Ang Guryon

"Ang Guryon" ni Ildefonso Santos

"The Kite" by Ildefonso Santos

Tanggapin mo, anak, itong munting guryon na yari sa patpat at papel de Hapon; magandang laruang pula, puti, asul, na may pangalan mong sa gitna naroon Ang hiling ko lamang, bago paliparin ang guryon mong ito ay pakatimbangin; ang solo't paulo'y sukating magaling nang hindi mag-ikit o kaya'y magkiling Saka pag sumimoy ang hangin , ilabas at sa papawiri'y bayaang lumipad; datapwa't ang pisi'y tibayan mo, anak, at baka lagutin ng hanging malakas. Ibigin mo't hindi, balang araw ikaw ay mapapabuyong makipagdagitan; makipaglaban ka, subali't tandaan na ang nagwawagi'y ang pusong marangal. At kung ang guryon mo'y sakaling madaig, matangay ng iba o kaya'y mapatid; kung saka-sakaling di na mapabalik, maawaing kamay nawa ang magkamit! Ang buhay ay guryon: marupok, malikot, dagiti't dumagit, saanman sumuot... O, paliparin mo't ihalik sa Diyos, bago pa tuluyang sa lupa'y sumubsob

Take this my son, this little kite A kite of stick and Japanese paper Pretty red, white and blue toy With your name at its center My only wish, before you fly it Take care of this little kite's balance Take care of its every end So it won't turn upside down nor sway And when the wind blows, take it out And set it free in the air But take care of the string, my son For the strong winds might cut it down Like it or not, the day will come When you'll be enticed into a kite-fight Struggle o struggle, but always remember Only a clean heart scores a victory And if in case, your kite has fell Taken by others, or the string was cut If it has not been returned May merciful hands claim it as theirs Life is a kite, weak and turbulent Fight or be fought, wherever it goes O let it fly and kiss our God Before it fell unto the earth.