Fish crackers, salted
peanuts, chicharon
and Coke in can.
Five peso and fifty cent
fare to a jeepney ride.
I inhale the pungent
breeze of the balmy bay.
As I watch the murky water
when the sun walks away,
its face hiding down.
The lamp post aglow
to your face, a pale moonlight.
Do you remember-
when I cuddle you
on this lonely bench? Together,
neophytes to tender love
leaning into each other, teeth
cracking watermelon seeds,
choc-nut, lukewarm Zesto
in tetra pack.
Do you remember-
Zagu and popsicles,
banana chips and chiz curls.
Love seems a butter
and salt to a popcorn.
A pink sugary cocoon
to a cotton candy. Sweet
melting, artificially
flavoring our infatuation.
Intertwined as alchemy.
The image of your smile,
glossed in tutti-frutti glitters
and sparkles like stars.
My tongue rolling
Halls mint, holding mild
mannered gasps of breath.
And there I was, restless
at your side, wondering.
How this kismet, a make-believe,
our promises, shall we keep?
Fish crackers, salted peanuts,
choc-nut and chicharon,
lukewarm Zesto in tetra pack.
Seven peso and fifty cent
worth of jeepney ride, I came.
Back here in the bench
our memories of love
littered as wrappers.
Such is our promises we left
bobbing and drifting by the bay.
Solitude Amidst the Maddening Crowd
Hames 