Kaguw (Itch-scratching)
Oil on canvas
40.5x30 cm
This is my first painting using palette knives. This painting is a gift for my Humanities mentor and a friend, Sir Kristian Cordero, an award-winning Bikolano contemporary poet and writer.
Another contemporary Bikolano poet, sir Victor Nierva wrote a poem inspired by this painting. I am very gratified that my arts are now being recognized by few Bikolano artists like sir Vic and sir Kristian.
KAGUW NI BRIJUEGA
by Victor Dennis Nierva
Daí ta nanggád masásabútan—
mawáwalat na saná an talbó—
an pagtalikód n’ya sa kinàbán,
an pagrápak kan saíyang siko.
Daí ta man mahuhunà nanggád
an pagmatì kan saíyang kublít:
mayong gùrís, mayò man nin lugad,
mayò man nin pilà na mahúlit.
Ay, hilngá, ta gatól, gatól saná
an satô gabós makákahayag
na an pangkágaw daíng halagá
asín madayà an mga takyág.
Kagáwa saná, kagáwa bayâ,
Sagkód an gatól dagos mawarâ
(English)
Brijuega’s Kagüw
We can never understand—
all that will be left to us is dust—
her turning her back to the world,
the shattering of her elbow.
We can never assume
how her skin does the feeling:
there are no scratches, no wounds,
there are no scars that may suggest.
Oh, look, itch, only itch
can ever declare to us
that the backscratcher is of no use
and that the arms are full of deceit.
Go on, scratch it, and never stop
until the itch is finally gone.
