Monday, July 21, 2008

Death of a friend


This week is the second year of the death anniversary of Maria, our YMCA friend.

I was vacationing in Hawaii when she died. When I came back, Joyce, our mutual friend, told me of the sad news. Here's a poem I wrote about her passing.


The Three of Us

diverse cultures                                     
different backgrounds                            
all over the world                               
that’s where we came from                  
all kindred souls                                 
the three of us                                     

we banter and exchange jokes             
as I always tease Joyce            
for her hip gyrating moves                 
while Maria and I prefer            
cha cha, tango or salsa            
the three of us                            

I owe you a lunch date Maria            
you and Joyce dressed for the occasion
sadly I was not able to come           
for whatever valid or not reason      
we could have had a ball                 
the three of us    

Joyce, the baby
is an English woman
I am a Filipino, the man
the lovable Maria
is our amiga Latina
the three of us

we look after each other
check whereabouts if one’s not in
solicitous of each welfare
we are a happy go lucky bunch
exercising at YMCA
the three of us

rest in peace Maria
Joyce and I will miss you
we’ll cherish your memories
of a time when friendship
is all that really matters for
the three of us

24 July 2006

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Lotus festival

The annual observance of the Lotus Festival in Echo Park, Los Angeles, CA was a mild disappointment this year, to say the least. The reason? No lotus flowers in the lake for unknown reasons. Considering that the reliability of their profuse blooming every summer is as certain as the traffic gridlock in LA, visitors from within and outside the area were vocally disgruntled. Locals were disconcerted and at a loss on how to explain to their out-of-town friends the absence of the floral attractions.


no lotus flowers
in the murky water
global warming here?

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Philippine Typhoon

(For the victims of the Philippine typhoon)

buried under the raging sea
with unrealized hopes and dreams
innocent victims of nature’s fury
no rank nor class distinction
escaped the unbridled calamity


Tagalog version

sa ilalim ng malupit na dagat
lumubog dala mga pangarap
biktima ng galit ng bagyo
mahirap o mayaman man
wala itong sinisino