I am the world

(Originally written in Filipino as “Ako ang daigdig” by Alejandro G. Abadilla in 1955, this poem, considered as the poet’s magnum opus, contested the established forms of the milieu’s romantic rhymes and meters.

Abadilla was then referred to as the father of modern Philippine poetry.

Here is my English translation of his poem.)

I.
i am
the world

i am
the poem

i am
the world
the poem

i am
the world
of poem
the poem
of world

i am
enduring, me
the deathless me
the poem of world

II.
i am
the world of poem

i am
the poem of world

i am
liberated, me
to self am truthful
to my world
of poem

i am
the poem
of world

i am
the world
of poem

i am

III.
i am
the feeling
free

i am
the image
life

i am
the life
illimited

i am
the feeling
image
life

feeling
image
life
poem
i

IV.
i am
the world
in poem

i am
the world
of poem

i am
the world

i am
the poem

world
poem

i