In this short Life that only lasts an hour
How much - how little - is within our power
~ Emily Dickinson

Tagalog / Filipino translation by Su Layug:

Dito sa maikling Buhay na isang dali lamang
Napakalaki - napakaliit - ng ating kapangyarihan

*Translator’s note: I opted to use “isang dali” (one quickness) instead of “isang oras” (one hour) to emphasize the relativeness of how long a lifetime may be. In pre-Hispanic Philippines, time was not measured in seconds, minutes, hours. The measurement of “isa” (one) and “dali” (quick/quickness) is the breakdown of the more commonly used word, “sandali” which means “moment.” In reading the poem, the questions can be asked: How long is a “short life?” How short is a “moment?”