http://philippinegraphic.com.ph/v19n42d032009/literary01.

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poems
by aida f. santos
Hope, in riad
1
!elo", "e peer:
he goddesses of faith
#rning once more.
$ decade or more
%f missing each other&s boats,
'e are fated to meet
(n the shore "here
(&ve often forgotten
here is a s#nrise beyond.
'e calc#late the )o#rney:
*o one +no"s
Ho" far the shore is,
!#t there is a shore
-o# say, a "oman of clarity.
here, beyond the boats
hat got lost in the fogs
$ll these years.
hey simply follo"ed the beacon
hat +eeps .ic+ering in the distance.
'e calc#late the shore,
Hands clasped holding the sail, as if
'e "o#ld get lost again.
2
he seasons have been alternatively
/tormy and s#nny:
0ry land sto+ed by the absence of rain.
/ometimes .oods r#ined the harvested rice.
1veryone covers their faces in tears
%r "aves hands in anger.
he seasons of o#r lives
$re precocio#s: too s#bd#ed
2or anyone to ta+e notice.
/ometimes, it&s "ater every"here
'here dro"ning is a fate that a"aits
he #n+no"ing children.
%r too 3ery "e hide from "hat
/ho#ld have been )oyf#l s#mmers.
!#t "e mortals, thro#gh time,
1nd#re the vagaries of life,
$nd the storms are b#t part
%f the sailing, before "e see the s#n
0rying the earth that once .oated .otsams
%f bro+en dreams and shattered lives.
3
-es, that era of loves and loving
hro#gh shards of bro+en "indo"s
hat loo+ed into ghosts #tterly frightening
Has come to pass.
'e m#st celebrate this season:
(t may never come again
(n this land "here hope is the only ref#ge
$midst r#ins of ill4gotten mansions
$nd tainted money in poc+ets of politicos,
(n the hands of evils in a ho#se
!eside the 5rand 6iver of my people&s history.
$nd yet there are spar+s of )oy
(n the little victories
%f the heart.
78arch 31, 2009:
%n a #esday $fternoon
( stare at the blin+ing monitor
8y mind cob"ebbed
1yes escape to potted basil, rosemary...
;#ny gro"ths str#ggling against tropical s#n.
(, lonely for a space to "rite,
5et #p and "ater the plants.
7<an#ary 2=, 2009: