The burden of understanding

a different body by Lean Borlongan, translated by Eric Abalajon (self-published, 2025) If only he could stopthe involuntary movementsof his handsalways shakingleft and right, if onlyhis tongue and lips were not twistedif only his headhadn't filled with fluidif only he were born full-termhe would notwrite poetryabout failed loves.["The Poet"] By page 30 of this collection, one reads a