Sarah Mae R.

Ismael
Midsummer
By Manuel Arguilla
Beginning
1
He pulled down his hat until the wide brim
touched his shoulders.
He crouched lower under the cover of his cart
and peered ahead.
The road seemed to writhe under the lash of
the noon-day heat; it swum from side to side,
humped and bent itself like a feeling serpent,
and disappeared behind the spur of a low hill
on which grew a scrawny thicket of bamboo.
2

There was not a house in sight.

Along the left side of the road ran the deep, dry
gorge of a stream, the banks sparsely covered
by sun-burned cogon grass.
In places, the rocky, waterless bed showed
aridly.
Farther, beyond the shimmer of quivering heat
waves rose ancient hills not less blue than the
cloud-palisaded sky.
On the right stretched a land waste of low
rolling dunes.
Scattered clumps of hardy ledda relieved the
otherwise barren monotony of the landscape.
Far away he could discern a thin indigo line that
was the sea.
3
The grating of the cartwheels on the pebbles
of the road and the almost soundless shuffle of
the weary bull but emphasized the stillness.
Now and then came the dry rustling of falling
earth as lumps from the cracked sides of the
gorge fell down to the bottom.
4
He struck at the bull with the slack of the rope.
Th e animal broke into a heavy trot.
The dust stirred slumberously.
The bull slowed down, threw up his head, and a
glistening thread of saliva spun out into the dry
air.
The driving rays of the sun were reflected in
the point of light on the wet heaving flanks.
5
The man in the cart did not notice the woman
until she had rounded the spur of land and
stood unmoving beside the road, watching the
cart and its occupant come toward her.
She was young, surprisingly sweet and fresh
amidst her parched surroundings.
A gaily striped kerchief covered her head, the
ends tied at the nape of her neck.
She wore a homespun bodice of light red cloth
with small white checks.
Her skirt was also homespn and showed a
pattern of white checks with narrow stripes of
yellow and red.
With both hands she held by the mouth of a
large, apparently empty, water jug, the cool red
of which blended well with her dress.
She was barefoot.

Gitnang Tag-araw
Ni Manuel Arguilla
1

Hinila niya ang kanyang salakot hanggang ang

malapad na gilid nitoy tumama sa kanyang
mga balikat.
Sumilong siya sa lilim ng kanyang kariton at
tumingin sa di kalayuan.
Nagmistulang namimilipit ang daan sa ilalim ng
nakakapasong init ng araw; nagpagewanggewang ito, umumbok at bumaluktot na parang
nakikiramdam na ahas at naglaho sa likod ng
isang mababang burol kung saan tumubo ang
isang patpating kumpol ng kawayan.
2
Walang kabahay-bahay sa paligid.
Sa kaliwang bahagi ng daan ay ang malalim at
tuyong bangin ng isang sapa, kalat-kalat na
natatakpan ng kogon ang mga pampang.
May mga lugar kung saan nakikita ang mabato
ang tigang na ilalim ng sapa.
Sa kalayuan, sa ibayo ng nanginginig na init
nakatayo ang mga sinaunang burol na sing-asul
ng maulap na kalangitan.
Sa kanan, nakalatag ang nakatiwangwang na
lupa ng mga bunton ng buhangin.
Ang nakakalat na kumpol ng ledda ay
nagpapahupa sa pagang na tanawin.
Sa malayo, nakikinita niya ang isang manipis at
indigong linya na ang dagat.
3
Ang paggadgad ng mga gulong sa maliliit na
bato sa daan at ang halos tahimik na kaladkad
ng mga paa ng pagod na toro ay nagbibigaydiin lamang sa katahimikan.
Paminsan-minsan, kumakaluskos ang lupa
kapag nahuhulog ang mga kumpol ng putik
mula sa tipak na gilid ng bangin.
Hinampas niya ang lubid sa toro.
Bumilis ang hakbang ng hayop.
Nabulabog ang mga alikabok.
Bumagal ang takbo ng toro, itinaas ang ulo at
napalipad ang laway nito sa tuyong hangin.
Makikita ang sinag ng araw sa mga basa at
naghihikahos na gilid ng hayop.
Hindi napansin ng lalake sa kariton ang babae
hanggang ang huliy nakaikot na at tumayo
nang walang kibo sa tabi ng daan,
pinagmamasdan ang kariton at ang sakay nito
na palapit sa kanya.
Bata pa ang babae, malambing at sariwa sa
gitna ng uhaw na kapaligiran.
Isang makulay na panyo ang nakatakip sa
kanyang ulo, ang mga dulo'y nakatali sa
kanyang batok.
Nakasuot siya ng tinahing pulang damit na may
maliliit na puting tsek.
Tinahi rin ang kanyang palda at may mga
puting tsek at makikitid na magkatabing guhit
ng dilaw at pula.
Hawak niya sa kanyang dalawang kamay ang
bunganga ng isang malaki at walang lamang
banga, ang pagkapula nitoy nahalo sa
pagkapula ng kanyang damit.
Nakayapak siya.

She stood straight and still beside the road

and regarded him with frank curiosity.
Suddenly she turned and disappeared into the
dried gorge.
Coming to where she had stood a few moments
before, he pulled up the bull and got out of the
cart.
He saw where a narrow path had been cut into
the bank and stood a while lost in thought,
absently wiping the perspiration from his face.
Then he unhitched his bull and for a few
moments, with strong brown fingers, kneaded
the hot neck of the beast.
Driving the animal before him, he followed the
path.
It led up the dry bed of the stream; the sharp
fragments of the unheated rock were like
burning coals under his feet.
There was no sign of the young woman.

He came upon her beyond a bend in the gorge, where

a big mango tree, which had partly fallen from the side
of the ravine, casts its cool shade over a well.
7

She had filled her jar and was rolling the kerchief
around her hand into a flat coil where she placed on
her head.
Without glancing at him, where she had stopped some
distance off, she sat down on her heels, gathering the
folds of her skirt between her widespread knees.
8

She tilted the brimful jar to remove part of the water.

One hand in the rim, the other supporting the bottom,
she began to raise it to her head.
She knelt on one knee - resting, for a moment, the jar
on the other while she brushed away drop of water
from the sides.
In one lithe movement she brought the jar onto her
head, getting to her feet at the same time.
But she staggered a little and water slashed down on
her breast.
The single bodice instantly clung to her bosom,
molding the twin hillocks of her breasts, warmly
brown through the wet cloth.
One arm remained uplifted holding the jar, while the
other shook the clinging cloth free of her drenched
flesh.
Then not once having raised her eyes, she passed by
the young man, who stood mutely gazing beside his
bull.
The animal had found some grass along the path and
was industriously gazing.
9
He turned to watch the graceful figure beneath the jar
until it vanished around a bend in the path leading to
the road.
Then he led the bull to the well, and tethered it to a

Tumayo siya nang tuwid at walang kibo sa tabi

ng daan at pinagmasdan ang lalake na may
hayagang pag-uusisa.
Sa isang iglap lumiko siya at naglaho patungo
sa tuyong bangin.
Pagdating kung saan nakatayo ang babae kanikanina lang, pinatigil ng lalake ang toro at saka
bumaba ng kanyang kariton.
Nakita niya ang isang makitid na daan sa
pampang at tumayo roon sandali at nag-isip,
hindi namamalayang pinapahid ang pawis sa
kanyang mukha.
Pagkatapos, kinalas niya sa pagkakatali ang
kanyang toro at sandaling minasahe ang leeg
ng hayop gamit ang malalakas at
kayumangging daliri.
Habang ginagabayan ang hayop sa harap niya,
sinundan niya ang daan.
Patungo iyon sa tuyong ilalim ng sapa; ang
matutulis na batoy nagmistulang nag-aapoy na
baga sa ilalim ng kanyang mga paa.
Hindi niya nahagilap ang babae.
Natagpuan niya ang babae sa kabila ng isang
liko sa bangin, kung saan ang isang malaking
puno ng mangga na medyo nahuhulog sa gilid
ng bangin ay nagbibigay ng preskong lilim sa
isang balon.
Napuno na ng babae ang banga at rinorolyo
ang panyo sa kanyang kamay na siyang nilagay
niya sa kanyang ulo.
Ni walang isang sulyap sa lalake, kung saan
siya tumigil, umupo siya, tinipon ang laylayan
ng kanyang palda sa pagitan ng kanyang
nakabukakang tuhod.
Pinatagilid niya ang punung-punong banga
upang mabawasan ang tubig.
Dahan-dahan niyang dinala ang banga sa
kanyang ulo, ang isang kamay ay nasa
bunganga nito habang ang isay
sinusuportahan ang ilalim.
Lumuhod siya sa isang tuhod at saglit na
nagpahinga, nilagay ang banga sa kabilang
tuhod habang pinapahid ang tulo ng tubig sa
gilid.
Sa isang galaw, nilagay niya ang banga sa
kanyang ulo sabay tayo.
Ngunit, gumiray-giray siya nang kaunti at
nabuhos ang tubig sa kanyang dibdib.
Agad dumikit ang damit sa kanyang hinaharap,
hinulma ang kambal na burol ng kanyang
dibdib na kitang-kita sa basang tela.
Nanatiling nakataas ang isa niyang braso
habang ang isang kamay ay tinatanggal ang
tela sa pagkakakapit sa kanyang uhaw na
katawan.
Ni hindi man lang itinaas ang kanyang
paningin, nilagpasan niya ang binata na
tahimik na nakatitig sa kanya katabi ang toro.
Nakakita ng damo ang hayop sa tabi ng daan
at masipag na kumain.
Lumingon ang binata upang pagmasdan ang
kaakit-akit na pangangatawan na may dalang
banga hanggang itoy lumiko sa daanan
patungo sa daan.
Tapos, dinala niya ang toro sa balon at tinali ito

root of the mango tree.

10
"The underpart of her arm is while and smooth," he
said to his blurred image on the waters of the well, as
he leaned over before lowering the bucket made of
half petroleum can.
"And her hair is thick and black."
The bucket struck with a rattling impact.
It filled with one long gurgle.
He threw his hat on the grass and pulled the bucket up
with both hands.
The twisted bamboo rope bit into his hardened palms,
and he thought how the same rope must hurt her.
11

He placed the dripping bucket on a flat stone, and

the bull drank.
"Son of lightning!" he said, thumping the side of the
bull after it had drunk the third bucketful, "you drink
like the great Kabuntitiao!"
A low, rich rumbling rolled through the cavernous
body of the beast.
He tied it again to the root, and the animal idly rubbed
its horns against the wood.
The sun had fallen from the perpendicular, and
noticing that the bull stood partly exposed to the sun,
he pushed it farther to the shade.
He fanned himself with his hat.
He whistled to entice the wind from the sea, but not a
breeze stirred.
12

After a while he put on his hat and hurriedly walked

the short distance through the gorge up to the road
where his cart stood.
From inside he took a jute sack which he slung over
on shoulder.
With the other arm, he gathered part of the hay at the
bottom of the cart.
He returned to the well, strips of straw falling behind
him as he picked his way from one tuft of grass to
another, for the broken rocks of the path had grown
exceedingly hot.
13
He gave the hay into the bull.
It swished its longhaired tail and fell into eating.
Its rump was again in the sun, and he had to push it
back.
"Fool, do you want to broil yourself alive?" he said
good-humoredly, slapping the thick haunches.
The dry, sweet-smelling hay made harsh gritting
sounds in the mouth of the hungry animal.
Saliva rolled out from the corners, clung to the stiff
hairs that fringed the thick lower lip, fell and gleamed
and evaporated in the heated air.
14

He took out of the jute sack a polished

coconut shell.
The top had been sawed off and holes bored at

sa isang ugat ng punong mangga.

Maputi at makinis ang kanyang kilikili, sabi
ng lalaki sa kanyang malabong imahe sa tubig
ng balon, nang dumungaw siya bago ibaba ang
timbang gawa sa hating lata ng petrolyo.
At makapal at maitim ang buhok niya.
Malakas na lumagapak ang timba.
Napuno ito sa isang mahabang laguklok.
Tinapon niya ang kanyang salakot sa damuhan
at hinatak ang timba pataas gamit ang
dalawang kamay.
Kumagat ang nakapulupot na kawayang lubid
sa kanyang makalyong mga palad at naisip
niya na nasaktan ang parehong lubid ang
dalaga.
Nilapag niya ang tumutulong balde sa isang
lapad na bato at uminom ang toro.
Anak ng kidlat! sambit niya, hinahampas ang
gilid ng toro matapos nitong inumin ang
pangatlong timba ng tubig, kung uminom kay
parang ang dakilang Kabuntitiao!
Isang mababang dagundong ang narinig mula
sa malunggang katawan ng hayop.
Muli niyang tinali ang hayop sa ugat ng puno,
at tinatamad na kiniskis ng hayop ang mga
sungay nito sa kahoy.
Mataas na ang sikat ng araw at tinulak niya
patungo sa lilim ang toro nang mapansing
natatamaan ito ng araw.
Pinaypay niya ang sarili gamit ang kanyang
salakot.
Sumipol siya upang maengganyo ang hangin
mula sa dagat, subalit walang ni isang lawiswis
ang dumating.
Pagkalipas ng ilang sandali, sinuot niya ang
kanyang salakot at dali-daling naglakad ng
maikling distansya sa bangin hanggang sa
daan kung saan naiwan ang kanyang kariton.
Kinuha niya ang isang sako mula sa loob at
isinabit sa isang balikat.
Gamit ang kabilang braso, inipon niya ang ilang
dayami sa ilalim ng kariton.
Bumalik siya sa balon, iilang mga dayami ang
nahuhulog habang umaapak siya sa mga
damo, dahil ang mga basag na bato sa daanan
ay mas uminit.
Binigay niya ang dayami sa toro.
Hinampas ng toro ang kanyang buntot at
nagsimulang kumain.
Ang likuran ng hayop ay muling natamaan ng
araw at kinailangan ng lalaking itulak ito
pabalik sa lilim.
Tanga, gusto mo bang maluto ka nang
buhay? sambit niya na may pagbibiro,
hinahampas ang makapal na haunches.
Ang mga tuyo at mabangong dayami ay nagingay sa bibig ng gutom na hayop.
Lumabas ang laway sa gilid ng bibig nito,
dumikit sa matitigas na buhok sa gilid ng
makapal na labi, nahulog at kumintab at
naglaho sa mainit na hangin.
Nilabas niya sa sako ang isang makinis na bao
ng niyog.
Ang itaas nitoy nilagari at binutasan ang

opposite sides, through which a string tied to

the lower part of the shell passed in a loop.
The smaller piece could thus be slipped up and
down as a cover.
The coconut shell contained cooked rice still a
little warm.
Buried on the top was an egg now boiled hard.
He next brought out a bamboo tube of salt, a
cake of brown sugar wrapped in banana leaf,
and some dried shrimps.
Then he spread the sack in what remained of
the shade, placed his simple meal thereon, and
prepared to eat his dinner.
But first he drew a bucketful of water from the
well, setting the bucket on a rock.
He seated himself on another rock and ate with
his fingers.
From time to time he drank from the bucket.
15
He was half through with his meal when the
girl came down the path once more.
She had changed the wetted bodice.
He watched her with lowered head as she
approached, and felt a difficulty in continuing
to eat, but went through the motions of filling
his mouth nevertheless.
He strained his eyes looking at the girl from
beneath his eyebrows.
How graceful she was!
Her hips tapered smoothly down to round
thighs and supple legs, showing against her
skirt and moving straight and free.
Her shoulders, small but firm, bore her shapely
neck and head with shy pride.
16

When she was very near, he ate more

hurriedly, so that he almost choked.
He did not look at her.
She placed the jar between three stones.
When she picked up the rope of the bucket, he
came to himself.
He looked up--straight into her face.
He saw her eyes.
They were brown and were regarding him
gravely, without embarrassment; he forget his
own timidity.

"Won't you join me, Ading?" he said simply. He

remained seated.
18
Her lips parted in a half smile and a little dimple
appears high up on her right cheek.
She shook her head and said: "God reward you,
Manong."
19
"Perhaps the poor food I have is not fit for you?"
17

20

"No, no. It isn't that.

How can you think of it?
I should be ashamed.
It is that I have just eaten myself.

magkabilang gilid kung saan nakapulupot ang

isang lubid sa ilalim ng bao.
Ang maliit na pirasoy maaaring igalaw na
parang isang takip.
May lamang mainit na kanin ang bao.
Nakabaon sa ibabaw ang isang matigas na
nilagang itlog.
Sunod niyang nilabas ang isang kawayang may
lamang asin, isang kumpol ng pulang asukal na
nakabalot sa dahon ng saging at ilang
pinatuyong hibi.
Pagkatapos, nilatag niya ang sako sa natirang
lilim, inayos ang kanyang simpleng
pananghalian at naghanda upang kumain.
Subalit, nag-igib muna siya ng isang timbang
tubig mula sa balon, nilapag ang timba sa isang
bato.
Umupo siya sa ibang bato at kumain nang
nakakamay.
Paminsan-minsan, umiinom siya mula sa timba.
Nangangalahati na siya sa kanyang
pananghalian nang muling dumaan ang babae.
Pinalitan na ng dalaga ang kanyang nabasang
damit.
Payuko niyang pinagmasdan ang babae habang
ang huliy papalapit at nahirapan siyang
magpatuloy sa pagkain subalit hindi pa rin
tinigilan ang pagsubo.
Pinilit niyang tingnan ang babae mula sa ilalim
ng kanyang kilay.
Ang tikas niya!
Dumaloy ang kanyang balakang sa mabibilog
niyang hita at malambot na binti na naaaninag
sa kanyang palda at gumagalaw nang tuwid at
malaya.
Ang kanyang payat ngunit matigas na mga
balikat ay nakasuporta sa kanyang hugisang
leeg at ulo na may kiming pagmamalaki.
Nang napakalapit na ng dalaga, lalong
nagmadali siyang kumain kaya't muntik siyang
mabulunan.
Hindi siya tumingin sa babae.
Nilagay ng babae ang banga sa gitna na
tatlong bato.
Nang pinulot nito ang tali ng timba, natauhan
ang lalake.
Tumingin siya sa taas diretso sa kanyang
mukha.
Nakita niya ang mga mata nito.
Kayumanggi ang mga ito at tinititigan siya
nang maigi na hindi nahihiya; nakalimutan ng
lalake ang kanyang hiya.
Kain tayo, Ading, pasimple niyang sabi.
Nanatili siyang nakaupo.
Bahagyang ngumiti ang babae at isang maliit
na dimple ang lumitaw sa kanan nitong pisngi.
Umiling ito at sinabing, Pagpalain ka ng Diyos,
Manong.
Malamang ang simpleng pagkain ko ay hindi
angkop sa'yo?
Hindi, hindi. Hindi naman sa ganon.
Paano mo naisip 'yan?
Dapat mahiya ako.
Kaya lang katataposko lang ding kumain.

That is why I came to get water in the middle of the

day - we ran out of it.
I see you have eggs and shrimp and sugar.
Why, we had nothing but rice and salt."
21
"Salt? Surely you joke."
22
"I would be ashamed. . ."
23
"But what is the matter with salt?
24
'Salt . . . salt . . .Makes my baby stout' he intoned.
"My grandmother used to sing that to me when I
complained of our food."
25
They laughed and felt more at ease and regarded
each other more openly.
He took a long time fingering his rice
before raising it to his mouth, the while
gazed up at her and smiled for no reason.
She smiled back in turn and gave the rope
which she held an absent-minded tug.
The bucket came down from its perch of
rock in a miniature flood.
He leaped to his feet with a surprised yell,
and the next instant the jute sack on which
lay his meal was drenched.
Only the rice inside the coconut shell and
the bamboo tube of salt were saved from
the water.
She was distressed, but he only laughed.
Forgive me, Manong, she insisted.
It was all my fault. Such a clumsy creature I
am.
It was not your fault, he assured her.
I am to blame for placing the bucket of water
where I did.
I will draw you another bucketful, she said,
beginning to coil the rope.
I will draw the water myself, he said.
I am stronger than you.
No, you must let me do it.
But when he caught hold of the bucket and
stretched forth a brawny arm for the coil of
rope in her hands, she surrendered both to him
quickly and drew back a step as though shy of
his touch.
He lowered the bucket with his back to her, and
she had time to take in the tallness of him, the
breadth of his shoulders, the sinewy length of
his legs.
Down below in the small of his back, two
parallel ridges of rope-like muscle stuck out
against the wet shirt.
As he hauled up the bucket, muscles ripped all
over his body.
His hair, which was wavy, cut short behind but
long in front, fell in a cluster over his forehead.
Let me hold the bucket while you drink, she
offered.
He flashed her a smile over his shoulders as he
poured the water into her jar, and again
lowered the bucket.
No, no, you must not do that.
She hurried to his side and held one of his
arms.

Kaya ako pumunta rito para mag-igib ng tubig

ngayong tanghaling tapat naubusan kami ng
tubig.
May mga itlog, hibi at asukal ka pala.
Kanin lang at asin ang amin.
Asin? Sigurang nagbibiro ka.
Mahihiya ako...
Pero ano ang masama sa asin?
'Asin... asin... nagpapataba ng sanggol,' wika
niya.
Kinakanta 'yan sa'kin ng lola ko tuwing
nagrereklamo ako tungkol sa aming pagkain.
Nagtawanan sila at naging mas kumportable at
tinuring ang isa't isa nang walang
pagkukunwari.
Pinatagal niya ang kanin sa kanyang kamay
bago ito isubo, tumitingin sa babae at ngumiti
nang walang dahillan.
Ngumiti rin ang dalaga at hinila ang hawak na
lubid na parang wala sa sarili.
Nahulog ang timba mula sa kinalalagyang bato
at nagdulot ng maliit na baha.
Napatayo sabay napasigaw ang lalake, at sa
isang iglap nabasa ang sakong pinagpatungan
ng kanyang pananghalian.
Tanging ang kanin sa loob ng bao at ang
kawayang may lamang asin ang hindi nabasa.

I couldn't let you, a stranger...

Why not?
He smiled down at her, and noticed a slight film
of moisture clinging to the down on her upper
lip and experienced a sudden desire to wipe it
away with his forefinger.
He continued to lower the bucket while she had
to stand by.
Hadn't you better to move over to the shade?
he suggested, as the bucket struck the water.
"What shall I do there?" she asked sharply, as
though the idea of seeking protection from the
heat were contemptible to her.
"You will get roasted standing here in the sun,"
he said, and began to haul up the bucket.
But she remained beside him, catching the
rope as it fell from his hands, combing it
carefully.
The jar was filled, with plenty to spare.
Then he gave her the bucket and she held it up
and told him to drink as she tilted the half-filled
can until the water lapped the rim.
He gulped a mouthful, gurgled noisily, spewed
it out, then commenced to drink in earnest.
He took long, deep droughts of the sweetish
water, for he was more thirsty than he had
thought.
A chuckling sound persisted in forming inside
his throat at every shallow.
It made him self-conscious.
He was breathless when through, and red in
the face.
"I don't know why it makes that sound," he
said, fingering his throat and laughed
shamefacedly.
"Father also makes that sound when he drinks,
and Mother laughs at him," she said.
She untied the handkerchief over her hair and
started to roll it.
The sun had descended considerably and there
was now hardly any shade under the tree.
The bull was gathering with his tongue stray
slips of straw.
He untied the animal to lead it to the other side
of the gorge, where the high bank was
beginning to throw some shade, when the girl
spoke: "Manong, why don't you come to our
house and bring your animal with you?
There is shade and you can sleep, though our
house is very poor."

"No. You come. I have told mother about you."

She turned and went down the path.

2
He sent the bull after her with smart slap on
its side.
Then he quickly gathered the remains of his
meal, put them inside the jute sack which had

Hindi. Halika na. Nagkwento ako kay nanay

tungkol sayo.
Lumiko siya at nagkalad sa daanan.
Pinasunod niya ang toro sa babae sa
pamamagitan ng pagpalo sa gilid nito.
Dali-dali niyang inipon ang natira sa kanyang
pananghalian, pinasok ang mga ito sa sako na

almost dried, and himself followed.

Then seeing that the bull had stopped to nibble
the tufts of grass that dotted the bottom of the
gorge, he picked up the dragging rope and
urged the animal on into a trot.
They caught up with the girl near the cart. She
stopped to wait.
3
He did not volunteer a word.
He walked a step behind, the bull lumbering in
front.
More than ever he was conscious of her person.
She carried the jar on her head without holding
it.
Her hands swung to her even steps.
He drew back his square shoulders, lifted his
chin, and sniffed the motionless air.
There was a flourish in the way he flicked the
rump of the bull with the rope in his hand.
He felt strong.
He felt very strong.
He felt that he could follow the slender, lithe
figure to the end of the world.

malapit nang tuluyang matuyo, at sumunod.

Pinulot niya ang lubid at inudyok ang hayop na
maglakad nang makita niyang tumigil ito upang
kumain ng mga damo sa gilid ng bangin.
Naabutan nila ang babae malapit sa kariton.
Tumigil ang dalaga upang maghintay.
Hindi siya nagsalita.
Naglakad siya sa likod habang ang toro ay nasa
harap.
Higit kailanman, namamalayan niya ang babae.
Dala ng dalaga ang banga sa kanyang ulo nang
hindi ito hinahawakan.
Kumakampay ang kanyang mga kamay sa
padyak ng kanyang mga paa.
Diniretso ng lalake ang kanyang tindig, inangat
ang baba at suminghot ng hangin.
May kakaibang sigla sa pagpilantik niya ng
puwitan ng toro gamit ang lubid na hawak niya.
Pakiramdam niya ay malakas siya.
Pakiramdam niya ay malakas na malakas siya.
Pakiramdam niyay kayang niyang sundan ang
munti at malambot na hugis hanggang sa dulo
ng mundo.