Love in the Air
An aroma seeps in
through the door gap
with a kick to senses and she
roused to vague consciousness
where soft whirls of flavor conquers
her four corners, her room,
and the door opens
with a greeting, a burst of smells
an amalgam of—
spice, fried garlic, and onion,
then a beckon, “Let’s eat.”
Smiles form on both faces and she
slowly ebbs into a replay of,
imagined sizzling, popping of rice
bathed in soy sauce and sesame oil,
added with minced meat and chopped leeks,
and these—
all known, tasted, and a favorite,
prepared all for her to savor,
to start the day
with a full stomach,
and a full heart.
Bandage
Frozen still I stand
and with a tone so cold and stern,
she said, “You never learn”
and along her sigh, the wind
breathes and flows
through the windows
sunlight leaks, revealing
steady eyes and brows narrowing in,
as a swab and dab of cotton on skin,
so supple and smooth,
a sharp and musty scent produced.
Her rough hands, they hold gently
moving ever lightly and slowly,
a contrast from the angry flow of reds
plop plop plop, on the bed.
Frozen still I stand,
her grip still on my hand
and the wind blows a little stronger
and the curtains, like waves of the sea
allow shadow and light playfully be,
as they cast their shades
on her face, I glance once more,
her eyes different from before,
a hint of anger, no—worry, I see
as white strips of cloth, wrapped around,
she said, “Go and take a rest”
with a tone so cold and stern,
but the bandage, securely placed
feels so warm.
Andrey Jane P. Caridad is a graduate of Bachelor of Arts in English (Major in Creative Writing) from the University of the Philippines Mindanao in the year 2018 with a latin honor of cum laude. She currently resides in the Minahasa Utara region of North Sulawesi, Indonesia. She teaches English to first and second grades in the elementary section of Manado Independent School.