took me down these hapless depths, 
the only reason for this turn of fate. 

Again would I neglect to read 
the pages of our tenderness, 
or call to mind the love she poured, 
the bitter struggle I gave for it? 

Our sweet days gone, 
my love is all that’s left; 
ever shall it dwell within 
till I’m laid down in my grave. 

Now as I lie in loneliness, 
behold wherein I seek relief: 
each bygone day I revisit, I find 
joy in the likeness of your face. 

This likeness painted with love 
and longing has lodged within 
my heart, sole token left with me 
not even death can steal. 

My soul haunts the paths 
and fields you blessed with your footsteps; 
and to Beata River and shallow Hilom stream 
my heart never fails to wander. 

Not rarely now my vagrant grief 
sits under the mango tree we passed, 
and looking at the dainty fruits 
you wanted picked I forget my ache. 

The whole of me could only 
be intimate with sighs when you were ill; 
for I knew as Eden kept a room us, 
my hidden hurt was heaven still. 

I woo your image that resides 
in the Makati river we frequented; 
to the happy berth of boats I trace your steps, 
among the stones that touched your feet. 

All these return before me now, 
the joy of years, the blissful past, 
where I would soak and steep myself 
before I’m caught in brackish neap. 

Always I could hear what you would say: 
Three days and our eyes won’t meet. 
And the eager answer from my leaping heart: 
There’s only me but you prepare a feast. 

So what was there in our 
joyful past that memory could miss: 
in constant retrun the tears do flow, 
I sigh and weep: O hapless fate! 

Where is Celia, joy of my heart? 
Why could our blissful love not last? 
Where is the time when just her look 
was heaven’s glimpse, my soul, my life? 

Why, when we parted, 
did this luckless life not cease? 
Your memory is death, O Celia, 
but in my heart you will not fade. 

This long torment you brought, 
I couldn’t bear, O departed Joy; 
but it took me by the hand to poetry and song, 
about a life so trodden low, now lost. 

Celia, my messages are mute, 
my muse is dumb, her voice faint; 
without my taunt she would not speak, 
pray listen to me with mind and ear. 

This first spring that breaks 
from my parched mind I offer at your feet: 
deign receive, from this kneeling heart, 
even if you won’t savor it. 

If all this fell into slur and insult, 
my gain is great from invested effort, 
if complaint it is you now peruse, 
remember, too, it is the author’s gift. 

O joyful nymphs of Bai, the placid lake, 
Sirens whose voices bring music to my ears, 
I come now to your sparkling shrine, 
my forlorn muse implores you. 

Rise now to shore and field, 
accompany with lyre this humble song 
that speaks: if fate this life may snip, 
its fervent wish is that love won’t cease. 

Gleaming bloom of my mind, 
Celia whose symbols are M, A, and R; 
here I am adoring at the Virgin Madonna’s 
altar, F and B, your loyal servant.

by Francisco Balagtas

____________________Filipino Ver.

Kung pagsaulan kongbasahin sa isip
ang nangakaraang araw ng pag-ibig,
may mahahagilap kayang natititik
liban na kay Selyang namugad sa dibdib?

Yaong Selyang laging pinanganganiban,
baka makalimot sa pag-iibigan;
ang ikinalubog niring kapalaran
sa lubhang malalim na karalitaan.

Makaligtaan ko kayang 'di basahin,
nagdaang panahon ng suyuan namin?
kaniyang pagsintang ginugol sa akin
at pinuhunan kong pagod at hilahil?

Lumipas ang araw na lubhang matamis
at walang natira kundi ang pag-ibig,
tapat na pagsuyong lalagi sa dibdib
hanggang sa libingan bangkay ko'y maidlip.

Ngayong namamanglaw sa pangungulila,
ang ginagawa kong pang-aliw sa dusa,
nagdaang panaho'y inaalaala,
sa iyong larawa'y ninitang ginhawa.

Sa larawang guhit ng sintang pinsel,
kusang inilimbag sa puso't panimdim
nag-iisang sanlang naiwan sa akin,
at 'di mananakaw magpahanggang libing.

Ang kaluluwa ko'y kusang dumadalaw
sa lansanga't ngayong iyong niyapakan;
sa Ilog Beata't Hilom na mababaw,
yaring aking puso'y laging lumiligaw.

Di mamakailang mupo ng panimdim
sa puno ng manggang naraanan natin;
sa nagbiting bungang ibig mong pitasin,
ang ulilang sinta'y aking inaaliw.

Ang katauhan ko'y kusang nagtatalik
sa buntung-hininga nang ika'y may sakit,
himutok ko noo'y inaaring-Langit,
Paraiso naman ang may tulong-silid.

Liniligawan ko ang iyong larawan
sa Makating ilog na kinalagian;
binabakas ko rin sa masayang do'ngan,
yapak ng paa mo sa batong tuntungan.

Nagbabalik mandi't parang hinahanap,
dito ang panahong masayang lumipas;
na kung maliligo'y sa tubig aagap,
nang hindi abutin ng tabsing sa dagat.

Parang naririnig ang lagi mong wika:
tatlong araw na 'di nagtatanaw-tama,
at sinasagot ko ng sabing may tuwa.
sa isa katao'y marami ang handa.

Ano pa nga't walang 'di nasisiyasat
ang pag-iisip ko sa tuwang kumupas;
sa kagugunita, luha'y lalagaslas,
sabay ang taghoy kong O, nasawing palad!

Nasaan si Selyang ligaya ng dibdib?
ang suyuan nami'y bakit 'di lumawig?
nahan ang panahong isa niyang titig
ang siyang buhay ko, kaluluwa't Langit?

Bakit baga ngayong kami maghiwalay
ay di pa nakitil yaring abang buhay?
kung gunitain ka'y aking kamatayan,
sa puso ko Selya'y, 'di ka mapaparam.

Itong 'di matiis na pagdaralita
nang dahil sa iyo, O nalayong tuwa,
ang siyang umakay na ako'y tumula,
awitin ang buhay ng isang naaba.

Selya'y talastas ko't malalim na umid,
mangmang ang musa ko't malumbay ang tinig;
'di kinabahagya kung hindi malait,
palaring dinggin mo ng tainga't isip.

Ito'y unang bukal ng bait kong kutad
na inihahandog sa mahal mong yapak;
tanggapin mo nawa kahit walang lasap,
nagbuhat sa puso ng lingkod na tapat.

Kung kasadlakan man ng pula't pag-ayop,
tubo ko'y dakila sa pahunang pagod;
kung binabasa mo'y isa mang himutok
ay alalahanin yaring naghahandog.

Masasayang Ninfas sa lawa ng Bai,
Sirenas, ang tinig ay kawili-wili,
kayo ngayo'y siyang pinipintakasi
ng lubhang mapanglaw na musa kong imbi.

Ahon sa dalata't pampang na nagligid,
tonohan ng lira yaring abang awit
na nagsasalitang buhay ma'y mapatid,
tapat na pagsinta'y hangad na lumawig.

Ikaw na bulaklak niring dili-dili,
Selyang sagisag mo'y ang M.A.R.
sa Birheng mag-ina'y ipamintakasi
ang tapat mong lingkod na si F.B.