Yes, I'm 65, now elderly,
That's the term, officially,
One day, shopped locally,
Bought a lotto, luckily?
Someone wins tonight, says she,
Dear God, why can't it be me?
Yes, yes, this lotto is lucky,
Wait for the draw, breathlessly,
Anticipate now I am elderly,
Old folk can be winners too, says she,
This is going to be my lucky night,
If I win, I can sort the bill for the light,
Getting old is not for hissy fits,
Come on, lotto, let's have a bit!

Mr. Lotto
Went to Kyoto
Clicked a Photo
Turned Right

Found a Sumo
Entered fight
Returned home
With a Prize

my ears have been blown,
like shrapnel
by the elders always
reiterating
their complex tics of
indistinguishable versification

“energy is wasted
on the youth.”

well...

the youth need that energy
to patiently wait on the elders
as they buy an over abundance
of lotto tickets and hold up the line
at the local convenience store
because they don’t know what
else to do with their money
while they’re waiting to die

112415

At kaya nga ayokong mag-lotto,
Kasi naaalala kong walang pag-asang manalo,
Mabuti pa si Chito,
Hindi nauubusan ng liriko.

At ayokong umasa sa roleta,
Kasi ako yung tipong sigurista,
Hindi naman ako dumaraan sa peryahan,
Moderno nga pala sa'ming bayan.

Hayaan mo, hindi ako mag-aaksaya ng barya,
Papel lang kasi siyang humahagkan sa bulsa.
Sandali, pagkat hindi ako mayaman,
Hindi ka kasi mabibili ng ginto't dyamante sa tindahan.

Paumanhin, wala naman kasi akong pera
Hindi ako magtataya sayo,
Lotto ka nga eh, walang kasiguraduhan.