With Jehovah Over a Cup of Coffee

Jehovah is seated,  a  coffee cup in hand,

the umbrella's shade towers over his seat. 

I am sorry I am late, not my usual self. I sighed. 

I look at the street, the cars and passers-by, restless, 

I am not sure where to start. Can  I can look him in the eye? 

Snapping his fingers, he offered me a seat.

It's alright, relax, and let us have this talk. 

Thank you for this meet up,  despite your busy day 

But things are getting tougher. I'm sure you knew. 

If people knew you're here, the media will be all over  you

with cameras and microphones, in global TV, on the web, demanding 

that you who parted the Red Sea to do it one more time, or 

heal the world of COVID or Richard Dawkins or bring 

Bertrand Russel back to life. They will test your brain with instruments 

 or enclose you in a lab. Sorry, Jehovah, I'm distracted, with many things. 

Let me regain my focus quick, been working at it for years. 

Then Jehovah  asked, what do you want to know?

Only one thing and if you require an NDA, I'll sign- 

Do you have a schedule now, a date, for dooms day? 

Jehovah replied, Well, sorry, you know that's classified. 

Iba na Ngayon

Dati-rati, sa panaginip
kumikilos ng kusa ang isip,

hinahabi ang mga salitang lumulutang,
parang kulambong na hindi lumilisan

hanggang ihulog nito ang ulan
sa lupang kailanman hindi naging handa

sa pagsalubong o sa pag-tipon nito
sa kaniyang mga konkretong lansangan.

Wala ng pag-gising sa hating-gabi,
kung saan ang diwa ay basang-basa

sa mga kaisipang nalikha sa paghimbing,
at iniahon ng pagbangon mula sa higaan.

Wala ng init sa dibdib na parang alinsangan
na hindi ka magawang mapakali,

naghahanap ng ginhawa, ng malamig na hangin
o tubig sa katawang nagi-init.

Sa labas ay patuloy ang buhos ng ulan,
habang sa kalooban ay naghahanap ng dilig.

Violent Waters

Her finger met the steam half-way,
as it plunges into the cup.

It could break an ear drum,
the shrill bouncing on the walls.

Not Being Here

On the window, sunlight flashes on and off
as clouds assemble overhead.

Daylight, streaming through the curtains,
is a false hope once overcast gets here.

There is no breeze to cool the skin.
It is likely too soon for a thunderstorm.

But, what do I know? Your cancer spread
like clouds in what had been a blue sky.

At 8pm this evening, the rains came.
It was a downpour.