Untitled 25

Here alone sipping my coffee
and instant noodles from granny goose
the wind tried to slip my me
running out of breath made me lose
my temper over cold water
ice cubes meant for the summer
a recommended dose of pain killer
enough to put me through dinner

It's been quiet in this part of town
beside the bay where fishermen spend their day
listening to the babble of a religious clown
over radio, forcing me to pray
as I wait for the storm to start
for the birds stopped their chirping
and cockroaches all over the place
putting its tight grip over my heart

It was darker than it used to be
mist everywhere I can barely see
couple of days running without electricity
drained but all of the charged batteries
and my coffee started getting cold
annoyed by the cup I refuse to hold
the wind reminded me of tomorrow's work
while salsa began to drip from my fork

Still I felt good being with myself
and accomplishing life without any outside help
for they say a man is meant to be with society
sounded meaningless when all that is left is me
and the thought of having nobody around
at least for a day is a beautiful sound
as I spill cold coffee on the ground
while mocking the wind for the peace I found

Untitled 24

Waiting for the movie to begin
on the theater people came pouring in
then MC said his introductions
and gave the signal to the band
to play the national anthem
where everybody was required to stand
to which everybody obliged
some with their right hands on their chest
as is the custom we learned way back
on flag ceremonies and soldiers laid to their rest
Now as the song slowly played
I noticed the genuine lack of interest
from people about to sing
the tune of their motherland
I heard the recording but heard no music
like an altar call without a show of hands
It was depressing to say the least
to see my people lack any form of pride
from their history and their heroes
as we watch a foreign film on the side
as we eat American junk food
and wear clothing made in China
and bastardize our native tongue for good
and keep losing jobs to India
It was demotivating to say the least
because it seems we have difficulties moving on
from past failures and being ruled by a beast
a shattered self-image and self-respect gone
Like there is nothing great to read
from our rather short and biased history books
taking great care to nurture bad seed
that we inherited from religious crooks
It was heart breaking, most of all
to see a people hating their identity
and never be able to recover from the fall
of having been and still being part of the slave hierarchy
And as the song went to its conclusion
I saw my people hurry to their sitting positions
and I stood there wondering
how we ended up in this situation
maybe some bad education
maybe due to the guilt-centric religion
but then it dawned to me, the reason
for the lifelessness that has long been in season
that it was simply a lack of vision
of future glory in store for a humble nation
once it forgets the horrors of subjugation
and strive to accomplish the mission
entrusted to the current generation
which is to lift ourselves out of
this self-imposed depression
and wash our faces and comb our hairs
and wear new clothing, smiling
for as long as there is life and breathing
there is also hope; never stop dreaming
of a day when people would sing loud
and stand tall, fearless and proud
as the national anthem is being played
after the MC's introductions has been said
before the films start to roll
to entertain my people in this movie hall

Untitled 23

A game like any other
in a day like any other
we play until we finally see
that there are shadows on the wall
but they were only there because
we allow the light to define us
as we animate the shadows on the wall
we look at each other and wonder
what's the big deal with skin color
that we judge a man by such standards
and get ridiculed in return
but looking at the shadows on the wall
we realize they were all black

Untitled 22

Every fading memory gives justice
to the longing of a child
stripped of his home and family
banished, forgotten, gone wild

Playful colors adorn the tapestry
the fresh smell of milk and flowers
grace recited before every meal
in perfect intonation and meter
A warm embrace from a mother
a loving rebuke from a father
the frightening thought of school
ending the night with a dip at the pool

All of a sudden consumed by fire
a cleansing flood sent by the powers that be
shell-shocked but not wanting to retire
the good life gone and now just a memory

Uphill climb on a slippery trail
to a mountain top hidden by the clouds
the empowering thought of a holy grail
keeping faith amidst the secretive shroud
hiding promised fame and fortune
by modern charlatans and holy men
playing their carefully picked tune
to get you to part with your wealth again

Tales of a great treasure
awaits the weary adventurer
such is the legends of old
about this great mountain, we were told

So I climb and climb without tiring
hoping for salvation and glory and gold
never minding the hunger and the cold
keeping the spark of hope and smiling

A repeating routine for a weary soul
a great sacrifice in assuming the role
of the great world-bearer; Atlas his name
for when time comes he decides to shrug
the world will never be the same