thunderstorms
and lightnings
remind me of you--

because you struck me
when I least expected it.

if God had mercy
would he end me?

for all i've done,
and what i've
been through

if he had mercy
he would end me.

i am a ghost of
who i was yesterday

an illusion of who
i'll be the next day

a soul living in
a distant utopia of my own

a fleeting vision of
a person--

because change
is a path that
leads nowhere.

i'd rather live
not knowing all the
answers to life

i'd rather not know
how deep the ocean is
or how the world looks
from end to end--

or why we try to make sense
out of stars that align
so we can call each other
star-crossed lovers

if i knew all the answers
i wouldn't have to read books
or anything at all

all i want is, when i'm
on my deathbed, the last thing
that i want to know is:
i've lived a life and i
didn't know much
but i lived long enough
to know what
happiness is.

I like milk tea
like I like my men

Oolong—
deeply rooted in
his beliefs, strong,
slightly bitter— rarely
compromising

Milk and sugar—
delicate, able to bend
rules without losing
integrity, sweet yet
lasting, like the
aftertaste I’ve
grown to love

Cold—
ice cold, only to
complement the
warmth I’ve been
saving for a lone soul

Pearls—
sinkers to my tea,
unflavored yet unyielding.
the anchor of any man
willing to stay with me—
this I have yet to see.

I am jealous of who
you think of at night
because I think of you

yet in my dreams
you are in constant flight.

Sa pag-abot sa kahayag
(As the light approaches)
Ngari sa ngitngit kong kinabuhi
(Here in my dark life)
Ang bidlisiw sa adlaw lamang
(Only the rays of the sun)
Ang nagbalik sa napalid
(Have brought back)
Kong mga damgo
(My dreams which have flown away)

Bisag wala niya nasayod
(Even if it doesn’t know)
Ang akong mga kalisod
(All of my difficulties)
Siya lamang ang nagdala
(Only it can bring)
Ug kalipay nga tinuod.
(Happiness that is genuine.)