#Labys flag

[evilmarbletron]

Happy pride month to all my lesbian gals!!

Keep being yourselves and don't be afraid of your love!

Women on women love is the most wonderful thing mother nature created and I'm so happy to be born this way 🌈🪻✨

[mote-of-ash]

Oh yeah. Gotta tell myu more about Ikea there was a bunch of stuff there and we looked at he pillows there were so many colors and I loved them and I gotta tell you about the meatballs they stick a little swedish flag in them so I kept that and I got BLAHAJ I'm gonna keep that naked blanaj because it life it so good and I got a coffee but they have two milks but knlky aone was labeled so I had to ask but I think they were both milk cause ht w laby said it was 2% milk so I had to take something for the milk about iwl had a good lunch to ou should go to IKEA sometime this neat but a lot of walking and they had cacti at the end too

Calmly listening and nodding

[hughungrybear]

I can understand Ino's conflict. That's the thing - "outsiders" can afford to act without any care to what other people may think. After all, they do not know or have grown up with them.

Add in the fact that he comes from a well-known family and that with Philippine culture, abiding by societal norms is a must if you want to survive, he truly feels trapped. 😓

Sidenote: Sirena (trans. mermaid) is often used as slang for "gay" in Filipino. For more context:

Some lyric translation courtesy of Google for more context:

I'm a mermaid

Ako'y isang sirena

No matter what they say, I'm really beautiful

Kahit anong sabihin nila ako ay ubod ng ganda

I'm a mermaid

Ako'y isang sirena

No matter what they do, my flag will not fall

Kahit anong gawin nila bandera ko'y di tutumba

I'm diving in a tank full of water

Drum na may tubig ang sinisisid

Huge arms were crushing me

Naglalakihang mga braso saki'y dumidikdik

I'm diving in a tank full of water

Drum na may tubig ang sinisisid

The way that I can hold my breath, you'll be amazed

Sa patagalan ng paghinga sa'kin kayo ay bibilib

Ever since I was young

Simula pa nang bata pa ako

It's obvious when I play

Halata mo na kapag naglalaro

Everyone seems confused

Kaya parang lahat ay nalilito

Good at chinese garter and piko [games that Filipino girls play]

Magaling sa chinese garter at piko

My lips are red

Mga labi ko'y pulang pula

From bubble gum

Sa bubble gum na sinapa

Walk around in front of the mirror

Palakad-lakad sa harapan ng salamin

Telling myself, "who can compare?"

Sinasabi sa sarili ano'ng panama nila

Walking and sashaying

Habang kumekembot ang bewang

Wearing dangle earrings

Mga hikaw na gumegewang

Using the face powder bought from Aling Bebang

Gamit ang pulbos na binili kay Aling Bebang

To cover bruises on the face

Upang matakpan ang mga pasa sa mukha

That came from my father

Na galing sa aking ama

Who doesn't seem happy every time he sees me

Na tila di natutuwa sa tuwing ako'y nasisilayan

Always getting punched

Laging nalalatayan

As time passed, I didn't realize it

Sa paglipas ng panahon ay di ko namamalayan

Instead of hardening, I became more soft

Na imbes na tumigas ay tila lalong lumambot

My heart is loving

Ang puso kong mapagmahal

Like curly eyelashes

Parang pilikmatang kulot

I'm a mermaid

Ako'y isang sirena

No matter what they say, I'm really beautiful

Kahit anong sabihin nila ako ay ubod ng ganda

I'm a mermaid

Ako'y isang sirena

No matter what they do, my flag will not fall

Kahit anong gawin nila bandera ko'y di tutumba

[comvi]

bec ause of glitch slime laby i made epic roblxo avatar based off glitch slime. heh

secrect trans flag...............

(ifthisfloodsyourpagejustanswerinprivate)

THIS MAKES ME THINK THERE SHOULD TOTALLY BE MORE SLIME RANCHER & GENERAL SLIME-STUFF ITEMS IN THE CATALOG envisioning in my head….yolky or ringtail slime roblox avatar…..

[drownedlighthouse]

𓆟 𓆞 About Me 𓆝 𓆟

George | he/him | Moodboards and occasional drawings

Socials:

Pinterest- Gfish44

☠︎︎

Likes:

The sea

Lighthouses

Pirates

Ancient history

Film Studies

Art

Pinterest

Music

Charles Kuwasseg

☠︎︎

TV Shows:

BBC Ghosts

Our Flag Means Death

Good Omens

What We Do In The Shadows

Yonderland

Horrible Histories

Inside No.9

Hilda

Over the Garden Wall

Disenchantment

The Good Place

The League of Gentlemen

Fleabag

The Witchfinder

Adventure Time

The Cleaner

Interview With a Vampire

The Decameron

Kaos

This Country

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives

☠︎︎

Films:

Bill

Call Me By Your Name

What We Do In The Shadows

Jojo Rabbit

Mamma Mia 1 and 2

Boy

The Lighthouse

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Moonrise Kingdom

Wuthering Heights

Howl's moving castle

Spirited Away

Monkey Man

The Darjeeling Limited

☠︎︎

Games:

Sims 4

Stardew Valley

Minecraft

Firewatch

The Longing

The Long Dark

Fallout Shelter

Road 96

The Plague Doctor of Wippra

☠︎︎

Music:

Provoker

Ghost

The Smiths

Ethel Cain

Yeule

ABBA

Alex G

Alice in Chains

Charli XCX

Cheap Talk

Cigarettes After Sex

Clairo

The Cure

Duran Duran

Fleetwood Mac

Hockey Season

Hozier

Jack Stauber

Jesus and Mary Chain

Joji

Labi Siffre

The Last Dinner Party

Lorde

MGMT

Men at Work

Pink Pantheress

Queen

Ricky Montgomery

Searows

Sufjan Stevens

Type O Negative

Yellow House

☠︎︎

Way too many interests lol

[namelessmewmew]

Old Art Archive Part 5.

Original captions under the cut.

1 - 3. Title: Petals, Sparkles and Unicorns [+ bonus of the other two pieces I have of her, that also happen to be old, left being newest of said two]. More csp testing stuff. Went a bit ham with its built in decoration brushes, Petal Brush, Grass Brush, Sparkle Brush [There's even a glitter brush, which I'm sure I will use at least a few times] ……. Happy enough with how this came out. Def need to draw her more.

4. Title: The Heart of My Eye. Uni stuff has been getting more hectic so haven't been able to draw as much [and what I have been drawing has been stuff that won't see the light of day until late this year probably]. Had the idea of a loveletter head character so just made this in csp, don't really like how this came out but oh well. Also probably going to redesign them a bit whenever I draw them again.

5. Title: The Imp Stick. Redesigned Nameless because I wanted to make him more self indulgent [I like horns, imp tails and faceshadows alot]. Used my usual method of exporting each frame as a image and then throwing them into ezgif, I think I should learn how to use clips built in animation abilities.

6. Title: Don't cry over spilt glitter. Uni work busy and hard, and been making a bunch of stuff I don't to post yet so dipped into my favourite thing, aka redesigning "old" characters [like it as much as designing new ones].

7. Title: Kitty Kitty Cat. Just a little cat, shes actually a pretty old character of mine, just redesigned her recently. I really need to draw and post more often.... Sort of like how the shading came out by I'm still kinda shit at it Might draw some more cause I have alot of old animal characters to redesign.

8. Title: Old Gay Cat named Juliet. Another cat laby, this time Sarah's mom, Juliet! Shes also been redesigned but not as much as Sarah. Going to do Sarah's other mom next [which until recently didn't have a design at all but still working on it a bit] Really like how the pose of this came out [still iffy on the shading though..]

9. Title: 2022 Pride Icon. New Icon/Pride Icon [might use this after pride month and just swap out the bg, or might a new one later].  and yes I used a very similar pose to my last upload, I just liked how it looked so used it again. Happy Pride Everyone!

10. Title: Filters and Fingerguns. I have been trying to draw more stuff lately :], liking the stuff I have been making, especially like how the hair and eyes of this came out of this came out :3. The character here is Eve, Juliet's wife and Sarah's second mom.

11. Title: Smiles and Glitter. I know I should be drawing the characters I have already more hut I really like designing new characters..... k? and felt like  I needed another sparklecat....[I need more sparkle anything really] Also tried to emulate the look of those old blingee? gifs and it looks okay enough. Going to try to figure out how to do it better.

12. Title: Metamorphosis. Yeah another bright sparkly cat.....a character I have actually been thinking about designing for month's,  A trans flag coloured lynx with a lil golden bell that shines like a rainbow in the light. A mascot-y character that's meant to idk be anti-thesis to how big corps pretend to like us during pride months by just changing their logos to rainbow and selling overpriced pride merch, then just change their logos back and don't do anything more about it for the rest of the year, I guess? Like a mascot thats undeniably queer in colours and otherwise I guess. My brain feels a bit slow and foggy right now right now so I might not be articulating well.

13. Title:  Splat. Haven't posted here for a month and lost steam for artfight not long into it [will post attacks I did once month is over], but I did make my first game, a rpgmaker game that is about 10 to 15 minute rpgmaker game for a mini jam. Thought maybe I should post about here at least once, https://namelessmewmew.itch.io They technically can be named whatever by the player but I wanted to give me a 'true' name as well, so here is Splat./colour-less

14. Title: 'Fuck you! Catboys your Demon'. I can't just not put my sona/main character though multiple redesigns/design updates, I wouldn't be NamelessMewMew, if I didn't! Going the opposite route in terms of adding things to his design lol compared to my old sona [casanova, a cat like creature that I added demon features to, I need to redesign them again at some point.] I need to learn how to draw stubble properly... and also maybe change the eyes a bit, you looks kinda uh high rather than just tired.

15. Title: Aging. Just feels weird, so a little doodle thing.

16 - 17. Title:   Prancing in the night. Wanted to start another art practice dump to practice shading, decided to do my personal characters to motivate me more but then got really into it and added more  and more shading/lighting, then thought this would look very stupid without a bg, then added lighting to that bg and then wanted the stars to sparkle.... [which I hope loads as its not loading in the preview I'm seeing now] yeah I guess I can make this its own deviation. The bg is a bit mid quality but I'm glad I did because I don't do proper bgs much, but I do really love how the Plushie came out in this, especially the pose [and shading]. Though the gif site I use makes transparency kinda uh line-y? Basically the lighting and shading looks smoother than this originally, though I don't mind how it looks

Anime Girl Art Dump:

Title:  Art Practice: 1. Ramble-y stuff: Been in a hating my art phrase because there's lots of parts of art I'm not great with, shading, anatomy, perspective, backgrounds..... so forth But can't get myself practice without also posting it but also it has to be good enough to post [when I feel my art is bad then I feel like I can't waste the time spent on it by not posting it but I also feel like I'm somehow a bad person for being bad at art]..... so going try to do dumps like this where I try to focus on certain things. Hopefully I can improve at least a bit this year. About the art: This is mostly Hair Shading + Faces + Eyes Practice, but also tried to draw various different hairstyles. Want to do more experimenting with how I draw eyes and hair...

Hands and Eyes Art Dump:

Title:  Art Practice: 2. More art practice, this time hands [done mostly by memory and a bit by using my hands as ref] + eyes [more just the irises and pupils rather than eyes as a whole]. Like where I am getting with eyes but really need to work on hands alot more.... Can't think of anything else to say really cause tired... other than its 4 days till I'm 20 which is wild.

[temporobinson]

My own take on a lesbian flag

EXCLUSIONISTS/TERFS DON'T INTERACT

The stripes and the symbols need size adjustments, however I made this on a mobile app so it'll have to wait. Colours are subject to tweaking as well!

I wanted an all inclusive lesbian flag that wasn't the sapphic flag or... gaudy. Plus, anything that's a reference to the pink flag is way too derivative in my opinion, and the pink-orange flag's creator is an acephobe. The labys flag is awesome but it's been through a lot of controversy lately. I wanted to throw my hat in the ring and came up with this!

💖💜💜💙

The black symbol represents butch lesbians, the grey represents androgynous lesbians, and the white represents femme lesbians. They also represent black/dark skinned people, nonwhite people that don't have dark skin and white people.

Pink - Cis/love, passion, and sex. Roses.

Mauve - Nonbinary/creativity, kindness, and peace. Violets.

Purple - Trans/bravery, confidence, and strong-will. Lavender.

Blue - Masc/intelligence, integrity, and strength. Bluebelle.

The purple colour scheme and black and white are a reference to the labrys flag. The three venuses chained together represents intersectionality, support for one another and relationships. The black, grey and white all together means both solidarity and love across the spectrum and race, but it is also a shout out to aromantic and asexual lesbians. Each colour also serves as a flower representative of lesbian love for a bouquet of pride.

This is all inclusive and something that I think represents most lesbians. Feel free to use if you want to, and tweak the colours if you so desire. However, I will request the removal of the flag if you decide to be cheeky and try to remove a colour.

[lgbtelsword]

pan/genderfluid laby for @artistic-logic !

split flag variant:

bc there are so many icons involved here i just put the circle variants in their own private post here so the read more wouldnt be huge

[arisamky]

SHS DBTI–Makati: Ang Katotohanan (Deskriptibo)

ni Kyla Verdadero

"Huwag ang DB Boys, mga red flag yan!" 

“Puso ay ingatan, DB Boys ay iwasan.”

Kapag ikaw ay babad sa internet kagaya ko, marahil ay dumaan na sa iyo ang katagang ito patungkol sa mga lalaking mag-aaral ng Don Bosco. Sa pagbasa nito, siguro ay naging masama ang imahen ng paaralang ito sa iyo. Ikaw ay maaaring nagdadalawang-isip sa pagpapatuloy ng pag-aaral dito. Kung iisipin, sino naman ang taong tutuloy rito, lalo na ang mga taong hindi pa miyembro ng komunidad ng DB kung mayroon kayong nakitang masama tungkol sa mga mag-aaral dito. Bilang bagong babaeng Bosconian na batay sa aking naging pagsusuri, ang katagang ito ay tinatabunan ang kagandahan at kabutihan ng mga estudyante, pati na rin ang mismong DBTI–Makati. 

Ang hindi alam ng marami, sa paaralang ito ay mayroong samu't saring mga kalalakihan ang inyong matutunghayan. Mayroong atleta, musikero, lider, mang-aawit, mananayaw, misteryoso, henyo, tagataguyod, komedyante, tahimik, at marami pang ibang naka-iindak na mga personalidad. Ang simpleng pahayag na iyon ay hindi kailanman masusukat ang totoong isang Bosconian. Ang mas mabisang paraan upang mas makilala ang paaralan ay sa pamamagitan ng mismong pagpapatala sa DBTI–Makato. Huwag din mawala sa iyong isipan na maaaring mas makikilala mo ang ugali ng mga kapwa mag-aaral kapag malapit na kayo. Kung hindi kayo malapit sa isa’t isa, likas sa taong magsuot ng maskara sa mga taong hindi pa nila nakilala. Ngunit sa larangan ng Senior High School (SHS), hindi na lamang ito eksklusibo sa mga kalalakihan sapagkat nagkaroon na rin ng pagkakataon ang mga kababaihan na makapag-aral dito. Sa rasong sa SHS lamang naisakatuparan ang pagbabagong ito, bilang lamang ang mga kababaihan na makikita sa paaralan. Ang totoo rito, halos ng mga kalalakihan ay natatakot, nahihiya, o nawawala sa sarili kapag kaharap na kahit isang babae lamang ito. Sa huli, ang mga estudyante rito ay mababait, maka-Diyos, maginoo at marespeto sa kababaihan, at higit sa lahat, sila ay bukas sa mga bagong mag-aaral at ipararamdam nila na tila ito ang kanilang bagong tahanan. Sa Senior High School ng Don Bosco Technical Institute ng Makati, ang mga personalidad ng mga tao na naroon ay ang pinakadakilang kagandahan ng paaralang ito. Ang pagkakaroon ng kaibahan ay ang nagbibigay kulay sa kapaligiran ng DB. 

SHS Marian Pilgrimage 2022

Sa usapang akademiko, mabibigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga estyudanteng makamtan ang kasanayan at karunungang nararapat na makatawan ng isang SHS na mag-aaral. Hindi lamang ang paraan ng nagbibigay ng labis-labis na mabibigat na gawain sa mga estudyante upang makuha ang layunin sapagkat mayroong mga kaganapan na upang mas mahasa ang mga ito kasama ang kanilang mga kapwa Bosconian. Ang mga kaganapan na ito ay mga Bosconian lamang din ang mismong utak sa mga masasaya at makabubuluhan upang magkaroon ng pakikipag-ugnayan sa ating mga sarili at pati na rin sa kapwa mag-aaral. Ang mga Bosconian ay mahuhusay sa iba’t ibang larangan sa pamamagitan ng mga aral at sa karanasang inihahandog ng DBTI–Makati sa mga mag-aaral. Sa madaling salita, ang mga kalalakihang mag-aaral ay mga bihasa na sa anumang gawain na mayroong kinalaman sa kanilang interest gamit ang mga oportunidad na nagbibigay-daan sa kanilang pag-unlad. 

Sa pagwawakas sa artikulo na ito, maaaring hindi talaga sila tinadhana para sa isa’t isa kaya nakitaan ng “redflag” ang Bosconian na ito pero ang totoo, ang mga mag-aaral dito ay ang mga isa sa mga pinakamabuting tao na makikilala sa inyong buhay. Kaya, mapatala na kayo at kilalanin ang mga Bosconian na babago sa inyong buhay at ang DBTI–Makati na magbibigay ng bagong pagkakataon upang maging daan sa buhay na iyong ninanais.

—Kyla Verdadero, The Braga Gazette

Balik-Balay 2022, Batch 2024

[dcaaiin]

Kapitulo #4

Eyes Off You: Breathe

Nang makapag-ayos ay agad akong lumabas. May kausap siyang isang matangkad at maputing lalaki. Lumandas ang tingin nila sa gawi ko kaya naman huminto sila sa pag-uusap.

Malalim akong pinasadahan ng tingin ni Declan at tumaas ang kanyang isang kilay. Hindi ka pa rin talaga matigil, ano? Nakangiwi kong nilampasan siya ng tingin.

"Eucleia, I'd like you to meet my friend, Lucky. Lucky, this is Eucleia Paige." 

Blangkong ekpresyon ang ginawad sakin ng kaibigan na tinutukoy niya. Umuwang ang labi niya bago tumango. Ngumisi siya at nilahad ang kamay sa harapan ko. Nagdalawang isip pa akong tanggapin ito dahil hindi ako sigurado kung gusto niya ba talaga ang ideya na 'yon.

"Nice to meet you." he coldly said.

"Nice to meet you too." awkward kong sagot.

Napakurap ako nang mabilis niyang binitiwan ang kamay ko. His adams apple slides violently as he looks away. Sumama ang pakiramdam ko sa pinakita niya. It makes me think that he's angry or something. 

Napabaling ako kay Declan nang maramdaman ko ang makapal niyang kamay sa aking siko. Tiningala ko siya at nagtama ang paningin naming dalawa. His gentle eyes calm the tension I'm feeling.

"Let's take a dip." 

Hawak niya ang aking siko habang iginigiya ako. Sinubukan ko pang lumingon kay Lucky ngunit pinirmi ni Declan ang ulo ko upang pigilan ang gagawin ko.

"Don't mind him. He's been like that." 

Isinantabi ko ang iniisip ko nang tumigil kami sa pool area. Iginala ko ang paningin ko at napansin ang pagkawala ng mga tao. Mayroong kaonting natitira ngunit nagbabalak na rin ang mga itong umahon.

"Let's race. You see that flag? Hanggang diyan lang ang lalanguyin natin." 

Tiningnan ko ang tinutukoy niya. Napangiwi ako nang makita ang pulang bandiritas na halos naka pwesto sa gitna ng pool. Marunong naman ako lumangoy pero hindi ko yatang lumangoy hanggang doon nang hindi tumitigil.

"It's too long for me. Hindi ako mananalo sayo."

"It's not once you swim already. You can win against me if you just try it." 

"Let's make a deal. Anong mangyayari kung manalo ako?" pinagtaasan ko siya ng kilay at tumungtong sa block na nasa harapan ko.

He smirks and rolls his eyes. "Ikaw ang bahala. But if I win, let me teach you." 

"Deal."

He set an alarm for our cue. I get intimidated immediately when he steps on the block. It looks small because of him. Seryoso niyang inayos ang goggles niya at pumusisyon. Huminga ako nang malalim at ginaya ang kanyang pwesto. I rolled my eyes when I heard his little chuckle.

Nang marinig ang alarm ay mabilis kong tinapon ang sarili ko sa tubig. I used a freestyle stroke to move. The sound of splashing water because of our aggressiveness covered my ears. I hold my breath when I felt my arms getting numb. I swim beneath the water to do a mermaid stroke in order to rest my arms. 

Umangat lamang ako nang makapusan ng hininga. I'm almost near the flag. Nabigla ako nang makita na naghihintay si Declan sa dulo. I wonder how he could swim that fast as if he has some tank inside of him.

He widely open his arms before he lean it on the edge of the pool. Ngumiti siya ngunit bahagyang tumawa nang mapansin ang busangot sa mukha ko. Sa layo ng agwat naming dalawa pakiramdam ko ay ang kulelat kong lumangoy. Patago akong umismid at pinakiramdaman ang tubig na nakabalot sa katawan ko.

"Come on! Swim towards me, I'll wait." 

It amazed me when it echoes throughout the total area. Huminga ako nang malalim. Hindi ko alam kung paano sisimulan ngayong mariin siyang manonood sa bawat galaw ko. Kumpara kanina na sabay kaming sumugod sa tubig, ngayon ay ramdam ko ang init sa mukha ko dahil sa kanyang paninitig. 

Umirap ako at umilalim sa tubig. I relaxed myself as I hold my breath. I did some kicks and felt my body to fasten my move. I urged swimming more, but I lift on the surface when I run out of breath. 

Hinilamos ko ang aking mukha at malalim na huminga. Pumikit ako at nang dumilat ay napangisi ako nang mapansin na konting distansya nalang ang layo ko kay Declan. Malalim ang titig niya sakin habang pinanonood pa ang paghinga ko. Pumalakpak siya at nangingiti. May kiliting tumama sa akin dahil pakiramdam ko ay may nakamit ako na ikinatutuwa niya.

"It's good that you know that stroke, but it's dangerous if you can't control your air underwater." 

Seryoso siyang bumaling nang makalapit na ako sa kanya. Napakapit ako sa braso niya nang hinawakan niya ang baywang ko at inangat upang iupo. Inabot niya ang tuwalya sa gilid at pinatong sa ulo ko. Pinalo ko siya at agad na nagpunas.

"I told you I can't swim that long." 

Umiling siya at nag-float sa harapan ko. Tumirik ang mata ko nang makita ang abs niyang bumabakat sa manipis niyang damit. Sinipa ko ang tubig at natawa nang tumama ito sa kanyang mukha. Nakauwang lamang ang labi niya habang nakapikit. Hinahayaan ang ginagawa ko. Ayos lang nang sa gayon ay mapagmasdan ko ang tila pinaghirapan mong katawan.

"The reason for it is that you're running out of breathe. I will teach you first the proper way of breathing..."

Napasinghap ako nang mabilis siyang umangat sa harap ko. Ang braso niya ay nasa magkabilang gilid ko. Pinagmasdan ko ang pagbagsak ng tubig galing sa kanyang buhok. Pumatak ito sa kaniyang pilikmata hanggang sa lumadas ito pababa sa pisngi.

Winisik niya ito bago pasadahan ang kanya buhok. Mas lalo ko lamang pinigilan ang paghinga ko nang mas lumapit ang mukha niya sa akin.

Binasa niya ang kanyang nanlalamig na labi. Napakurap ako nang inangat niya ang baba ko upang magtama ang mata naming dalawa. Halos mawasak na ang dibdib ko sa sobrang lakas ng tibok nito. Pati ang pagtama ng aking hangin sa kanya ay pinigilan ko pa.

"There. That's how you should hold your breath." 

What the hell! Nakita mo ba ang ginawa ng isang 'to?!

Halos sugurin ko siya nang natatawa siyang lumusob sa tubig. Nahihiya akong aminin na nadala ako sa ginawa niya pero mas namumutawi ang inis ko. Gusto ko nalang malunod sa tubig nang mapaisip sa itsura ko kanina. Paano niya nagawang paasahin ako?! 

Inirapan ko siya nang lumangoy siya patungo sa kinauupuan ko. Nakangisi siya ngunit seryoso ang mga mata niyang bumaling sa akin. Malamig ko siyang tinapunan ng tingin at sinabuyan muli ng tubig.

"I'm sorry. Let me teach you now..." hinagilap niya ang kamay ko ngunit iniwas ko ito.

Hinanap niya ang mata ko ngunit pursigido akong iiwas ito sakaiya. Umirap ako at gumilid. 

"I'm sorry. What can I do to make you feel better?" 

Masuyo niya 'kong sinundan habang nasa tubig pa rin siya. Binigyan ko siya ng isang masamang tingin at pinagtaasan ng kilay. Seryoso lamang siyang bumaling sa akin. Humalukipkip ako at ngumisi.

"Find someone who could teach me the proper way of breathing."

"I'm right here in front you. I can teach you now," he softly answered.

"Not you. I said, someone else. Perhaps your friend, Lucky, can teach me the right thing?" 

Mataray ko siyang binalingan. Sumama ang ekpresyon niya at pikon na tumitig sakin. Am I hitting the right nerve? 

"He can't even swim," he proudly said.

"Sinisiraan mo yata siya e!" 

"No. Might ask him personally." 

Ngumisi ako at luminga. "Talaga? Nasaan ba siya? Pupuntahan ko." 

Mabilis akong tumayo at naglakad papuntang labas ng edge. Hindi pa ako nakakalayo ay narinig ko na ang bayolente niyang pag-ahon sa tubig. Hinapit niya ang baywang ko at napatili ako nang inangat niya ako at pinatong sa isang mataas na upuan!

He set his narrowed eyes on me. His thick eyebrows squeezed together into a frown. My eyes made its way to his tongue that playing with the corner of his lips.

"Are you making me jealous for not kissing you?" he said hoarsely.

"No."

"Hmm? Why do I feel jealous of it?"

"That's why you should've kissed me." I shamelessly said.

Bahagyang nawala ang hiya ko at hinayaan ang nararamdaman ko. Nakita ko ang ngisi niya. Kinagat niya ang kanyang labi at seryoso akong tiningnan. 

I shut my eyes as soon as he lead his face closer to mine. It seems ticklish in my stomach when I felt his soft lips brushed on my forehead.

"I will wait until you're ready." he said slowly as I felt his arms enveloping my body for a warm and tight hug.

Mas pinili kong pumikit na lamang at magpaubaya sa yakap niya. The comfort he is giving to me is priceless. My childish heart is winning and I wish it never fades away. 

"I will hold you this tight. I'm sure I can survive for the next days, months, and years." he said, and I nodded. 

Hindi ko alam na masaya pala ang mga ganitong simpleng bagay lang. He's the first man I ever felt attracted to. Kung ibang tao ang nakilala ko ay hindi ko alam kung magiging kuntento rin ba ako. I never thought that I'm able to feel this feeling because of him. 

"Aren't you scared?" I whispered just enough for him to hear it.

"About what?" Sinubukan niyang iangat ang ulo ko ngunit mas binaon ko lamang ito sa kanyang dibdib.

"What if, upon waiting... you'll realized that I'm not the type of girl in your field?" 

I imagined of his professional luscious co-workers roaming around their building, with a fleshy tochus and titty. It's impossible to not find them attractive.

"You're really not that type of girl. You're young yet still growing and learning. You're different from them because I have this feeling for you. It's the other way around."

"What if you developed your feelings for others, too?" 

Malakas siyang tumawa at hindi na napigilan na iangat ang ulo ko. Hinawakan niya ang magkabilang balikat ko at seryoso na akong pinagmasdan.

"Don't think so shallow of me. I don't treat my feelings and relationship as a circus," he assured.

To be continued...

[heyembeestories]

Living the Life : It Started with A Kiss (Year 2010) #09101600008

Hindi ko na maalala kung paano kami naging close ng sobra but It happened when I was in third year high school. Classmate siya ng Ate ko, section three sila while ako, four kaya magkatabi ang room namin. Hindi ko siya pinapansin dahil hindi naman siya kapansin-pansin until may magtext sa akin and It happened to be, him. By the way his name is Em.

Naging close kami, at textmate without my sister knowing. Nalaman kong may girlfriend siya pero hindi iyon naging dahilan para maging mas malapit pa kami. Until he open a topic about 'kiss'.

He asked me If I have already my first kiss and I replied, no. Hanggang sa tuwing magkatext kami ay puro nalang ganon ang topic na umabot ng isang linggo.

"Gusto mo bang ako ang first kiss, mo?" That was his text message to me one afternoon, after class at ako at ang friend ko na lamang na si Kim ang nasa room para gawin ang pinapagawa sa amin ng teacher namin. Napalinga ako sa paligid at nakita ko siya sa isang pinto malapit sa room nila na nakatayo at nakangiti sa akin.

Biglang kumabog ng malakas ang dibdib ko at hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ko pinauwi si Kim nang araw na iyon at sinabing ako na lamang ang tatapos.

A moment after, magkaharap na kaming dalawa. Nakaupo ako sa teacher's desk habang nasa isang arm chair siya. Nakatingala sa akin.

"Hindi mo pa sinasagot ang tanong ko." I remain silent of what he said dahil hindi ko naman alam ang dapat sabihin.

"Should I say yes?" I asked him. Tumayo siya sa pagkakaupo at pumantay sa mukha ko.

"Double meaning ang 'yes' na isasagot mo, cupcake." Nakangiti niya pang sabi. Dahan-dahan akong tumango at bago ko pa masabi ang anumang sasabihin ko ay lumapat na ang malambot niyang labi sa labi ko.

He was my first kiss. And my third boyfriend.

Naging kami kahit na may girlfriend siya. May boyfriend din ako non pero hindi ako sure kung kami pa dahil parang wala na lamang. Naging masaya ako sa piling niya. Tuwing uwian, nag-aantay siya lagi na makauwi ang mga estudyante saka kami sabay na uuwi at ihahatid sa bahay since same barangay lang kami. Mas naging sweet pa siya sa akin at nakalimutan ko ang girlfriend niya and my boyfriend too.

But our relationship will last for only two months. Napansin ko kasi na parang nakakahalata na ang girlfriend niya, na sa tuwing makakasalubong ko sa hallway ay masama ang tingin sa akin maski sa pila tuwing flag ceremony at flag retreat. Nalaman na rin nang Ate ko at tinablan na rin ako ng hiya dahil nga sa kabit ako. I decided to break him up, at kahit ayaw niya ay wala siyang nagawa. Ayaw ko rin siyang papilian between his girl and me dahil magmumukha akong kaawa-awang mang-aagaw na babae.

And right now, after almost five years ay nagpaparamdam muli siya. May girlfriend parin naman siya pero ibang girl na. Ayoko namang umasa at ayoko na uling makasira nang relasyon. Every woman dream to have their own fairytale. Hindi iyong kabit o pangalawa. Hindi iyong nang-aagaw at nang-lalandi lamang. If he still want me, lalapitan niya ako ng single siya. Dahil honestly, ayoko ng magmahal ng patago.

[drdeniz-cannbialbeaver]

Haha rant time please look away if you're gonna reply with some bs💙

I fucking had it, I want all of this to be fucking over we all wanted it right there's so many people that are dying and accused of just existing for no reason and y'all rich ass self centered still gonna spend it on the "coolest swag shit that no-one could afford" you

YOU COULD'VE SPEND THAT TO HELP US OUT WHY THE WORLD IS GETTING FUCKED RIGHT IN THR DICK PUSSY ASS WITH A MOTHERFUCKING STRAP-ON NO LUBE AND YOUR JUST SITTING HERE WATCHIN' US GO OUT TO DO EVERYTHING TO MAKE A FUCKING LIVING SIPPING ON SOME GOAT CUM YOU CALLED WHITE WINE

I HAD IT IM ABOUT TO LOSE MY SHIT IM GONNA GO TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND REVEAL TRUMPS BROWSER HISTORY AND GUESS WHAT THERS PDFS OF HIS PLANS TO MAKE IT WORSE AGAIN THEN IT WAS

LET EVERYONE DO THEIR THING, DONT LET THIS FUCKING DICK OF A CARROT TO CONTARL US ALL LOKE PUPPETS PUTTING ON A SHOW FOR HIM

LET BLACK PEOPLE AND EVERY RACE START THEIR BRAND, BUSINESSES, STUDIOS, AND RESTAURANTS AT PEACE DONT GIVE THEM WEEKS TO UHHH "APPROVE" BITCH THEY TRYING TO SPREAD THE GOODS WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF HUH??? GONNA GRIND SO MUCH AND THAT ONE DAY NO ONE WILL BUY YOUR SHIT??? DUDE THEY JUST GIVING THE GOODS THAT ALSO INCLUDES THE DISABLED AND QUEERS OWNED BUSINESSES TOO HELL I DO WANT TO OWN ONE!!! WE ALL WANTED TO MAKE A LIVING LIKE YOU IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT TYPE OF BUSINESS JUST LEAVE US AT PEACE WE WONT BE FAR UP FROM YOUT ASS

LET US BE APART OF THIS CHANGE BREAK THIS CYCLE THIS SHIT WILL REPEAT UNTILL SOMETIME IN 5020 THEY'RE GOING TO UNDERSTAND OF THE SHITSTORM WE CAUSED AND CALLED US THE WORST CENTRAY THAT THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN AND NOT ONLY THAT DO THE SAME THING THAT HAPPEN OVER THE PAST WEEKS SO PLEASE LET US PROTEST AND MAKE THE NEW RULES IN PEACE

WE DONT DESVERE OUR NEXT GENERATION TO SUFFER: GEN REPRISE, WE WANT THEM HOW MUCH WE WORKED SO HARD TO GIVE THEM THE AMERICA THAT WE ALL WANTED ONCE TRUMP IS OUT OF THE OFFICE, WE ALL WANT HIM TO GET OUT AND NEVER LOOK BACK

WE DOING OUR BEST TO GIVE ALL OF YOU AND US A BRIGHTER FUTURE THAN THE FUTURE HE HAS IN MIND WHAT DO WE FUCKING WANT

FREE CLASSES FOR THE HOMELESS SO THEY CAN MAKE A LIVING THAN TO DIE NEXT TO A CHANEL STORE

MAKE GAY CONTROVERSY CAMPS OR ANY PLACE RELATING TO IT ILLEGAL AND FOR THOSE WHO TRY TO SNEAK IT WAY THROUGH WILL BE FACING CHARGES

MAKE THE MOST NEEDED PRODUCTS 50% OFF LIKE A/C COOLERS FOR THE LOW INCOMES FAMILIES WHO NEED IT

REPLACE THE OG FLAG WITH A BETTER FLAG

GIVE EMPLOYERS A RISE OR RISE THE INCOME LIKE 20.00 PER HOUR INSTEAD OF 4.89

FREE EDUCATION FOR EVERYONE

AND A LOT .ORE SHIT I CAN SAY BUT I CANT LIST THEM CAUSE OF MY SHITTY VOCABULARY THAT WILL MAKE YOY THINK IM BEING A ASSHOLE LOOK LABY I DONT TALK LIKE BUT THIS GETS MY BLOOD BOILING

I KNOW THE HEROS, OUR BOTHERS, SISTERS AND SIBLINGS WE LOST OVER THE YEARS THOUGH I CAN'T REMEMBER THEIR NAME OR THE EVENTS DUE TO MY BRAIN

I WILL SAY THEIR NAME, THEY FOUGHT FOR OUR MOVEMENTS AND NOW...ITS OUR TURN TO TAKE THEIR ROLES AND BECOME LIKE THEM: HEROS

I AM A MEXICAN QUEER ADHD PERSON AND I WILL NOT SAY IM AMERICAN TILL THEY GET THEIR HEAD OUT OF THEIR ASS

[iamlivingatmyownworld]

Dagli

High School Crush

Madalim pa ang kalangitan ngunit madami ng mga estudyante, guro at kawani ang pumapasok sa gate ng eskwalahan. Ngayon kasi ay Lunes kung kailan mayroong flag ceremony ang paaralan. 

Simula na naman ng linggo kaya't nakasabay ko na naman ang aking crush. Binabati nya ang lahat ng may ngiti sa kanyang labi at tuwa sa kanyang mata. Ngunit may napansin akong bago sa kanya.

"Bago bag natin Joseph ah!", sabi ng kasabay ko palang babaeng guro sa aking tabi.

"Ang ganda ba?", kanyang pagsagot na may kasunod na tawa.

Ang ganda talaga ng kanyang tawa na para bang ika'y nasa kalangitan at tunutugtugan ng mga anghel. Ang kanyang mga mata'y lumiliit pa sa tuwing ang mga labi ay lalawak.

Padaan na ako sa kanyang tabi nang ako'y napatigil.

"Magandang umaga Althea", bati nya sa akin.

"Magandang umaga din po Sir Joseph" magalang kong pagbigkas at kasabay ng pagbati sa kanya ng mga estudyanteng dumaan sa aking likuran.

Ang aking natitipuhang lalaki ay ang aking masiyahin at kwelang guro mula sa asignatura ng Filipino.

Mayor

"Tandaan sa darating na eleksyon mga kababayan! Hunyo H. Agosto para sa pagkamayor! Maraming salamat po!"

Pagkatapos ng bilingan ng boto ng dumating ang eleksyon, inanunsyo na agad sa bayan ng San ALfonso kung sino na ang naitalaga  na mga opisyal. Isa na rito si Hunyo H. Agosto na nanalo sa pagiging Mayor.

"Mayor Agosoto! Bagay na bagay nga pinuno." sabi ng isa sa mga tauhan ni Hunyo. "Syempre naman! Ayoko namang masayang ang mga pinangbayad ko sa mga tao kung hindi din naman ako mananalo." sabi naman ni Hunyo na sinabayan nya pa ng ngisi. "Mayor Hunyo H. Agosto! Bagay na bagay nga!" Dugtong pa nya na ngayon naman ay sinabayan nya na ng malakas na tawa.

Bomba

Isang mapayapang hapon ang meron ang San Alfonso ngunit ang mapayapang hapon ay natapos ng makatanggap ang Mayor ng bayan ng isang mensahe na may bomba daw sa munisipyo. Dahil sa natanggap na mensahe ang mga awtoridad ay dumiretso agad sa munisipyo upang kompirmahin ito. Ang lahat ay nagimbal sa naging balita maliban na lang sa magkaibigang sina Toni at Roel.

"Ang lahat ay kinakabahan na siguro na baka may sumubog ngayon. Ang hindi nila alam, gawa-gawa lang natin ang mensahe na iyon. Mga Uto-uto!" Sabi ni Roel na may kasamang tawa.

"Mga nagpaniwala agad. Nasira mo ba ang ginamit nating sim card para i text yung bulok nating Mayor?" dugtong sa sinabi ng kaibigan at tanong ni Toni kay Roel.

"Oo naman! Hindi ko hahayaang mahuli tayo!" sabi naman ni Roel.

At ang nasabing bomba sa mensahe ay hindi totoo.

[pardontheglueman]

Poetry

It seems like another life now, but back in the early nineties I had over 50 poems published in various small press poetry magazines. Many of them appeared in Purple Patch (edited by the much missed Geoff Stevens, it was described by the Guardian as ‘a national treasure’), indeed, I was the magazine’s Small Press Poet of the Year in 1991!!!. Many of those poems haven’t travelled too well down the decades - but a handful still have something to offer. During those years I was a member of Pontypridd’s Noumena Poets, run by local legend John Evans and attended by none other than internationally renowned singer-songwriter Labi Siffre. We performed in Clwb y Bont, Chapter Arts Centre and the Polytechnic of Wales and even supported Labi in concert on one memorable occasion. I hadn’t written a poem in twenty years - until the proposed closure of Rhydyfelin Library stirred the passions all over again - hence the last of the poems below, Left Unity.

Red Sea

Electric rods

Puncture its gossamer underbelly,

The tapered cusps rotating,

Churning cavities in the pristine flesh

Hauled from the pod,

Disembowelled, raped

Of its product

The whale is beached in its own blood.

At Sunset;

The hollowed out statue of a mammal

Erected in the sand,

A fisherman singing,

the scent of a redenning sea

Beyond the darkness

originally published in Noumena issue No 1

Fragments (for my Father)

A shadow

Impinging upon

His brain,

Secreting darkness

Bloating tissue,

Pressure is applied.

Mouth contorted

Paroxysm

Speech blur,

Hands losing their feel

For the size and shape

Of household objects,

The dropped cup

The spilt pool of black tea.

Head shaved

A horseshoe scar engraved

Above the ear,

A map of blood

Upon the pillow,

The Oxygen mask

A sprawl of tubes

Cannot hide the smile

At the news,

Cheered right across the ward,

That Thatcher had resigned.

Hair

cropped close,  

my father joking he is starting to look

like Humphrey Bogart’s doomed gangster, Roy Earle,

in High Sierra.

Rolling out the clay,

over and over

making and un-making

a fist,

while, in the greenhouse,

forgotten tomatoes

begin to rot on the plant.

Originally published in Purple Patch issue no.59

The Lovebird

Unclasping marmoreal fingers,

She opened the cage

Of her ivory hands

And freed the lilac breasted bird.

However, the bird would not leave

Her garden,

Even though she denied it bread,

It would be fed by no other hand.

Each night, though its wings would beat

Crazily at her window,

She would not hear its song of devotion;

For she had not really loved the bird,

But simply cared for it awhile,

Though sometimes, in a lonely moment,

She recalled the flutter of its heart

Upon her palm.

Originally published in Purple Patch issue no 55

Shoreline

Along the shoreline

Where land meets

The lisping sea,

Winter rain falls,

Darkening the clay-ribbed sands,

Gulls fly above the green-mossed cliff,

Their sleet-grey wings

Deciphering the air

Skimming shadow across

wind-sculpted waters,

While, farther out,

The small boats settle themselves

Beneath a braille of stars

Originally published in Purple Patch issue no. 42

Song for Pablo Neruda

Pablo Neruda shaped his Socialism

From the stone and soil of Chile,

sculpting from the red seed of the ancient pampas

his peoples dream of freedom.

Pablo Neruda spoke for the farmers

In the vineyards and the sugar fields,

For the workers in the copper mines,

His cantos were hymns

To their humanity.

Pablo Neruda knew the sorrows

Of his people;

The hundred martyrs slain in the square

Of the Moneda Palace

Their blood burning in the flame

Of solidarity,

His manifesto was read  

At the funerals

Of all the brothers and sisters of Chile

Who lay in their graves of flags and flowers

In the streets of Santiago.

Pablo Neruda knew the great joy of his people,

He whispered to the lovers

Who gathered up the stars from

The shores of Isla Negra

And for the sweethearts who slept

In the arms of heaven,

Beneath the breasts of Macchu Picchu

Originally published in Purple Patch Issue no 50

Churchill’s India

The denial of food

As a means of ideological torture,

The ritual starvation of child and mother.

A communion of bodies bound

Breast to breast in the grave,

For now, an object lesson

In free market economics,

Though, one day historians

Will resurrect these times and find

A fire of flowers raged here then died.

Unpublished

Left Unity

‘He’s not the best looking guy in the office,

But nice, you know?

On occasion he can get a little het up,

Talks with his hands a lot, for emphasis’.

Just a friendly warning!

That was a word to the wise

Because within ten minutes of our blind date,

(And a full eight minutes into his impromptu lecture

On the probability of a successful grassroots campaign against library closures),

There was one extravagant gesture too many

And he clipped the top of his

Un-sipped lager with a dash

Sending it cartwheeling across the table

And all over my brand new dress.

Mumbled apologies followed,

Something about nerves, first impressions

And ‘putting the bloody kibosh on it’,

Then, those hands suddenly flared up, began to flap above his head,

in a furious semaphore of loneliness;

I knew then, being of the Church of the Broad Left myself,

That I wanted to calm

Those comradely hands,

entwine them forever

In mine,

Exchanging vows

of solidarity, love and left unity.

Unpublished

http://www.poetrymagazines.org.uk/magazine/record.asp?id=26217

http://www.johnevans.org.uk/profile.html