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 Sep 2013 Sofia Paderes
Morgan
Walked
down 17th
  under the
   white lights
    & against
     tall buildings
      to walnut st
       swallowed
        by the quick
         pace of
          city life,
           i finally
             stopped moving
              for the first
               time in months
                & just sort of...
                  watched
                   & just sort of...
                     felt

                                                               the butterflies
                                                                       swept in
                                                                  to the pace
                                                              of high heels
                                                            and sneakers
                                                          slamming the
                                                      cold side walks
                                          that surrounded me...
                                               i checked the time
                                                              9:01 PM
                                                       the moment
                                                     i fell in love
                                       with where i was
                                   with where i am
The long hours of the night, and
Our unperturbed slumber
Would not suffice to fully understand this
Immortal moment; because we know
We could never fight grief and loneliness
We take comfort in one's promise
And acceptance of one's feelings.

Hush now, my darling.
Wherever this life of ours lead us,
This life painted with endless waiting,
Endless incarnations, and decisions to be made,
Trust that I would remain bound to the mystery
Of your love and devotion
This moment, now, may be too soon, too early
As yet to stand as a stronghold, a wall to support us
To prop us up while we are apart.
But always remember,
Not everything comes to an end,
For it is in our nature to believe
To have faith in the promise of pure love...
This excellent translation of my Filipino poem entitled "Panata" is a proof that poetry has been and will always be our soul's universal language. I thank and salute Ms. SALLY A. BAYAN, a poet par excellence, for the honor of reincarnating the images carried by this piece to the English language. Muli, maraming salamat po Bb. Sally! Mabuhay ang makatang Pilipino!

University of the Philippines
September 27, 2013
Voices from the past spoken by ghosts are
booked with stories, stories till gone untold.
Tombstone whisperers with breathless lisps
Caress your mind with misty mystery
Beginning stories "once upon a time"
and ending them with the two words "The End."

We find ourselves wishing to hear stories
told by the living before they die but,
Only after they die do we listen
because everything they wanted to say
can now only be said with one word, dead.
A morning flower                                                 
A heavy morning rainfall
Oh, eternity

Raindrops at rooftop
A stream in my consciousness
Pond of emptiness
Quezon City, Philippines
September 26, 2013
 Sep 2013 Sofia Paderes
brooke
I can feel my
heart heal
slowly
inch
by
inch
(c) Brooke
Heard what happen
They say it couldve been
Anyone
But it had to be you
Dont worry
I'm not mad
Not even dissapointed anymore
I've learned to accept the enevitable
Its much easier that way
Science has helped me with this
They call it
The law of inertia
Its an objects resistance
To change its state of motion
Unless
An external force is acted upon it
No wonder than that you kept leaving bruises on me
The older we got
Except sometimes they werent always
Physical
And sometimes
They didnt always heal right


I used to think
That whatever happened in the past
Were just accidents
Something that wasnt ment to happen
But it did
Right there was an accident
That maybe
Maybe our world ran out of external forces
To stop me
From losing my security
And my freedom

A lot like that night
When the knock on your
Car window wasnt for spare change
On hand
Instead
They asked for your hands
Behind your back
For a minute
And a half
But that half never came
Guess you couldnt do that math
With all that smoke stuck in your
Single minded brain
Your friends
Werent gonna bail you out
This time
No smooth talking
Clever lying
Was gonna get you out
Of the cold steel grip of these metal bars
Holding you down to where you
Seemed to belong
But you called
Called the next afternoon
Another wave of Im sorrys
And I forgives yous
But this time was different
it wasnt the sound of grown
Men crying
But somehow
I knew you were broken

My brother
You lived your life feeling like the sibling
That was always the failure
But Im here to tell you
The appel doesnt fall far from the tree
Because there were so many times
I couldve helped you
So many times i couldve hugged you
So many times i couldve heard
All your problems
And maybe even thanked you

Because its not just called a mistake
When youre doing something thats wrong
Sometimes
Its not doing whats right

So if any here should say sorry
Dont think youre the only one




Because inertia
In latin
Means lack of art

Or the act of
Unskillful hands staying idle far too long
To be called
Artists block
And
Im sorry brother
But i think Ive
Lost the art of
Loving the broken
Can see the beauty in
Human flaws anymore
I wish i could just see things
From a different angle
Like some holy mosaic
Only God could see from a far
But Im too near sighted
To see all the little broken pieces come
Together
Ive got to be up close
To see anything clearer
and I promise you
Theres no beauty from where im standing
Especially when its infront
Of a mirror

Some might say
Im wallowing in seld pity
But all ive done
Is just show all of me
Even the parts that arent so pretty

My brother
Used to call me a trophy case
With all my achievments
Out on display
Hed say i was showing off


But brother you are right
I am just a trophy case
See past all the glittering
Statues
And fancy certificates
And youll see something thats empty.
Not done lol
For I did not come here in hopes of a hello

Of a simple stroll down our village

Or an acknowledgement of my existence

I came here because I care

I care

I see in your eyes the difference

Cover up with words soothing to the ear

But actions onset on hindrance

I did not come for a duet

Or a memory that we’d never regret

A heart to heart throughout the night

I did not come for my own benefit

I come because I care

I care
I worry, in fact

That you do not realize

How much you are
Who you are

Or your worth


Because the things you do show otherwise
But see in my eyes, and the eyes of others

Too concerned while we watch the beautiful eagle continue to believe he’s just a worm

You’re too distraught by the blindfold in front of yours

To realize the cries for help

Drowned out with insanity

Because the world is stealing your flame

While you continue to be baffled by the pickpocket’s show

"Do not take it!" I scream

“Do not let it take you!”
but those eyes

So precious, full and alive

are 

still

blindfolded.

The procession goes on while the main attraction continues to burp out synthetic love and false hopes

Temporary 
enjoyment

And you have become the fool of the show

With that blindfold 

Darned, pestering blindfold.

I will still scream for its demise!

I will still plead for the final scene!

I will rip away the curtains held up with burgundy lies!

I will still care.

The show must eventually stop!

For actors must be given a break and plays must be forgotten

To not be cliche

There will be a time when there are no more encores

An end to the grand show

scattered flowers on the first row

And utter silence in an empty space

A dangerously

Dark

Desolate 

Stage

But I will still be there


Holding a match for a new flame




And a warmer smile

For I care

I truly care
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