A curse crashed into the town’s shores.
Light collided with the huge rocks;
It came from the mountains and forest,
Exploded in the surface of the sea,
Dived into the bed of cold and darkness.
Festering on the side of the lagidlid,
Eventually their fins were cut off.
Until final bubbles came out from their mouths.
The manitis are staring at each other,
Their alertness completely gone.
They can no longer return.
The ayungin were spared from the curse.
Stopped swimming once caught in the net;
Then, cooked in a clay pot with vinegar.
When served the entire family was poisoned.
Note: Names of local fishes are retained; lagidlid (Caranx oblongus), manitis (Parupeneus multifasciatus), ayungin (Leiopotherapon plumbeus)
May Morales Dolis grew up in Marinduque and now resides in Bacoor, Cavite. She is the author of the chapbook Ayon Kay Kid Talaba (2023). Translations of her poems have appeared in Modern Poetry in Translation.
Eric Abalajon is currently a lecturer at the University of the Philippines Visayas, Iloilo. His translations have appeared in Asymptote, Modern Poetry in Translation, Four Way Review, Exchanges: Journal of Literary Translation, and Tripwire: a journal of poetics. His debut poetry collection is forthcoming from Flowesong Press. He lives near Iloilo City, Philippines.
