Listen, it's a beautiful thing
when distilled to its essence;
reduced to its purest form.
A paradox and a paradigm;
a paragon of perfection.
Epic in its arythmetic
progression; poetic.
Like Chinese arithmetic,
so hard it hurts. Yet soft
and exquisite, like a bubble
of love caught in a beating heart.
That place where poetry starts.

When I am old
and still alive
like embers in the ashes I
will burn the hands
of all who try
to tidy up too soon...

Siyam na buwan sa iyong sinapupunan.
Nang mailuwal mo'y sabik akong mahagkan,
Tumulo ang luha ng walang humpay na kaligayahan.

Ngiti sa mga labi'y hindi maipinta,
Nang munting anghel ay naglalakad na.
Ginabayan, tinuruan, at minahal niyong dalawa.

Lumipas ang tatlong taon, kasiyaha'y naglaho.
O aking ina, ako'y iniwan mo't lumayo.
Aking ama'y nagtangis ng todo.

Naglasing, nambabae, kinalimutan ako.
Sinaktan, inapi, inalila ng kung sino.
Muntik pang ibenta sa Muslim na kalaguyo.

Dekada ang dumaan, si Ama'y namatay.
Puso ko'y napisa't tuluyan ng nalumbay.
Mag-isang hinarap ang malungkot na buhay.

Naghinagpis sa inyong pagkawala.
Nagtangis, mugtong-mugto ang mata.
Nangungulila dahil wala nang nag-aruga.

I would happily suffer
   because of how much I love you
I will put myself through misery
    just so you feel no pain
I would walk on flames
     and put them out
         so you can walk through
I will drive myself insane
     so you can have no part of the blame
I just wanna believe
        that you love me
               that much too

People are easy to remember throughout
The years, they always stick out for some
Reason in your mind and never let go
I remember my best friend yelling down
The hall to each other and getting yelled at
By a teacher, I remember the first girl I kissed
I was standing there so awkwardly
I remember one of the my closest friends
Style never out of whack, always fashionable
Or another one who’s ok with jeans and a flannel
I remember the first girl I loved giving her obnoxious
Nicknames throughout the years for no reason
I remember my friend who stuck by me who’s been
There since day one in that English class where she
Shouldn’t have even been. I remember seeing my
Crush at college wearing that outfit stealing the show
I remember people clear throughout the years
But do they remember me at all? What do they see?
Do they see the kid bumming it to class every day?
Or that kid wearing crisp ACUs posture straight eyes
Ready, knowing the importance of what he’s wearing
Or do they see that kid beating out a fast pace on the
Road pushing himself past the breaking point to be
The best. Do they see that kid at the party outfit picked
Out by someone else to not look like a mess. Do they see
Me sitting by a fire, cold drink in my hand, shadows
Playing across my face like the demons hiding behind
Those dark brown eyes
Do they remember me? DO it stand out in their minds?
Or did I fade into existence Right after I left theirs and
Moved on?