Atin Cu Pung Singsing

In my childhood in the province of Pampanga, the earliest exposure I had to anything approaching a "poem" was the popular folk song (or verse) "Atin Cu Pung Singsing."

KAPAMPANGAN LYRICS

Atin cu pung singsing
Metung yang timpucan
Amana que iti
Quing indung ibatan
Sancan queng sininup
Queng metung a caban
Mewala ya iti
E cu camalayan.

Ing sucal ning lub cu
Susucdul king banua
Picurus cung gamat
Babo ning lamesa
Ninu mang manaquit
Quing singsing cung mana
Calulung pusu cu
Manginu ya caya.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

I had a ring
With a beautiful gem
I inherited it
From my mother
I kept it very well
In a chest
But it just disappeared
Without my noticing.

The heartache within me
Is as high as the sky
My crossed hands
Are upon the table
Whoever can find
That ring I inherited
My poor heart
Shall forever worship.

(from the Center for Kapampangan Studies, Holy Angel University, Angeles City, Pampanga)