In my hometown,
alarm clocks were church bells
shouting—
louder than my mother
at six in the morning,
ladies in long skirts
rushed to the choir’s call,
went home
with a bag of pandesal.
In my hometown,
clouds worshipped
a giant named
Malindang,
guarding,
overlooking,
the calm waters
of the green and abundant
Panguil Bay.
In my hometown,
an old castle rusted.
A queen
dressed in pink,
crowned with stars,
had angels
patrolling the lighthouse.
For a visit, red candles
were offered.
In my hometown,
Bukagan-
was a cursed hill.
Only towers existed,
only the religious
would climb
seeking for a treasure,
adults knew as penitence
during Good Friday.
In my hometown,
when the moon watched,
stories echoed as lullabies.
Bells cried in fright.
Malindang haunted the streets,
the Queen appeared on doors,
Hungry Bukagan walked and knocked,
I slept and slept,
I wouldn’t be eaten一 awake.
Caryl Trishia Escal Yapac graduated with the degree Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English at Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan. She was born and raised in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental. She was a fellow for poetry at the Saint Francis Xavier Writing Workshop (2022), Cagayan De Oro Young Writers’ Studio (2021), and Veritas Writing Workshop (2020).