Gush

(written mid-November: a silly, rhyming poem, inspired by... er... who else? lol!)

I pray for you though you don't know me
Half a world away, I wonder if He listens genuinely
or if He's laughing at my folly
praying for someone I have never really
seen face to face, or met, or spoken with
nor is it likely that I ever will

Still, I pray, for it's all I can do
What else can I offer you,
whose existence is wholly separate from mine
That can intervene, only the divine
It wouldn't hurt, so I might as well
Like wishing on star that fell

I say to Him, each time I pray
That you would have a wonderful day
To keep you safe, at night keep you warm
and shelter you from whatever storm
I pray to Him, if you couldn't know
what I would give for just one hello
At the very least to make you feel
that someone over here at night would kneel
and implore upon the universe
That our separate worlds would one day traverse

And when I finish my wistful, wishful twaddle
Cold, gray reality, pray, be gentle
My prayers may be daft indulgence
and this may all be utter nonsense
but if by this He'd give fate a nudge
and so the odds to my favor budge
He just might give me a fighting chance
and then one day--someday-- this way you'd glance.

Katipunan at Half Past Twelve

Katipunan at half past twelve is a glorious thing:
The setting of mysterious strangers sliding to subtle surrender.
Silhouettes of lilting hips, like the unwrapping of a lover, bare
What noon and his harsh shadows will never see.

Here, lonely moons and faint stars no longer sway destinies.
But in the firmament of the city are constellations of street lights
Casting yellow spells on our skins, weaving lives:
A child's clumsy fingers entangling string.

While taxi drivers breathed into the windshields,
Their soft dreams of home, a bath, a dog, a welcome mat.
McDonald's smiles toothily at same and same:
Spoiled children and secret seductions.

Katipunan at Half Past Twelve

Katipunan at half past twelve is a glorious thing:
The setting of mysterious strangers sliding to subtle surrender.
Silhouettes of lilting hips, like the unwrapping of a lover, bare
What noon and his harsh shadows will never see.

Here, lonely moons and faint stars no longer sway destinies.
But in the firmament of the city are constellations of street lights
Casting yellow spells on our skins, weaving lives:
A child's clumsy fingers entangling string.

While taxi drivers breathed into the windshields,
Their soft dreams of home, a bath, a dog, a welcome mat.
McDonald's smiles toothily at same and same:
Spoiled children and secret seductions.

Rooftop Kisses

I remember when we were kids at five
running around the neighborhood
and climbing up each other's rooftops
to stare at stars each night

I remember when we turned thirteen
growing a little apart
you hanging out with the boys, and I
trying to fit in with a girl crowd

And this, I remember most fondly
how you always found your way back to me
and at eighteen, oh at eighteen
we shared the sweetest rooftop kisses
with the moon smiling down at us

Almost half the time, we're not okay
but never could we let go
for you're a part of me as much as I am of you
I know that much is true

Someday I hope we'll grow old together
getting more wrinkled as years go by
enduring all the storms that come
and we'll look back and see how far we've gone

And this, I'll remember most fondly
how you always found your way back to me
and at eighteen, oh at eighteen
we shared the sweetest rooftop kisses
with the moon smiling down at us

Marjorie Might It Be

Because sometimes, words just force themselves out. Oh no, I correct myself. It's not a forcing, it's the gentle persuasion of a tautology. Magine that, I think this really does disturb in some level.


Marjorie, might it be?
A typhoon lost in May,
Or a drought in September?
Like stormy afternoons between calm mornings and quiet evenings,
A terrible tremble, that shook the dews
Off the daisies of your summer,
But was gone, thereonafter?

Marjorie, might it be?
Like a dashing stranger in the street,
To whom you exchanged glances
And think of no more thereafter
Might it be a passing thing,
Perhaps to cherish, to despise
But, really, just to remember?

spontaneous song! (abby hindi ko alam ung title)

composed 24 October 2009 (Saturday) while walking around Las Pinas :D
by abbibibibikinni and Elspeth

*sana hindi namin makalimutan ung melody*


I'm running away, running away to the country
I don't wanna stay, don't wanna stay where they don't want me

So I'm packing all my bags, I'm hopping on a train
I'm coming home, I'm coming home to you

The city skyline's clearing up, I can see the stars are shining
Not sitting on the concrete pavement, I'm rolling on the soft green grass
Can't pull me back, I'm coming home to you

I'm tired of the phone calls where I can't see your smile
I can't wait to have your arms around me, where I'm safe and sound
I'm rounding up the corner of Westmoreland Street
I still see the playground swing where we used to meet

I'm running through your porch, I'm knocking on your door
Can't hold me back, I'm coming home to you

The city skyline's clearing up, I can see the stars are shining
Not sitting on the concrete pavement, I'm rolling on the soft green grass
Can't pull me back, I'm coming home to you

I'm coming to stay, coming to stay in the country
I'm not going back, I'm coming home to you

Ode to the Pretzel

26 March 2009


(boredom + procrastination) * craving = Ode to the Pretzel

Salty, sodiumy, sinful treat
There's nothing else better to eat
When surfing the net or watching tv
A pretzel in hand and mouth equals happy

Golden brown sticks or traditional loops
For a mouthful so crispy I would jump through hoops
In a pack of Frito Lay Munchies no doubt you are the star
Sun Chips, Doritos and Cheetos just aren't at par

Oh pretzel, oh pretzel, this irrational craving you bring
Like Gretel and Hansel, I am lured to your ring
Don't care about the calories or kidney stones that I risk
Rold Gold out of the bag is pure bliss.

Standing on Tiptoe

c. early 2003


I'd stand on tiptoe
If that's the only way to look at you
Just a couple of inches off the ground
Yet I see the world from a different view
I'd press my ear to the wall
If that's the only way to listen
Making sense of the muffled sounds
Just to take in what you're saying

The problem is, my ear would hurt
and my toes would complain
and standing on tiptoe would be hard to maintain
Trying hard to keep balance
Still it's easy to fall
When you're standing on tiptoe without holding onto a wall

But I'm okay. I don't care about my toes, nor my ears
I don't care if I hit the ground in tears
As long as I can see you again
I'd get up on my feet and stand on tiptoe again
I'd stand on tiptoe for as long as I can.


*This was written in fourth year high school for an English assignment, and got rave reviews, even if I do say so myself. :D The English class was the last one for the day, and I shared my work with a friend during lunch. Somehow word spread, and during the next few periods, some of my classmates asked if they could borrow my assignment so they could copy it and keep the poem for their own private reading. Then I remember we had some extra time before English class started (I think the teacher for the class right before it was absent that day) so the class one by one trickled into the English classroom during that hour (goody-goodies were there early, pasaways arrived right on time). When our teacher came in about ten minutes before class was about to start, some of them told her my assignment was good, and urged her to read it ahead of the others . I was goody-goody so I'd already been there a while, and was promptly embarrassed. Because I had written it about my crush (duh)-- and the teacher read the damn poem aloud as the classroom was filling! Even emphasizing the "Still it's easy to fall" line. It's mushy, but it was high school! We were supposed to be mushy.

What's Left

when laughter settles down
and the moment that follows
instead of silence punctuated
with a biting sharpness
Is one of quiet mirth
made easy with a smile

when passions cool in consummation
and persisting into an ebb
instead of the discernment
of it merely being urgency
after all, A shared peace
A contented, serene recline

when life and obligation
compels a reluctant parting
instead of melancholic dejection
pain in being only half of one
The trusting recollection
of being whole, one of coupled two

when promises of moon and stars
fall through the cracks of earthly life
instead of the resounding thud
of begrudging compromise
The steady, thankful recognition
of radiance already in hand.



*this was spontaneous writing-- I'm taking my cue from Marj's technique! not sure about the 3rd verse though. I dunno if what I wanted to express came through. *