Neruda in MRT

Spanish version

cuando mis pasos van
cuando vuelven mis pasos
niegame el pan, el aire,
la luz, la primavera,
pero tu risa nunca
porque me morira

Tagalog version

kapag ako ay umalis
kapag ako ay bumalik
ipagkait mo na sa akin ang tinapay,
ang hangin, ang liwanag at ang tagsibol
huwag lamang ang iyong ngiti
dahil ito'y aking ikasasawi

It is incongruous to find poetry in MRT, but its incongruousness that catches my interest. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, but no, Pablo Neruda's poem was speaking to every passenger who went in and out of the train as if saying "hey look up here and read me". Somehow I felt that pride when I gave up my seat, stood closer and recited the poem in my head(I fight the urge not to recite it aloud because people might think I'm a broken-hearted romantic, or worst, mad.) Before I got off the train, in Vito Cruz station, I noticed people started looking up and probably resisting not to read aloud.

Now, at least, someone is paying attention.