Pantoum: Pandanggo sa Ilaw

They swing their arms in slow arcs, 
palms cupped around votive lights 
flickering to the trill of bandurrias
and mandolins. Under the trees,

palms cupped around votive lights,
a row of lovely girls. Hair pinned up,
listening to mandolins under the trees.
Full-skirted, they'll sink to the floor:

a row of lovely girls, hands raised up.
Flame-bearing wrists trace halos in the dark.
Full-skirted, they sink to the floor on cue:
a single votive trembling upon each head.

Flame-bearing wrists trace halos in the dark;
they're the ones who stole and saved the light.
A single votive trembling upon each head, 
they swing their arms in slow arcs.