Look beneath your pristine shell, woman,

deep into the cobwebbed crevice that cradles your heart

and gasp in horror at the sight and the stench

that meets your deadened senses.

No amount of shiny shimmering splendid

in this world or beyond

will mask the decaying inner being

that you so casually deny.

Behind your back

I break the news

as gently as I could,

carefully omitting

the sharpest of shards.

You turn to me

slowly

and we stare into each other's eyes.

You watch me shape the words

of your rumored infidelity

as best I could,

and it was childproofing

a double edged sword.

I watch tiny red veins

slowly draw dainty tendrils

in your glassy eyes.

And I see your breast rise and fall

with heavy measure.

You finally open your full pouted lips and say

Sa unang pagkakataon
ganito ang tanong:
Guni-guni lang ba o totoo nga na kinatay ng pastol
ang kanyang alagang tupa?

Sa ikalawang pagkakataon
ganito ang tanong:
Sinadya bang katayin ng pastol
ang kanyang alagang tupa?

Sa ikatlong pagkakataon
ganito ang tanong:

An assault on the olfactory

this morning at the office

while walking past the bland rows of cubicles

sent my consciousness spiraling back home

with images of brewed coffee

lemon meringue pie

and homemade premium adobo simmered dry.

Dito sa ating daigdig,

kamatayan ang nagtutuldok

sa bawa't pangungusap

na dumadaloy

sa bawa't butil ng buhay

na bumubuo sa isang nilalang.

Sa pagitan ng pintig ng puso

ng isang may dugo at laman,

maraming butil ang napaparam,

sindami ng mga tala sa himpapawid.

Gayun pa man,

patuloy ang buhay sa pagpintig

habang namamayani

ang pawang nangungusap na mga butil

sa kabuuan nitong nilalang

on many a day
i see your name
and it etches
a signature smile
on my face
for i am certain
that you're just
a keystroke away.

your name hugs me tightly,
comforts me during those
long and excruciating days
and strangely staves off
the urge to give in
to the lure of that keystroke.

i content myself
with the sight of your name,
let it roll and slide
on my tongue
and fancy its
delectable texture.

i have been intimate with your name
without your knowing

Sa isang kisapmata

naglakbay ang aking ulirat

at napadpad

sa isang ilang na gubat

ng mayayabong at matatayog

na kakahuyan

at ang lapag ay nasasapinan

ng banig ng mga lantang dahon

na nangagsisibulok,

makapal at nag-uudyok

ng masidhing lungkot.

Bumalik ang aking diwa

sa kasalukuyan

Once upon a time
these dry bones lay
in the valley of the dead
communing with countless other dry bones
in unanimated discourse
when the Spirit in the winds
from the four corners of the earth
blew upon it sinew and skin
and breath
and they were dry bones no more
and it rose from the grave
and walked the earth
and rejoiced.

Whenever I login to my Facebook account, I try to keep it as brief as I possibly can, scanning recent posts and checking on messages and comments that I feel I need to reply to.  That is until I hit on the Bejeweled Blitz button. What's with BB, you might ask. I dunno either. It's like asking a smoker what's with a cigarette. But lemme tell you this, it's a treasure trove of wisdom that you can take with you for life. Here's what I've dug up so far: