Wedding Dance Poem by MELVIN BANGGOLLAY

WEDDING DANCE
Melvin Banggollay


While the gongs of golden bronze
fills the night with rhythmic music
at the beating of the beaters hands
women and men who hears the beats
sways with joy as they join the dance.

But while everyone feels glorious joy
with the rhyming beat of the night
a man and women can never enjoy
for pains of fate entwined their sight
as a man weds other woman's ploy.

Long before that wedding dance
Awiyao and Lumnay lovely glance
each other with tender romance
full of joy as they shared in a dance
a burning passion with good riddance.

But culture and birth along with fate
never let them be perfect mate
For after seven harvest never late
they can't bear a child to make
their marriage acceptable to take
according to customs they partake.

The couple were force to separate
by the dictate of the village beliefs,
That every married man must make
a child to inherit their namesake
If not, they must look another mate.

Lumnay deep in her heart can't take
such village traditions they all partake
for She loved Awiyao without mistake
only that she can't bear any child
even they had done all to appease
Kabuniyan to bless them with kids
by offering precious golden beads
and animals in rituals as they praise.

Awiyao, in his solemn voice
Said to her, if he had a choice
He prefer to share with her
a love with a love that will never
fade even beyond the grave
but He is a man of their culture
that he had to follow to explore
chance to have a child to adore
his name when he'll be no more
but if I will not bear fruit my dear
I will came back to you with cheer.
and hope that you'll still be here.
.
Go, my dear love, leave me here
Go to the dance with my love's sheer
But let me tell you this my dear
I will never love no more, I declare.


This is a reflection of the story of the wedding dance from Amador T. Daguio featuring tribal love stories of the Cordillera people.