Jan Angelique Dalisay writes about the surreal in Bisaya, English, and Tagalog. Her creative works appeared in the CCP's Ani 41st journal, Basabalak Kanunay podcast (Ep. 13), Bisaya, and Liwayway magazines. Currently, Jan does technical writing and secondary research for venture analysts and researchers in the healthcare space.
long, long serpent slithers
close with his male human
lovers wrapped in each other’s
skins but the aswang does not
envy a small bit—her lips occupied
with her diwata’s own pair
a vision of brown and ethereal
whiteness beside the tree that expels
a sigh of contentment as its exposed
roots clutches close its mermaid sweetheart
underneath these couples grow a grass—green
as the Eden’s but holy only to us.
ayaw nag katingala di ta sama sa uban
maya nga walay pako sungo sa matinahuron kolor
tungatunga sa roygbiv gaway sa matinabangon double blade
nga di pang ahit: atong ebolusyon magpadayon
This literary piece is part of Katitikan Issue 4: Queer Writing.