A reading of "Mananahi'

The indirect approach is suggestive without identifying the thing to which allusion is made. The title, Mananahi, is a distinctive character that orients the reader immediately. It jump-starts by introducing the conflict right away. The first and second line of the poem becomes more than mere description; by using Simile as a poetic tool, it adds dimension to the subject, arousing the senses of sight and kinaesthesia.
Parang digmaan ang pagpasok ng sinulid
Ubod hirap sa tuwina’y may balakid;

The third and fourth line uses a device of repetition called the normal refrain wherein it repeats the exact idea of the first and second line.
Sa karayom na butas ay napakakitid,
Oras lilipad walang tagumpay na hatid.

The second and third stanza illustrates hardship, persistence and dissatisfaction making it the incremental repetition of the first stanza.

The poem maintains a uniform rhythmical pattern by a recurring beat in the end of each line. The last words of first and second line of first and third stanza uses a triple exact device: sinulid -balakid, matusok – mapusok.

My initial interpretation of the poem depicting a general idea of achieving a dream the hard way was drawn into a more specific interpretation of a sensuous resolution. The choice of words has a sexual implication: karayom, sinulid, hubad, ipasok, bukana. The significance of the implied attitude, brought by words lifted, appears as the poem develops, and showing rather than telling takes precedence. It resembles the erotic poetry of Stephen Corey called Redundancies, where it means to arouse without using any statements, or words, that are directly or exclusively sexual, yet it is clear, simultaneous, and mysterious.

I think that the indirect allusion is subtle, assuming that I am close to what the poem wants to tell. The word digmaan for instance, is a strong word, connoting two parties struggling for something. The first line of second stanza introduces another character, other than mananahi as the subject, by using the word “iyong”.

The last two line of the poem is a personification of a couple making love; karayom and sinulid becomes two characters personifying a man and a woman with ardent emotion and intense passion, and captures the experience of sex through words.

Hangang sa hubad na sinulid at karayom
Ay magsanib. Magniig. Sa sugat na hilom.