On the 23rd stanza of Jada Renée Allen’s “Drill”

Her poem represents a formal trajectory I abandoned during the pandemic, if I recall correctly. I believe (at least) two things prevented a resurgence: disinformation and A.I. I felt the need for other ways of saying, or maybe, I hankered for older methods. Somewhat satisfied, I should consider a return. Below are six of Allen’s stanzas from the full 26: 

In class, I’d ask for comments on the Whereas anaphora and the nephew progression. I’ll request another read and ask if they find value in other repetitions and variations. Here’s her self-annotation proceeding in lockstep:

Minsan ka ring nangarap para sa lugar na ito

Kahit pumalya ang orasan, sakto ‘yan

 dalawang beses sa isang araw. 

  “Ano ‘yun? Tsamba.” 

 Sige, pero hindi mo maikakala: 

 may mga taong nagmamadaling magligpit. 

May mga taong kulang na lang ay magtirik pa ng kandila. 

Ikaw? Okey, kukuha ka lang ng ilang litrato. 

May susulpot na alaala sa kurdon, lapis, 

 masetera, o hibla ng buhok na iuuwi

 o itatapon. Hindi magmumula sa amin 

 ang makapagpapabagal o makapagpapabilis 

sa iyong huling pagkakalas. 

            ·

   Ngiti at kibit-balikat 

 ang iyong sagot sa “saan ka?” 

Ika’y kikilos, at kikilos din ang araw. 

Sa iyong pag-alis, kamay ng orasan sa aspalto

 ang iyong anino. Tsamba ang saglit

 kung kailan natutukoy nito—

                         kay lamlam na guhit 

 —ang eksakto mong patutunguhan.

Fossil as replica, not bone

5

1

3 and 4 only 

CHUM  (future/tense)

All of the above

1

Yes

Yes

All of the above

Hypoallergenic, kid-friendly, open

2

Diliman-centric, hypocritical thinking, beholden

2

To bastardize NVM Gonzales and Resil Mojares, did we dream of aesthetic independence only to become peons and sharecroppers of QC’s intellect and style? 

Inventive; driven; deserving of more, much more

Honest, and unafraid of labels

5

Elitism; a view of LB as source of cultural capital, audience, fillers of seats; a view of space as opportunity to install unsafe teachers/artists

Printmaking workshop, poetry workshop

Protection, probity, wisdom, true resolve against nepotism and laziness

?

PISAN

WELGA—LABOR

 

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