Long have I been loving to love
a nameless, whose face remains
faceless amidst all attempts
of masking her the looks of every
leading lady in the romance movies
I so dearly enjoy in the afternoons
when there is nothing better to do but
to pretend to love, be loved, to imagine.
This is also one reason why I’d like
to travel home to Kidapawan.
In the van, I like it when I lean
on my own shoulder, thinking
it was your breath wafting on
my skin as I imagine you
sleeping, while I look farther, until I
forget you because of the rubber trees
and the occasional drizzles of Makilala,
the signals of the proximal embrace
of a mother, perhaps, or an old friend,
or of our high school memories
of little fondness. And there, memories!
Ah, another reason why I love
to travel home to Kidapawan.
The nearer I get, the clearer
you appear, smiling.
Slowly, I remember your name.
—
Paul Randy Gumanao is BS Chemistry graduate of Ateneo de Davao University who loves words the way he loves elements.
Grabe Paul, it’s as if you had my soul on a sheet of paper for reference while you were writing this. I’m slowly falling in love with your poetry.
Thanks, Karl! Good luck on your stint in Silliman and in Iligan! May the odds be ever in your favor. ;]]
Kanus-a pa nahimong Hunger Games ang workshop!? haha
I wish I could do both! I had to give up Iligan, nauna na ko ni-commit sa Silliman!
Goose bumps! asteg! rakenrol pol! ;P