Untitled 21

There was a time
when rainy days felt nice
like it was the best thing
that ever happened in life
It was cool and relaxed
troubles do not exist
umbrellas eagerly unfolded
friends are abound
smell of wet grass and mist
and the sun eagerly expected
Now rainy days remind me
of the deluge
even with the rainbow
even with the ark as refuge
Now rainy days steal my hopes
it cleanses not just dirt
but also my will and fire
simply makes my gut hurt
I wish it to go away
to come again another day
but what I really wish
is to see the old rainy days
when life was still OK
I know they will come again, someday
where we can go out and play
and only have beautiful words to say

Untitled 20

Delusions of grandeur
an exaggerated sense of importance
was all that is needed to go on
and bear any sort of encumbrance

The hungry looks
of an audience entertained
the lavish praise
of fanatics unrestrained
makes the load go lighter
the passage of time unfelt
trapped in the small space in the aether
suddenly expanding into forever

As they sing a hymn
as they recite a prayer
as they bring their sacrifices
and burn them with adoration
wounds begin to heal
sins are forgotten
worlds are created
raising the dead
feeding the hungry
punishing the wicked

Underneath the religious ecstasy
is an existence defined by agony
the faces mask a horrid expression
a poor disguise in place
for an unbearable condition

A threat of punishment
a reward for obedience
passed down from parent to children
a never ending cycle
of love and hate
of genuine concern
of resignation and success
of living through duress
of ignorance and apathy
of a battle for survival
and resources, and supremacy

A short whisper of longing
a cry for help
thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest
a plentiful life, a new born
was all that is needed to realize
how we truly walk in the dark
trying our best not to stumble and fall
holding each other's hands
we felt strong together
bearing the same name
marching under the same banner

A burst of lightning
followed by thunder
suddenly exposed the shadows
and the trail to the outside world
but it wasn't enough
for us to see
for even light can deprive us
of what it feels to be free
that we would rather hide from the sky
than flap our wings and fly
we would rather agree
than risk a confrontation
and we would rather nod
than ask the important question

A ghost from the past
a dreadful prophecy
was all that is needed to remind
our feeble minds of the destiny
that we accepted as ours
that we accepted as divine
that we took as our truth

Guilt and blame
from sin and shame
a naked existence
after succumbing to the flame
blood in our hands
an empty stomach
lust in our minds
burden on our backs
was all it takes
for our unconditional surrender

Though we may never truly understand
the triviality of the matter
we may not even remember
the things we sought after
so in the silence of our hearts
we offer a simple prayer
to someone out there
hoping for an answer

And any seemingly related event
is all that is needed
to reassure our convictions
to confirm our assumptions
A conniving thought
is all that we expected to find
as we ignore how good we are
in deceiving ourselves with our minds

Untitled 19

A bus represented our inadequacies
our nation's shortcomings
people we look up to
failed us miserably
The victims themselves
were of kin to the elites
and the powerful
and the beautiful
The defenders of peace
had to take cover
had to pray for a miss
from a deranged shooter
they had to cower
and stick together
But I cannot blame them
for their enemy is their own
representing their hatred towards the system
and all the crimes that was sown
The media is supposed to show the truth
was actually the one who aggravated
him who was striped of honor and youth
him who violated and, in turn, was violated
At the end of the day
I simply saw my taxes wasted
made my beloved country
a laughing stock of the whole world
our technologies outdated
failing to get emancipated
It is a shame to us all
who were fighting tooth and nail
everyday to keep this nation going
who kept on standing tall
who were struggling not to fall
common people who bear everything
And yet our best efforts
came to nothing
and one of us made the last resort
and went hostage taking
What good is our tools
that Uncle Sam provided
if our minds are too immature
too late a year and a hundred
I realize we're just a bunch of fools
who never truly understood our fate
until we make up our own minds
until we meditate, calculate, contemplate
and we move forward united
and we get there liberated

Untitled 18

One day I discovered the reason
why life felt so out of season
and the wind touches like
a long lost friend
that I took for granted
and now I miss it again

Everyday we say
we'll make it through
but before I agree
I had to say a thing or two
about why are we doing this for
nobody's ever satisfied anymore
going through all this pain
just for a bit of gain
over one another; it's insane
primitive, unnecessary, mundane

Which is why I chose
to live a simple life
break bread, earn my wages
pay the bills, make love to my wife
because deep down all the things
the world has to offer
felt rubbish, artificial
wasteful, breaks the day after

For all material things
are meant to break down
like everything else
it wasn't meant to stay sound
for all eternity
even though it escapes me
how people love to reason
without even grasping infinity
Do you clowns even know what it means
how dare you offer something you can't give
how you lure the hopeless, the sick,
the fragile, those in need

Isn't everyday enough to be thankful
that we are alive and kicking
breathing and eating a mouthful
of the work we offered
to those that trust us
why do we seek ever more
and never settle with what they pay us

Even though I know
we are always worth more
but life does not revolve
around me; you see, we're lucky
for there isn't always an open door
it's not always like this
not so in other places in the world
something we should all be glad for

And all that really matters
at the end of the day
is your family and friends
and to whomever we care to pray
It was proven that we are too small
compared to the rest of existence
that thought gives me strength
nothing ever felt better than insignificance
And just to understand
how this world really behaves
and what useless part we play
against all the particles and waves

So please don't fret
we're all in this together
together we stand, together we fall
together we go deep, together we stand tall
No matter how much we earn
No matter how much we lost
No matter how much we hope
we all came from the same cosmic dust

And it's been going on forever
may repeat itself, may stop never
but then we don't really care
as long as we can find meaning
for our lot and our destiny
that we ourselves fulfill
so it seems if we dare
to make sense of it all
we just can't hold still
It's a toil taxing and draining
we may end up with wasted effort
or it could all just be meaningless
or it could also be profound and sound
and a suitable an explanation
we can find at the end
as long as there is inspiration, motivation
as long as we push ourselves
as long we don't pretend

So the next time I see
someone staring at me
I know in my heart, it was I
who was staring back at me
and that I'm meeting God
the first and the last time
and all I can offer in exchange
is thanks in my heart and a warm smile
it's all worthwhile
to make love to yourself
it's not masturbation
nor vanity nor selfishness
better than altercation
and all the wars that's so useless

You owe it to the world
to be a person of peace
for in the symphony of life
we all play the same piece

Untitled 17

Feeling the door wasn't easy
truth is always laid bare the last minute
voices and hands pulling you back
afraid yet willing to take the heat
Stubbornness is especially useful
when one wishes to let go of the hand
when every breath no longer counts
when it feels like a lifetime
just trying to take one step
fear and unease quickly mounts
reactions felt like rehearsed mimes
the image taunts, ridicules, haunts
Smelling the outside air was heavy
felt like ammonia and smelled like regret
keeping up makes one weary
past the doorknob, mat, wood and rivets
But right here is where I want to be
because the longer I stay
the less I'll be able to see
what I wish to know and wish to say
to roam, be in danger, be free
As I step outside the front door
the rustling of leaves signal my departure
hard as it is but necessary to do
hard and devastating for me and you
I look away and start walking
every piece of my soul withering
I couldn't help but start thinking
another time, another place
would have rendered us a different ending

Untitled 16

Delicate as a flower
steady as an archer
beautiful as a rainbow
heavy as one's sorrow

Delinquent as a tempest
seductive as a matron
perverse as a hidden desire
ruthless as a thunderstorm

Delirious as an orphan
hopeless as a captive
fierce as a roaring lion
gentle as a breeze

I saw you sing that day
everything in you is deliberate
and your memory held sway
with what decency sought to eradicate
stepping back to meditate
trying my best to mediate
over an infinite idealistic debate
of what an ambitious mind sought to create

I saw you stand that day
head held up high
arms reaching for the sky
hands pretending to fly
and being with the crowd
you didn't see me at all
which is great enough
for somebody on the other side
of an infinite and invisible wall

I saw you come to life
alive as the sun
engulfing as the sea
mesmerizing as the night
until you came to me
with all your beauty
war torn and lust heavy

With that I began to see
ever so clearly
hopes shattered
illusion broken
sanity reinstated
and then it happened
coming back to my senses
lunacy vanquished by reality
the arrow of truth
popping the dream chute
I realized I was all alone
just as it is when I was born

Untitled 15

Deep within your mind
is a place austere
full of nothing and silence
without ghosts of the past
Sometimes you go there
when you dream
but most of the time it is neglected
The truth is that
the place provides you power
and inspiration
without it you are almost dead
Yet the place is empty
and most of the time ignored
until an angel came
with broken wings seeking solace

Untitled 14

You remind me of the sunset
How it paints the sky with colors
orange, blue, yellow, violet
emotions swirling on a mirror
inspiration for every noble soul
How it relieves us of the day heat
and ushers the beginning of the night
passes by short and sweet
as we prepare to sleep tight
How it connects us to our ancestors
as they gaze in the same magnificent sight
surely they were also moved to tears
and afterwards made everything right
taking away all doubts and fears
taking away the burden of the years
How it tells of the beauty of existence
and why we should strive to live fully
that wasting a precious moment is a crime
and why we should always be pure and true
for life is short as a sunset
which is why I chose to spend it with you

Untitled 13

Birds awoken the dreamer
still clinging to his slumber
chasing a ghost of a woman
who was in another plane, another land
He created worlds for her
in hopes of a life of them together
wars were fought and sacrifices brought
only to see her lost forever

The dreamer was uneasy
for he had long accepted the dream as reality
being used to the dark and cold
surrendered and doing as he is told
by his passions and desires
pursuing her shadow with ire
letting himself be consumed by fire
caught in dark pits of mire

And so the birds heralded the morning
to which he tried to resist
but as he came to his senses, remembering
how beautiful this world that really exists
Sunshine and people starting their day
no longer did the dream held sway
for the dreamer finally free of strife
after awakening to a bird's song of life

Untitled 12

First time to see the emperor
as he walks by the town
Everybody is in the uproar
fear, hatred, awe unto the crown

For it was said
that he sported new attire
To my surprise he was naked
as his attendants seemed to conspire

I shouted to get his attention
And everybody else was laughing
and hysterical; also confusion
But he seemed to haven't notice a thing

The emperor simply ignored everybody
must've thought of us just ignorant brutes
Heading the procession wearing nothing
his pride won't let him see the truth

Untitled 11

Robots falling from the sky
torches lifted up high
Prayers cited to the one above
speaking of distress and hurt
reminders of promises of love

Robots ascending into town
we need the village clown
For we have but minutes
to escape our realities with day dreams
to think of that far pretty place
with roses and girls and sunbeams

Robots firing in an efficient rate
we have made our fast as of late
read the holy book and broke bread
reminded our children to go to bed
Hope and dread in flashing lights
Pain, suffering on poisonous brew
anything that can deliver us will do
a hero, an angel, a soldier too
whoever we can put our faith to
doesn't matter, that I knew
As long as we are breathing
do we keep on praying
do we keep on dreaming
and hoping and weeping
just to end the screaming and gnashing
of teeth and bones
over steel and stones

Robots capturing survivors for study
somehow I remember my family
and friends and neighbors
we used to smile together
trade food and clothing
help each other
compete with each other
share with each other
Now just body bags
scattered all over
I can almost hear their
sighs of relief
being dead and cold
free from further grief
while I am here
awaiting my captor
hurting and breathing
in pain and stupor

Robots bringing specimens
to the lab table
they spread the body
made sure it's observable
healthy people like me
improving their knowledge
sane people like me
an object of study

Robot placing subject on wheel
to run without end
taking notes, making amends
Robot closing lights and machines
says will continue tomorrow
then I saw him, too, is in chains
just making most of life borrowed

Untitled 10

Delectable pieces of your memory
visiting me on my dreams
We play hide and seek
and I can clearly hear you speak
There I always try to explain
why you were gone
what's with all the pain
It seems I have never
really accepted the fact
Never got into any closure
never got the courage to act

With your passing I wasn't devastated
But I felt alone in the world
floating, without motivation, isolated
For some time your voice
lingered in my ears
spiritual bond intact
helping me cross a river of fears
Still I distanced myself from you
weeks before you went away
in every way I withdrew
Pride, ego, emotions held sway

And now I realized
how I left you alone in the dark
now I remember exactly
how I extinguished the spark

But still all good feelings
points me back to that place
Where the rain just ceased to fall
and the cold night, garden by the mall
where we are together
walking by the dampen grass
that grew small, sharp and slender
sharing war stories
and what to avoid as a teenage boy
lectures on how to live fully
rebukes on things I did wrongly

All that is stuck in my head
no matter how I boast control
an invisible burden
that I don't remember most of the time
but it's there I swear
reminding me of some innocent crime
But all I really want to say
is that I miss you Tito Ray
and hope someday I'll find a way
to thank you for everything
and share all that's been happening
But then for the time being
we'll let the images display
happy memories to stay

Fow now it's too late
to linger with self loathing and hate
Got to work with problems
that I have to deal each day
Still everything will be OK
exactly how you describe
our lives are to be played
exactly how you taught me
our hopes and dreams do betray
even if they do come true someday

So I think I'll just see you
right thee on the other side
I see you content and smiling
watching the heavenly tides
that time when it's my turn to walk
but for now I'll just move on
living my life like everybody else
just the way you wanted me to

Because back then you knew
that I can actually do great things
as long as I respect reason
as long as I go easy on myself
as long as I stay true
back then you knew
which is very typical of you
that life won't be easy at all
until one's end is due
like how it was done to you
hidden from plain view
but nothing too absurd
nothing looked blurred
kinda hard to fill the shoe
of someone as loving as you

Untitled 9

Fighting amongst each other
for the right answer
We became friends
brought us together
kept us closer
We disagree on
the simplest of things
all the time
but when it comes
down to business
it's all rhythm and rhyme

We can get along
that's for sure
but our dedication
to what we care about
won't let us settle
even with little doubt
mediocrity unacceptable
ever subject of our bouts
I can never get to see
how your understand things
as you do with me

But one thing is for sure
No matter how far
our thoughts are
we know diamonds
aren't a product of care
like procreation
a lot of teasing
hitting, weeping, hissing
all about tension

As the most beautiful
can only be brought about
by love
by utmost attention
by violence
and most importantly
by heartless exasperation

Untitled 8

I was told
at a very young age
that dreams portray
the opposite of reality
While it seemed trivial
never held sway
It felt real to me
while under the spell

An old sage
once wondered
after waking
from his slumber
where he can fly
as a butterfly
He asked himself
whether he is man
thinking of wings
or actually an insect
dreaming as a man

When I wake
from my dreams
I seldom remember
nor understand
what they mean
But that which
always stays with me
are the emotions
the dream constructs
they made me see
made me feel
made me hear
what should be laid bare

It sticks to my soul
as I wander
throughout the day
It does hold sway
even if I don't remember
As I work on earthly goals
sweat for my meals
practice my craft
toil for the bills
the dreams stayed with me
and it was never enough

I was also told
at a very young age
That one can get lost
inside his own dream
You just need to wear
your clothes inside out
and like magic, they swear
you will find your way out
But now I wonder
why I am having problems
finding my own path
back to my shelter
a trail that will
wake me from my slumber

Now I even wonder
why the clothing trick
no longer works
Is it because
the dream changed its tick
Or was it just me
pretending to see in the thick
of the forest path as it forks
just a distance
after seeing it split
Seeing that this pattern
simply repeats
Unending, infinite
like a wicked joke
as you walk through Elm street

I was told
at a very young age
I make my own dreams
and they tell me
what I really want
though it always ends
the same in real life
you can't get hold of it
For the dream
is but your escape
to cope and adjust
to replenish and recuperate

'Cause a wise man once said
that life is always
stranger than fiction
I say even worse
for life never compensates
and it never cares
for your emotions
It teases but will never
play shrink for your adulation
it will not even
give you its full attention

And life is
at the same time
better than your dreams
For your dreams crumble
as soon as you wake up
Whilst life, on the other hand
only starts to get better
once you gave up
on the idea
that everything
revolves around you

Untitled 7

This is the gift
I am passing to you
take care of it
and love it too
Don't let it run dry
feed it in time
Let it rest upon sunset
shower it with sunshine
Protect it with your life
venerate it with your soul
give it utmost respect
as itself a worthy goal
A thing of real beauty
is meant to be loved
with everything you are
Think of nothing else
speak to no-one
retire to the mountaintops
stop living a common man
For the goal is worth
the sacrifice required
for with this you are saved
and to heaven shall you retire

This, too, is a curse
and your calvary starts here
endless pain and cries
will be your only gain
Brace yourself
for utmost isolation
alienate your loved ones now
severe your dealings with men
as time is of the essence
and this curse of utmost importance
Eat your plenty tonight
make love to your wife
kiss your kids to bed
bid your home goodbye
for tomorrow is a new day
of suffering and loathing
And as you lay to sleep
be sure to thank your deity
offer a worthy sacrifice
light your candles bright
sleep well and tight