Kalong ng kanyang ina
ang isang labing anim na taong gulang na binatilyo.

Basang-basa.

Nangingitim ang mukha at di na humihinga.

Patay na yata.

Nakuryente siya
habang ini-aakyat ang black and white
na telebisyong kasasangla lang
ng isang magsasakang magpapa-check-up sa PGH-
sa ikalawang palapag ng kanilang 5 square meter na tahanan.

May bagyo noon. Super.

At umapaw ang ilog.

Ang sabi sa radyo nakataas na ang signal no.3 sa buong Central Luzon.

Nag-iisip pa rin siya (ang ina) habang binabagtas
ng sinasakyan nilang rubber boat na kulay dilaw
ang daan papuntang evacuation center.

Hindi na niya nagawang magsuklay at mag-suot ng bra.

Kalong niya ang kanyang binatilyong
pangarap mag-aral sa Maynila-

na kanya ngayong ipinagluluksa.

Sa Maynila,

sa isang pamantasang kulay langit ang pasukan at labasan,

nagdiriwang ang mga paang patungo sa Robinsons.

Alas dose.
Cut ang klase.

#WalangPasok.

a city that sleeps,
that coos, that cries,
that holds me with no rain;
the tiptoe treasures
and my trying-too-hard-to-smile-eyes-
there is always time, always
reflection, always melancholy,
but I'm reminded that nothing
is always. because always always
ends. and everything always
always begins.

Haven’t Heard You Cry
5 January 2023

Haven’t been here for a while.
Last time made you smile.
You must be still OK.
Haven’t heard you cry.

We seemed best of friends,
Squawking every day.
Secrets that we could blend.
In a family’s way.

Used to know your clever smoke. .
Such talent made me laughed pgh.
Your kind of saucy poke,
Made my neighbours gasp. .

Remember Mom made splat pie,
Lemon on the run.
Didn’t ever make her cry.
Found that special ***.

Our old dog, ‘one day beast’,
Had to say goodbye.
Took him to Ever Peace.
Didn’t hear him cry.

When your mom did angel fly.
Heard from all her friends
Truly sorry, frightened cried.
Kissed their own sweet end.

Seems most fine treasures lie.
Old photos when they’re found.
Sometimes you were high,
Memory Kodak bound.

I manage, yup still alive,
Toes touched when can bend.
You did make me cry,
Bone pain, round my end.

Lonely as years fast fly,
Found a brand new friend.
Happy times I plied.
Nice if you came by.

Morning comes into sight.
Bacon, eggs are fried.
Six a.m. quite a site.
You think you tried.

Wanting all my money,
When I grow weak and die.
By gosh funny sonny.
Chance I’ll hear you cry.