Brisk gentlemen prance around in pantaloons, starched collars and silk vests. Laugh with reserve, speak in low hoarse tones, Swoosh the gaseous contents of their flasks as they gulp, sip and inhale the intoxicating aromas. With delicate sterile fingers hold the cigars and cigarillos as they boast the ego. Small talk of horses, fox hunts, news, women, and wars. Leave mostly untouched the hors d'oeuvres. Then the clock sings its melodic chime, informing of the arrival. Sudden perspiration from buzzing anticipation and the bowties’ slight choke. Enter young nymphs in the array of color and diamond dazzle. Escorted by elderly wise madams, with an air of pride, high breed and observance. Others, fair, fervent, in décolleté dresses, follow the generous host. The room bubbles with proper introductions, gallantry, exaggerated attention. Benign pearly smiles outshine the candles and chandeliers. Coy blushing in shadows of a citrus tree. Capricious murmur around the piano. Ricocheted, nervous glances, buds of nightly romance. At last, an announcement, beginning of ball. Open glass entrance into the main hall, Cavaliers slide on the waxed parquet to pick out their damsels. Offering their gloved hands and taut arms, So that the young gazelles may waltz away their hearts. Orchestra roars and swoons, oscillating and spiraling faster the snowflakes of couples. Resuscitating the weary and aged, captured in mass frenzy of motion. As ripe musical notes propagate into the sensitive ears. Comfort of chairs and luxurious sofas welcomes fatigued assembly of youth. Here plump panting marionettes, with rosy cheeks rest till the next dancing flight. Where wallflower melancholy ducklings sigh in the corner In hopes of transforming into elegant swans. Shimmer, they shimmer in fleeting seconds of the prismatic light. Spinning, they spin in their decadent fog. Weaving, they weave social webs of intrigue. Plot the revenge and challenge the rivals. Follow rules of the courting, politics of marriage. All night the aristocrats dance with jocular minds and light hearts. But woefully, soon, the charmed, intoxicated guests will have to depart, When the orchestra quiets its boisterous song, Calms the eager and ceases to play. Reluctantly couples climb into their horsed equipages, Then slowly they are carried away, back to pleasant warmth of their homes and family lives. Back to their bleak personal hives.
Put on your combatant boots and march on. Holler and hoot about your influx down the streets. Tightly secure yourself (yet another chipped puzzle piece) into the line. Wave the rich banners of your disillusioned and useless mob mentality. Put on your combatant boots and march on. Save a tree, save a mink, save your chickens, Now you’re doing some good to this world, you kind animal lover. Just make sure to tell nurses, not to use any medicine tested on chimps, When you’re dying from a newly discovered disease, Out of principle, certainly. Put on your combatant boots and march on. Declare your minority gay and lesbian pride While you whine to adjust the hetero mind Paint yourself in glittery purple and blue, So you can stand out a little bit better. Put on your combatant boots and march on. As you advertise your corrupted political agendas Along with strictly religious propaganda. Atheists and liberals are going straight to hell (with no pit stops) Now take off your combatant boots and pause for a moment. How many children have you saved today? How many hungry and homeless are fed? How many poor still scramble to live? And how many gun wounds have you healed? Tell me, what significant difference, did it all make? Don’t give me hysterics, just give me solutions. Then I will listen and give back your spot light.
So I don't have anything from the new pile to post, so I'll post from the old... You looked good. Just standing there, In the middle of a dim lit street, Smoking the last cigarette, As the snowflakes Landed upon your ruffled hair. I remember myself Trying to get a closer glimpse, As if I was trying to take A mental photograph. Afraid you'd catch me, I was curious and hesitant, Not the usual, bold self. Your vacant, black pearl eyes Were starring off into space. You frowned, Rubbed your hands and sighed. That's when I wanted to run away, But I was in a cataleptic state of mind. Tuning my radar To catch your wavelength I was about to hear Your secret thoughts, I inhaled your air and Acknowledged the safety of you Never acknowledging my presence You turned around And started walking Toward me, Your head hung low But for an instant you looked up And I saw, What creatures dwelled At the depths of your soul. You nodded, and walked right by, And for a long time I stood alone Stunned And stupefied.
Chronically ignorant, Habitually blissful, Forever oblivious, Apathetic and decadent, The rest is irrelevant, You’ve got your luxury, And your pseudo ethics, With unparalleled arrogance, Yes, now you’re invincible, Now you are a replica, Important and brilliant, With recycled smiles Those curious eye sockets And your gorgeous, Grotesque plastic skin.
Intuitive stethoscope Listens to moth’s heartbeat. Midnight ironing, Tomorrow’s laundry. Radio sky trickles noise. Dozy eyelids, Metamorphose into butterfly wings, Flap flaps. Soars toward the florescent light. Perky statuette With pretzeled backbone, Lassoed locks, Goosebumps, ants scamper down. All ingredients in cupboards For an apt cuisine, Of well prepared tangy kiss. Mosquitoes swarm inside the fog. We plummet into moonlit quagmire. Scrub the sable smog from the bathtubs. My rusted sight detects, Stubble meadows, And radars your erratic pulse. With an increased viscosity, Meet the tributaries of my arteries. The nectar overflows my shores. We’ll be comatose and wrinkled up at dawn.
wow... i am very impressed with your poems... i'm not sure if i'm inspired to write more of my own or just give up since i'm nowhere near as good... bravo.
Oh pish posh, don't ever talk about giving up! Practice makes better and an open curious mind also helps. Thanks for reading my stuff!
I can definitely relate to this as a Filipino. In 1986, my people took to the streets to topple a dictator. We won that battle. The enemy had tanks and guns, we had flowers, rosaries and our voices. We won, and it was a proud moment in our history. Unfortunately, every time there's a problem, that's what all we seem to do: stage another rally. I'm all for freedom of speech and the right to peaceful assembly - but all this marching around for various causes makes me wonder if we're no different from a kid throwing a tantrum, you know?
That's interesting you're the second Filipino that could relate to this poem the way you did. Thanks for reading
I don’t follow hearsay, Or jump to conclusions on a whim. I’m seldom bitter, seldom irked. Until the cup of patience spills over my conscious rim. Unspeakable. My vicious vapor contaminates the morning air. Static eyes, I’ll glue them onto your skin and shadow. Gulp down, thought out meticulous phrases, Baked in gunpowder, set to embrace your brow. Confrontation. I’ll wage my silent war on evening’s river banks. I’ll stare you down, until I’m completely satisfied. I want answers, excuses, reasons and a signed confession Repent yourself before my suspicions multiply Bargain. With heavy stipulations and a mental tariff, I’ll use my persuading skills, compelling an apology. And I won’t play with compromising tricks, Unless you’re prepared for an untimely eulogy. But enough of basking in a mischievous sham, I'm feverish, blistered from our uncertainty. With you, the rattler coils around my neck, Without you, I suffocate on jealousy.
a little something... Sprinkle the peroxide, Onto the braided whiskers, Chestnut bleached into sunflower. Dull bristles still poke out, Reminding of perished blossoms.
Dub me a stranger. A foreigner, a nomad. Or a quarantined refugee Who washed over your shores. Stamp me, Chaff, prod and laugh At my exposure. As long as in the end I am labeled as yours.
I open my mouth I swallow the indigo sky. I open my eyes Consider the options From the hotel balcony heights. Almost a flawless view, But without you, This painting is incomplete. The luster sunset calls, Distance ruffles the nerves. Tides escalate to hide A floating dead albatross. Migrating winds Inflate my lungs with heat. I wonder if you too have inhaled these winds. Rains gently tread the sands, Cleansing the written names and dates. Washing away lost chances and Half-whispered words. I open my eyes Survey the withered moist fabric On the swollen body. I crochet with the threads of city lights, Knit a faint path to my balcony. Standing still on my side of the shore. I envy the forgiving waves I envy the sails of boats. I envy the arching backs of trees. I envy the feathers of birds. I open my mouth I swallow the warm ocean foam. And I wonder if you too are breathing this salt.
