A FLOWER FOR EMERME 
(Published at Womens’Journal, Jan 27,1990) 
by MT Mercado Magtuloy-Evangelista, CPA, MBA 

  
Once you had written…ages ago, 
Life is a splendor but is this so? 
In life after, what have we got? 
You said, ”Just a Handful of Mud”. 
I find bitter clouds hovering high, 
Bushes turning withered and dry, 
Twilight shades are wandering forth, 
Shading what life is really worth… 
  
Time ago is another lost time, 
Wealth and fame are dying chimes, 
Power is good for fleeting times, 
And all these are not worth any dime. 
I deplore the day you were gone, 
Left nothing but your name alone, 
My tears tapping your tombstone, 
Hear, oh hear this desperate tone. 
  
Too sweet rest, too careless sleep, 
Your little one needs a silent creep, 
Tell me… I’m bereft of nothing, 
To set my life-watch ticking. 
You are now no breathing man, 
Yet in my breathing you’re not gone, 
When sullen pangs creep in me, 
In grief I say, “If only…if only…” 
  
If only I had the chance to choose my way, 
I prefer a share from your golden tray, 
If only I’ll hear your weighty words, 
The price of living I could afford, 
If only I have what you had, 
I find no reason to be sad, 
My solace is my only legacy, 
For seeing me in you…in poetry. 
  
I remember, many times I remember, 
Some words you left as reminders, 
All things pass in this worldly realm, 
All things vanish like a forsaken dream, 
Man’s life is like a bird’s winged flight, 
Like a sudden bright spark of light, 
One’s grave is tomorrow’s brief fall, 
And a Handful of Mud signifies it all. 
  
I walked on many hillocks small, 
Time and time again I recall it all, 
I walk on with my weary heart, 
And the stubborn ground speaks its part. 
I’ll sing for you a praising sound, 
May you hear it rooted in the ground 
I’ll fix for you grandpa, a flower bud, 
To make fertile that Handful of Mud! 
  
(Written in memory of Don Monico R. 
Mercado, Pampango poet, writer, 
Legislator and the first Assemblyman 
From Pampanga on the occasion of his 
38th Death Anniversary, January 26, 1990) 

 SAMPAGA PARA KANG EMERME
 (Para kang  EMERME, Don Monico R.  Mercado) 
 Neng Maria Teresa MM Evangelista 
 March 31, 2009 
  
 Misan ngana ning makamal mung pluma, 
 Kasampat ning bie, dapot nanu kaya? 
 Pamanuli tamu, nanu pa ing gayak? 
 Ala na, nune Kasakmal mung Burak. 
 Ding ulap maglipanya karin king babo, 
 Tanaman mangapanat king mapaling aldo, 
 Aske ning silim, bengi ume nang payalto, 
 Pigunaman ta sa, ing bie tamu nanu mo? 
  
 Mebating ne ing linibad a oras, 
 Pibandian at katangyagan kusang linabas, 
 Makanian mu naman upayang makasindak, 
 Ni metung alang kasing ulagang pilak. 
 Pagkalungkutan ku ‘tang aldo meko ka, 
 Lagyu mu ‘yang mitagan, kaybat ala na, 
 Lua kung mananabu king kekang kutkutan, 
 Pakramdaman mu sana, kakung sasambitlan. 
  
 Kanyaman mu paynawa, kadatun mu tudtud, 
 Irug mung malati, ibie me kekang pamanagud, 
 Sabian mu sa kaku, eku lubas king kalam, 
 Para manaua yang kumabie kakung orasan. 
 Ika Ingkong, enaka mangisnawang tau, 
 Dapot mabie kang mabie king pangisnawa ku, 
 Neng malumbe ku, neng eku atalus bitasa, 
 King lungkut ku ngako, “ Nung mo sana …” 
  
 Nung mo sana, apili ku kapalaran ku, 
 Buri ku sa mikadake king gintung pinggan mu, 
 Nung mo sa dandaman ku kekang amanu, 
 Ing ulaga ning bie, agyung saliwan ku. 
 Nung mo sa ing meging keka, maging kaku, 
 Ala kung dahilan para maglugmu, 
 Kailigan mung poesia iyang amana ku, 
 At akakit ku sarili karing poesia mu. 
  
 Madalas agaganaka ku, uwa madalas, 
 Deng mabayat amanung kekang guinkas, 
 Ngamo, “Keti babo yatu ing sabla lilipas, 
 Ing sabla daralan antimong paninap, 
 Ing bie ning tau ayup mung linimpad, 
 Mengaring sala, agad mung kinislap, 
 Ing anggang degulan kayap ning wakas, 
 Alang karasan Kasakmal Mung Burak. 
  
 Miglakbe ku karing bundukin mangalati, 
 Babalikan ngan king kakung pamagdili-dili, 
 Lakbe-lakbe ku cambe pusung pighati, 
 Ing masias a gabun sukat magsalita wari. 
 Pagtumaila ra ka, sana kekang damdaman, 
 Mamaus keka ing malati mung kaluguran, 
 Iyampang ku Ingkong, sampagang bubukadkad, 
 Para mupul ya ing kekang Kasakmal Mung Burak.