Day on the Farm, written by Luis G. Dato in 1934 is among of the familiar texts of his work. It has been anthologized and included in college textbooks all over the country; and one of the most deconstructed and analyzed poems by students. Gemino H. Abad, in his book, Our scene so Fair: Filipino Poetry in English, 1905-1955, wrote, “But in Day on the Farm, the romantic — that is, the natural attraction between man and woman, without guilt — becomes an authentic human (and therefore Filipino) experience in the poem. Why, or how? Our answer, simply put, is: first, the author is Filipino, and next, the experience as rendered appears authentic…”
Thank you Savage Mind and Ateneo de Naga university press.
Day on the Farm
By Luis G. Dato
I’ve found you fruits of sweetest taste and found you
Bunches of duhat growing by the hill,
I’ve bound your arms and hair with vine and bound you
With rare wildflowers but you are crying still.
I’ve brought you all the forest ferns and brought you
Wrapped in green leaves cicadas singing sweet,
I’ve caught you in my arms an hour and taught you
Love’s secret where the mountain spirits meet.
Your smiles have died and there is no replying
To all endearment and my gifts are vain;
Come with me, love, you are too old for crying,
The church bells ring and I hear drops of rain.
April is the National Literature Month in the Philippines.
With Ateneo de Naga University Press, we bring you our first episode of Himati: A Bikol Poetry Reading featuring noted stage and film actor Jaime Fábregas. In this episode, Mr. Fábregas reads the poem, Day on the Farm by Luis Guevara Dato, one of our first poets in English at the beginning of the 20th century during the early part of American occupation. Luis Dato became a respected journalist, an influential Bikolista and a public servant. He is from Baao, Camarines Sur.
We thank Mr. Fábregas for his generosity. Special thank you to Professor Tito Valiente for his support in this endeavor.
