KATLEAH: Poems of Liberation

KATLEAH: Poems of Liberation

These set of poems are created out of sympathy for the people as well as the society that I belong. Calling for liberation that in the past many people are fighting for it, as well as genuine social justice towards the creators of our history. It also includes the poem "Litany of Katleah" since it was originally a part of the compilation.

In addition to that, these set of poems are influenced by the styles coming from the first three compilations RIZZA (about the anger), MAFE (of love) and HUZN (melancholy), as well as inspired by the realities that people experienced, specifically the struggles being faced through and dreams of liberation and genuine social justice. Or even out of imagination, of knights wearing armor and fighting with its horde to break the chains of oppression and instead of preserving their lord's abode, I would say that most of the words are likely to be called as subversive, but on the other side, these comes from the sentiment of man as he or she tries to free from the chains and blindfolds being bind through. And so were these poems being made- a sentiment being written.

Katleah

Katliya Zivi!

Well brushed brown hair, white skinned lady, joining in the ranks
Wearing an armor, with sword brandished in her hand
What a lady like the other warriors end amazed
For her name's Katleah, freedom fighter fighting to redeem

Blood of warriors, knights and rebels even Valkyries
Flows in her veins to her beauty that seemed enchanting
But in battles she's quite valiant same as amongst men
Leaving chains from slaves and oppressed rot until opened

From every field, from every town lies the holy hordes
As her horn blown giving her foes fleeing on their abodes
Coming from the darkness comes to light shining and shimmering
Coming from iron, from Katleah and her hordes charging

Blood and Iron, chain mail and fire fused in every field
Same as darkness, thunder, lightning and the shouts being heard
This may the Ragnarok being said by ages and retold?
Now been fulfilled, the final war begins to unfold

Will the oppressed ones joining in her hordes giving foes revenge?
From her horn blown and broken chains leaving foes their stench
This may remembered or may forgotten her life and exploits?
Perhaps someday people will know this is history



Lovely

Staring at your gypsy like eyes
Reminds of the midnight skies
Recalling the happy times
Even we're apart

Likely to hear your sweetest voice
Likely to feel your touch that flows
That makes me happy and thus makes free
To a lady I call her Lovely

Well brushed hair enchanting looks
Like a nymph in a story book
Makes me inspired with happiness
Makes me rising from sadness

And thus in every pencil or a quill
Gives life to an endless work
All because of you Oh Lovely,
A flower of the protracted struggle.


Izabelle

Red roses blooming in the fields of struggle
Picked by the maiden whom I remember most
As she walk forth to the way where my comrades
Marching and staying in trenches and the foxholes
Fighting the foe back then many years ago

Just like a young child as what others think of her
The girl what others called her as Re-Belle,
Oh Izabelle you are the Rose of the battle
Whose color is deep red the color of spilled blood

Just like the old past when the world is in distress
Likely to be seen in your recalling eyes
List'ning to stories of knights along with peasants
Same as the stories spoken by the partisans
Fighting the foe back then many years ago

Just like a young child as what others think of her
The girl what others called her as Re-Belle,
Oh Izabelle you are the Rose of the battle
Whose color is deep red the color of spilled blood

Staring the sunset and the evening's beginning
Thus you are thinking the ones admired most
Smelling the scent of the fragrance of the roses
Makes you to rise and to join the suff'ring masses
Fighting the foe back then many years ago

Just like a young child as what others think of her
The girl what others called her as Re-Belle,
Oh Izabelle you are the Rose of the battle
Whose color is deep red the color of spilled blood



Call of the People's War

An answer to this system: PEOPLE'S WAR!

Rotten trees, rotten roots
Rotten all over or even its fruits
Despite having new leaves the disease makes them rust
Makes them rust, makes them rot

Same as the society where the system remains the same
As the past continues to creep being dictated so it seems
The people thinking free end chained as they end deceived
By the authorities around whose their word as decree

Comprador-bourgeoisie, Landlord-CEO
Staying on their offices where their profits grow
Workers, farmers, Petty-B's
National Bourgeoisies scramble for few

Is this the system that will forever last
A system created from centuries past
Despite our freedom created calling sham
Despite the laws we obeyed or calling it spam

Different presidents, different senators,
Different congressmen, different mayors
Being voted as leaders, chosen by people
Or rather handpicked by the few, picked by the compradors?

Same as our economy where anything is cash crop
Our rice is so expensive so why we angry not
And so in the commodity like water and electricity
Growing expensively, growing to end up cut?

And so is our culture where anything enforced us
For they forced us to flow whatever deep or where it goes
Not knowing where is its end, nearly forgetting who are we
Noticing that we are in chains, brains washed in the TV

As well as the military and what we have seen
Acting as security guards of the few society
Calling as soldiers, servants of our people
But why are they acting like paramilitary?

Anything around us are those who destroyed us
Destroying nationalism, of popular sovereignty
Replacing with globalization, of their own democracy
Being drugged by the ideas of the oligarchy!

And so are the sounds of the music we hear
Near and far, all over that tries us to fear
AS we being chained all over in our bodies
Same as our mindsets virtually washed off for years!

We can't withstand this pain created for many years
As we resist this challenge despite doubt and fear
For this system is rotten and there is a solution
And the answer to this system: PEOPLE'S WAR!



March of the oppressed masses
(Made using the melody of the song "White Army, Black Baron",
also known as "Workers of Vienna")

Comprador-Landlords hate the masses
Turning a state in a debt and mess
But from the mountains to squatters we'll see
The People's Army brings victory

So masses hold your ranks
Stand fast and steady
For struggle raise your rifles strong
Towards Manila,
Towards our freedom
Get ready for the last great fight

The bureaucrats hate the ways masses stand
In every urban or rural land
But the oppressed ones will end up in arms
Whether the placard or by the gun

The horns of war are raised
Blowing the people's war
An uprising of masses strong
United under
The blood red banner
Get ready for the last great fight

We'll hear the rattling of guns in the fields
Same with the beat of the truncheons in streets
But as the farmers and workers unite
Creating an army to counter the "right"

Encircling their strongholds
Repelling their own fold
Destroying chains of centuries-old
Reviving freedom
With revolution
Get ready for the last great fight

Forward now comrades march, march ahead
Towards Manila as our last stand
Carrying the weapon in our blood stained hand
Swearing to live and die in this land

We shall scare the oppressors
Both here and from abroad
From farm to town, slum to city
Carrying the weapons
Of revolution
Get ready for the last great fight

United front of the masses shall see
Millions strong makes them hard to rip
We'll flood the cities and rip off their rights
By the oppressed ones with all their might

With the party as guide
People's army as might
The front shal't join us in the fight
United under
The blood red banner
Get ready for the last great fight

So masses hold your ranks
Stand fast and steady
For struggle raise your rifles strong
Towards Manila,
Towards our freedom
Get ready for the last great fight

Towards Manila,
Towards our freedom
Get ready for the last great fight




Our flag

I

I want to see my banner
With its top is color red
For that is the color of struggle
Of the masses with blood bled

I want to see my banner
And not to say it calls for war
For red signifies the people
Who fought for a land just

We shalt hear no reaction
Who calls this intention bad
For the masses has the reason
To defend this oppressed land

And thus we'll raise the banner
With its top is color red
Recalling our martyred dead

II

I want to see my banner
With its top is color red
It does not mean its a coup d' etat
Or other fiasco led

I want to see my banner
With its top is color red
For that its means the masses
Dwelling in a water centered land

We shalt hear no reaction
Who calls this intention bad
For the masses has the reason
To defend this oppressed land

And thus we'll raise the banner
With its top is color red
Recalling our martyred dead

III

I want to see my banner
With its top is color red
Being flown with the red flags
In every corner of the land

I want to see my banner
With its top is color red
For our ideas never die
And all will understand

We shalt hear no reaction
Who calls this intention bad
For the masses has the reason
To defend this oppressed land

And thus we'll raise the banner
With its top is color red
Recalling our martyred dead




Na Juris!
(Made using the melody of the old Yugoslav song "Na Juris",
meaning "Charge")

Na Juris! Na Juris! Na Juris!
Advance! Forward the revolution
Destroy and repel the reaction
From field to the city
Rip off the old glory
Na Juris ohej partisan
March forward towards our freedom!

Na Juris! Na Juris! Na Juris!
Swarm like the fishes in waters
Of masses, oppressed ones and others
Repelling the fascists
Destroying the Racists
Na Juris ohej partisan
March forward towards our freedom!

Na Juris! Na Juris! Na Juris!
We shalt rebuild our country
We shalt restore its real glory
Proletariat's vision
Is Partisan's mission
Na Juris ohej partisan
March forward towards our freedom!



Kings of the Trigger

Many months, many years
Justice is the wish and the people's will
Justice against the long term oppression
Coming from the oppressors, and the unjust

"Kings of the trigger" as what we called them
Ready to trigger as fast as lightning
Every oppressors cannot escape
As their skins end up penetrated by the bullets

"Working class defenders" as what we called them
And the mission they got is "to defend the working class"
Oppressed sectors, seeking real freedom
Only to be redeemed by the "Kings of the trigger"

Every wrongdoing always bend
As the "Kings of the trigger awaits them to end



A partisan's paean

I always wanted to become a Partisan
Defending the entire working class
And contributing to a new society
Starting in this forsaken land

The partisan's mission is to change
Creating a just and free society
A principled objective
That involves our lives as our price

Knowing the society as totally oppressed
Semi-feudal, Semi-colonial as what they expect
And in every solution they agreed and set
People's war as their answer and will never forget

And marching to the mountains
Marching to the fields
Fighting against every oppressors
For the oppressed to be redeemed

Same as in the cities
Using voices not arms
Calling for changes
In midst of the crisis

Arousing the people and so is organizing
Then mobilizing them all over the community
Disseminating the truth, redeeming everybody
Punishing the oppressed all over the country

From the mountains to the cities
From the terrain to the sea
There will always be partisans
Fighting until this nation redeemed!



Litany of Katleah

She is the girl, and her name is Katleah
She is the girl, the female partisan
She is the girl, whose music is the struggle
She is the girl, whose instrument is her gun

Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!^
Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!
Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!
Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!

She is the girl-descendant of crusaders
She is the girl-the seat of st. Aquinas*
She is the girl-the sword of the oppressed ones
She is the girl-Of million blows and thrice strikes

Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!
Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!
Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!
Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!

She is the girl, whose blood from her sword flowing
She is the girl, whose rifle kept on firing
She is the girl, whose banner is red flying
She is the girl, a woman worth remembr'ing

Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!
Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!
Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!
Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!

Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!
Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!
Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!
Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!



Litany of Katleah (another version

Because of Katleah and a flask of vodka,
I and my men will march towards Manila
Will burn the enemy's outposts and checkpoints
Two or three that enemies feel their loss

Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!
Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!
Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!
Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!

Beacause of Katleah and a flask of vodka
I and my men will march towards Manila
Oh! Kamarad remember our objective
Saving the people and give our foes Justice

Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!
Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!
Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!
Hej! Katliye! fire the gun partisane!



Katliye Zivi!
("Katleah lives" in croatian)

Katleah lives inside our hearts,
For our struggle lives undone;
Recalling her past, adventures and exploits,
Recalling her past, of redemption of truth,
That every book written with love.

We will always remember her,
and thus she will live;
In our hearts, our minds and spirits whole,
For she redeemed us from our enemies,
In every killing spree.

Forever in our hearts she will always live,
A lasting memory in life's history;
That a maiden clad in armor,
And her sword raised in valor,
Leading us oppressed to victory.

And to say "Katliye Zivi!"



Hymn of the Democratic Youth of the World
(English version, based on the song made by Novikov)

Children of different peoples
We are dream of lasting peace
But in every distress
We are willing to fight as they pleased
In every country and nation
With different race, creed, religion
Coming together, in common purpose
Leading towards freedom

Let the songs of friendship of children resound
Let resound, let resound
Let our voices of our struggles sing aloud
Let aloud, let aloud
We, children are,
We are united with a common goal
Let the songs and voices of of children resound
Hand in hand, shout as one

Recalling our past struggles
Lead by masses of ages old
Despite of different blood flows
Unity is our lasting goal
From faces happiness glowing
Reminds of new era rising
"We are the future" This what the old says
Therefore we will fulfill

Let the songs of friendship of children resound
Let resound, let resound
Let our voices of our struggles sing aloud
Let aloud, let aloud
We, children are,
We are united with a common goal
Let the songs and voices of of children resound
Hand in hand, shout as one

All despite our youngness
We all swore our unbroken oaths
We will raised our banners
We'll confront the reaction as foes
Forcing our peace to its deep grave
That altogether we must save
Let's rise together, hold hands each other
Against the tide of war

Let the songs of friendship of children resound
Let resound, let resound
Let our voices of our struggles sing aloud
Let aloud, let aloud
We, children are,
We are united with a common goal
Let the songs and voices of of children resound
Hand in hand, shout as one




To Ayala we're marching
(Using the German song Dem Morgenrot entgegen)

To Ayala* we're marching
Marching in hand in hand
With red flags in staffs waving
And Placards in our hand

We'll march until we reach and meet
The other ones in another street
And sing the songs of struggle
In a new modern beat

We will meet the policemen
With truncheons in their hands
We are ready to beaten
But not to understand

The words that oppressors speaks
For they hate us for this event we meet
We are ready to beaten
And we'll reply with fists

We'll see the nice made buildings
Made by the calloused hands
Of workers still left unpaid
And more sweat in their backs

They are marching amongst us
Just like the strikes of back then
And shout along with others
"No to that damned Con Ass!"***

Perhaps the evil midget**
Is watching that event
Then she'll reply with killings
And Forced disappearances

Perhaps the people now see
And thus they will now reply
Either with fist or by gun
Fighting for our freedom!

*or Mendiola, same as the title as "To Mendiola we're marching"
**or "Perhaps the damned reaction", then "they" on the "she" part
***or "Gave us what is for us!"