Likening

Sparrows fly without minding the doves,
Doves hop without minding the dogs,
Dogs run about without minding the grass,
Grass flow without minding the cattle,
Buffalo graze without minding the herons,
Herons fish without minding the plankton
Fish swim about without minding the whales
Whales glide without minding the sharks
Sharks eat without minding the gulls
Gulls settle without minding the eagles
Eagles soar without minding the albatross
Albatrosses rest without minding the crabs
Crabs walk without minding the turtles
Turtles age without minding the fish
Tortoises crawl without minding the snakes
Pythons slither without minding the prey
Capybara walk without minding the monkeys
Monkeys swing about without minding the sloths
Sloths doze off without minding the spiders
Spiders weave without minding the woodpecker
Tarantulas wait without minding the mole
Moles dig without minding the earthworm
Worms pierce without minding the host
Leeches suck without minding the same
Crocodiles lurk without minding the waters
Wildebeest gather without minding the zebras
Antelopes gallop without minding the giraffes
Vultures scavenge without minding the hyena
Lions prowl without minding the cheetah
Tigers roam without minding the panther
Panthers bathe without minding the otter
While man cannot do without minding the other.

Roads Not Taken

Traversing from the road oft-taken
is not that big a change when
the other road is just as broad.
Horizons come anew each day;
sometimes blocked entirely
by stormy clouds, torrential rain.
Roads not taken are often taken
and greener pastures oft have cattle.

The Secret of the Vagabond

Manila's bustle is the lullaby
for the vagabond.
Unrest makes droopy heads
careen like ships at anchor;
to where they sail,
I do not know.

While thoughts of concern
and unwanted worry
prove the fear of the vagabond,
diligence is what best defines
the vagabond.

Slums in the the metro sing
songs that no man's ears
can catch.
Their songs flutter around
like butterflies—no, moths—
bound for the lamplight, maybe?

The vagabond strut as if void
of all trouble;
the vagabond answer back
to distress calls by hope.
Over time green eats ruins
and pastures are reset.

Many are shaken by
the agony of the vagabond
but what many do not see
are their hallelujahs when
the many are asleep and
they are awake.

In the Bus beside a Lady

Shy eyes wander here and there in desperate hopes of getting sleep. Mine mistakenly fall upon hers; it only gets exciting.

My skin tingles against hers. She does not mind at all – the warmth of how I steal a look.

She jerks awake and with her fingers, she combs her hair. Studying where we are, she lifts her chin up, still combing. I forgot her awareness; she noticed me look. To my shame, I managed to fall asleep only to wake up to find her gone.

Coin Collection

Place your hand on mine.
Let's go to where
the sunlight dances;
And there we sip some wine
Like many other foul romances.
Let's cuddle tous les jours;
And in between we breathe
some air; we'll suck each other's lives.
We will pull each other's hair.

Surrender to my longing.
You know you want to come home, dear.
You know you want me, darling.
I know you know I want your kiss.
You know I know you want this blissful
Every day I sing the blues—
The birds they sing along
To the tune of my delusion,
To the tune of all bowed heads.

Collected coins are flipped
To know perchance when you'll be home.
Is it a matter of 'if'?
The uncertainty is piercing
Skin monumentally deep
But bleeds before the eyes of all.
You left me while asleep
And after that you wouldn't call
me nor will you hear the words I sing.