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Pisong Rizal

Kinalakhan ko ang sabi-sabing

nasa piso si Rizal upang madaling maabot ang mga tao.


Naalala ko at pinakatitigan

ang kaláwang ng baryang ito

ay ilang taon na ring naglalakbay:


pinambayad ng mga alaala;

naging kapalítan ng kendi;

gamit pangkiskis sa kongkreto;

pinang-ukit sa pangako ng pagmamahal sa isang bato.


Hanggang sa ipinambato sa fountain

na kinalakipan ng pangakong pagmamahal

o dalangin ng kagalingan.


Ang pagpapahalaga ay humigit sa pisikal na

hitsura nitó—umikot-ikot hanggang sa maging

panagdag na lámang sa mga okasyon,

sa handaang hindi sapat ang limang pirasong perang papel.


Pisong Rizal, kawawang káwal ng lipunan;

naging limitado sa sukling kung minsan

ang pagtanggap ay labag sa kalooban.


Kabaligtaran sa mga naniniwalang magsasabing

siya ay minsang nanahan sa ilalim ng marmol—

nakahimlay nang walang pag-aalinlangan


kung paano iikot ang sikulo

na kinabukasan ay magmumula sa gatilyo

ang kanyang kamatayan.


Sapagkat dalawa lamang ang bahagi ng barya:

ang tao at ang ibon—

isang tagô, isang malaya.

isang búhay, isang buháy,

at iikot ito sa hangin na parang nakawalang gamugamo.


At isusulat sa pluma kung paanong 

ang piso ay isa nang pandagdag-kalawang sa

isang selebrasyong pahingahan ng hapóng katawan

ng masang manggagawa.


Umiikot na lamang na may sariling sikulo:

hanggang may butas na kaya itong higupin;


sa estero ng Maynila

na parang kumunoy sa mga paang 

may pagtatangkang suungin,


hanggang ang kalawang ng baryang nito, sa kabila ng paglalakbay, ay mananatili.

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