precolonial philippines study

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a young visayan man
stands squinting against the evening sun.
his skin is toasted like bananacue
from many long days outside
and his eyes
the color of rich earth
are almost concealed by his lashes.
he pulls a fiber from his mouth.
both tooth and nail are filed and stained red,
and the light shines on gold adornments -
pegs in his teeth,
rings and bracelets on his hand,
a chain necklace,
and thick dangling earrings.
tucked carefully behind his ears
is a silky flow of black hair.
it reaches down to his waist
to meet a bahag,
below which
he is painted in tattoos
down to the ankle.
[ -- to be continued -- ]

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