when the kettle hums

Rhoda’s Red Roses

rossanova — Fri, 21 May 2010 02:20:22 +0000

Today, I chose to wear a dress with red rose patterns.

For Rhoda comes from a Greek word that means Rose.

“Though my thorns may have bled the fingers of pickers, my flowers shall adorn their altars with beauty and touch the gentlest core of their loved ones”. – Rhoda Viajar’s Red Roses

And here’s a classic poem I memorized in highschool and which I was reminded of last Saturday, when Juno recited the first verse upon meeting me again and learning my name. I finished the stanza and realized that my memory always serves me right. \

A Red, Red Rose

by Robert Burns

Burns Original

Standard English Translation

1.
O, my luve’s like a red, red rose,
That’s newly sprung in June.
O, my luve’s like the melodie,
That’s sweetly play’d in tune.
2.
As fair art thou, my bonie lass,
So deep in luve am I,
And I will luve thee still, my Dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry.
3.
Till a’ the seas gang dry, my Dear,
And the rocks melt wi’ the sun!
O I will luve thee still, my Dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.
4.
And fare thee weel, my only Luve,
And fare thee weel a while!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho’ it were ten thousand mile!

O, my love is like a red, red rose,
That is newly sprung in June.
O, my love is like the melody,
That is sweetly played in tune.

As fair are you, my lovely lass,
So deep in love am I,
And I will love you still, my Dear,
Till all the seas go dry.

Till all the seas go dry, my Dear,
And the rocks melt with the sun!
O I will love you still, my Dear,
While the sands of life shall run.

And fare you well, my only Love,
And fare you well a while!
And I will come again, my Love,
Although it were ten thousand mile!

vamos

rossanova — Thu, 13 May 2010 10:24:59 +0000

unfurling opening
swaying with chance

laughing teasing
embracing the dance

let me hear your stories
tell them without worry

let words travel like train
traipsing country and city

without destination,
just passing through

sigh at sights
cherish the ride

come closer we draw nearer
face to face belly to belly

inhale me exhale you
inhale you exhale me

peel away your covers
bid farewell to fears

they are not real
never been real

take my hand
taste beat in my pulse

listen to moist in my palm
sniff my eyes caress my voice

relax, be free
stand tall, be proud

nothing wrong
with you and me.

(not sure na whether this was in 2004 or 2007. re-posting kasi sabi nga ng mga vietnamese and cambodians: same same but different. hehehe.

rossanova — Wed, 05 May 2010 06:43:45 +0000

Isa sa mga gawa ko last month (April 2010)

My Puerto Galera Solo Trip

rossanova — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 11:55:20 +0000

Been pretty busy. Loving the free-spirited world.

Over the weekend, went on a trip to Puerto Galera on a tight budget. But the Universe provides. Met cool people. Hiked to Tamaraw Falls for free. Got tanned, just the way I like it. Exercised. Ate yummy food. Knew about local culture.

Made a lot of friends: Ate Perly, the masahista. Hamad, the tour guide. And so many more. Also, got to know some foriegners. Sara, a Swiss. And Steven, an American based in Korea and planning to put up an English school here in the Philippines.

Chatted with boatmen, vendors, carinderia owners, stall owners etc etc.

Jammed with very cool guys and girl (Alex) at the Henna Tattoo Shop. Had a tequila shot with with teen-agers and young adult girls.

On the way home to Quezon City, gained a friend in Angela.

And so many more! Pero dahil quick update lang to, hanggang dito na muna.

Basta super duper happy!

Will post photos when I have the time.

P.S. And while doing all these fun activities, I campaigned for Noynoy Aquino, Mar Roxas, For Senators: Risa Hontiveros, Danny Lim, and Neric Acosta. For Party List: Ang Ladlad.

And shared perspectives on tribal culture, the need for local people to respect and take pride in their Mangyan heritage, the healing properties of the sea, falls, mountains, plants etc etc.

Tarot Readings

rossanova — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:35:38 +0000

Will be doing Tarot Readings every Tuesday at Remy’s in Marikina Shoe Expo, Cubao. Will also be available for appointments.

Thank You and Hope to See You!

Woman Heeding the Moon

rossanova — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:28:58 +0000

October 2007. GenSan City.

rossanova — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 10:57:52 +0000

Flight*

rossanova — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 02:26:36 +0000

Knock. Knock.

“Who’s at the door?”
Asks the squirrel to the spider.

“Well, I don’t know, honey,”
Replies he, spinning cobwebs on tapered walls.

“It’s the reindeer,”
Says the horse on a stool.

“Certainly the butler,”
Tells the conspirator.

“Perhaps the wind,”
Goes the willow tree.

“I think, it’s the busy bee,”
Whispers the little girl on a pony.

“Okay. Am off to Malibu. See you!”

“But wait!”
Says the brave and mighty soldier.

“Bring an umbrella, three spears,

and

One

Headgear.”

“Am sure, you’ll find these handy.”

“Thank you,” replies the squirrel.
“But I’ve got everything I need.”

“Besides, I always
Travel Light.”

*formerly titled “Zen of Flying” as written in August 2004. Lines and punctuations also revised for symmetry. Nothing changed in the words, except for one grammatical error.

October 2007, General Santos City

rossanova — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 02:16:17 +0000

The Modern Mystic

rossanova — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 11:32:27 +0000