NANAY-LESS WEEK

you left before i came home

so the ants claimed the floor

forgot to cook for a while

let the pots gather dust

Manuela's, Matawe, Inihaws

birthdays, fellowship and pizza to-go

the dogs, they ate out too

the fleas, they mopped the walls

spiders adorned the corners

the house so silent and empty

so i took to long bike rides

threw my laptop at GRAISEA

chased the shadows of OHK

and left before you came home

PUTOL-PUTOL NA PANAGINIP

nangawit ang dalaga sa kuwadro

natuyo ang tapayan ng serbesa

ang inilako ba nung miyerkules

ay tunay o mga guniguni lamang?

ang pagdiriwang sa Gran Lohiya
ay tumulay sa alambreng sinulid
nabuhay kaya ang tinaga sa batok 
o alamat itong nung sabado nagtapos?

ang mga hinubarang walang mukha
silang nalunod sa ingay ng kaluskus
matabang katulad ng inulam ni Bulan
nakakaumay na parang hapunan ni Balong.

mabuti pa ang bisikleta't may natutunguhan 
sangandaan, ambon at almusal na bulalo
ang panaginip, tila nagwawakas sa hilik
parang kuwento ng pulis na Probinsiyano

nauulit pero hindi natatapos...

AMAZING CRAZE

bananas, coffee, and maize
the people's choice of value chains 
rice, palm oil, and shrimps
the rich man said we should engage

so I took off with my bike, went to the market, brought all the crops, and dropped these on the pavement  

why don't we just sell rice cakes
paint them in gold and purple
forget all about the vampires
who sucked the ricefields dry

there the farmers whither, people with names like Santiago, who wore hats like Katipuneros, they who don't eat cakes 

better to get lost in Binondo
drown in dimsum and spring rolls
dream of winning the lotto
quit and just go loco

because emperors don't die, they wear new clothes and become angels, winged but nude and neutered