Tag-Init, Tag-Ulan

She had given up

the handsome prince

his lustrous skin

white as winter

his eyes the luscious green of spring

She no longer hoped

for his promises of warmth,

for his warmth of summer is still cold

Promises of improved appearance

fulfilled dreams

better life

that shed

one

by

one

like autumn leaves.

She didn’t need him.

For she had seen the beauty of the datu’s skin

brown as nipas

under the sun

just withstanding the cold of rainy days

and enjoying the warmth of the sun.

Post-colonial criticism:

This poem is about the influence of the western countries on the Philippines– how we take delight on everything imported and foreign. We even want their four seasons– winter, spring, summer and fall. We even pattern some of our clothes to these four seasons even if we don’t have them. In this poem the speaker(Philippines) realized that she didn’t need the handsome prince (western countries) anyway and his complexities(symbolized by having many seasons). She was already contented of the life offered to her by her own identity.