Bankusay Seascape, 1940
by Enrique S. Villasis—after Vicente Manansala #
Of longing: the shore, we can perceive, can only offer up metaphors—
A reminder that the waves can drown us and that the salt can be harsh against our feet.
Someone always looks out, waiting for the familiar flapping of a sail but it is only a sea eagle
That the horizon gives birth to, a valiant emperor of a deprived inferno. Each send-off
By the fisherman’s wife is always cast into suspicion. There is always a yearning
In each farewell: to plant a kiss on the cheek, a reminder to take caution.
Someone always grows anxious out of love. A poet once let himself be subsumed
By sorrow in the ribs of the coast: everything, even the heart has festered away;
that what can be recognized
As the brine are the pulsating forgotten memories of romance; whose epitome
Shall rise out of new jealousies. So there are those who gather broken shells,
Searching for meaning among the rough edges of gallstones. Here lies the history
Of solitude. How could one forget those fingers of ivory and heels cloistered by rose?
Even the names of past loves have been claimed by the coming storm, always bringing
The promise of destruction. The memories reside within a clenched heart like a scream concealed
In a blow horn—the tales of our first disappointments.Meanwhile, out in the sea, while deluded
With the belief of return, the shore will merely be a glint among
The salt—begging to be recognized anew like glances too-soon forgot.
- 1.
Enrique Villasis’s encounter with this Manansala painting is through a book entitled Images of Nation: Vicente Manansala as Social Realist published by the Ayala Foundation. The artwork is entitled Bakusay Seascape, oil on canvasboard, 1940, 36.3 x 44 cm. It is part of a private collection.
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Bankusay na Tanaw-dagat, 1940
Ukol sa pangungulila: tanging talinghaga ang batid nating maiaalok ng dalampasigan—
Pagpapaalala na saklot tayo ng mga alon at mahapdi ang pagkaskas ng alat sa talampakan.
Laging may nakatanaw, nag-aabang sa pagaspas ng pamilyar na layag ngunit manaol lamang
Ang iniluluwal ng abot-tanaw, magilas na emperador ng hungkag na imperyo. Nasa bingit
Ng pag-aalinlangan ang bawat paghatid ng kabiyak sa mangingisda. Lagi ang pangangailangan
Sa pamamaalam: ang pagtatanim ng halik sa pisngi, ang paghahabilin ng pag-iingat.
May pinangangambahan sapagkat nagmamahal. Minsan, may makatang nagpaangkin
Sa kalungkutan ng tadyang ng aplaya: lahat, pati puso ay naagnas; na tila ang tanging Pagkakakilala sa tabsing ay ang pagpintig ng mga nilimot na lihim ng pag-ibig; na ang simbolo’y Sisibol sa mga panibagong panibugho. Kaya may nagtitipon ng mga biyak na kabibe, Naghahanap ng mga kahulugan sa gaspang ng apdo ng bato. Naririto ang kasaysayan
Ng mingaw. Papaano ba lilimutin ang daliring garing at sakong na wari’y kinuyom na rosas?
Maging ang ngalan ng dating kasintahan ay inangkin ng paparating na bagyo, na lagi’t lagi’y
May panata ng paglipol. Namamahay ang alaala sa kuyom na puso tulad ng mga kubling sigaw
Sa tambuli—na salaysay ng mga sinauna nating pagkabigo. Samantala, sa laot, habang hibang
Sa paniniwala na may makakabalik, ang dalampasigan ay isa lamang sa mga nakalatag na kislap
Sa alat—humihiling na muli silang kilalanin tulad ng mga tingin na kay daling limutin.
