One Good Piece of Sheet

November 4, 2013November 5, 2013 / Janice / 4 Comments

If you haven’t personally seen them on the streets, consider yourself lucky.

Because to see one of these is truly heartbreaking.

Day 4 of 2013 November PAD challenge.

One Good Piece of Sheet

That’s all I ask

Wide enough
To lay on the cold ground
And wrap around
My front and back

Long enough
To pull up over my head
Without exposing my feet
To the freezing night’s air

Thick enough
To withstand a deluge
And keep the chills
Off my skin

Strong enough
To use until
The good earth becomes
My one good piece of sheet

At last…

The Last Time I Was Here

November 3, 2013December 18, 2013 / Janice / 4 Comments

When I was a young girl living in the Philippines, I was fortunate enough to have the privilege of sometimes eating out in restaurants.

I don’t remember the names of the different restaurants anymore, but no matter which one it was, they were there too…

Day 3 of 2013 November PAD challenge.

The Last Time I Was Here

They were serving deep fried fish
Big bowls of white rice
And an unknown dish
Smothered in thick brown sauce

There were drinks of every flavor
And coconut juice with ice
Each plate a different color
Oh wouldn’t it be nice

If everyone could freeze
And I could just sneak in
A quick, silent breeze
Tasting every dish within

And I could tell too
That my brother wanted a taste
But there was nothing I could do
Except leave in haste

Today I am here again
Same window, same spot
Standing in the rain
Cursing what I haven’t got

News of the Day

November 2, 2013November 2, 2013 / Janice / 2 Comments

Obamacare. Shootings. Mistresses. Twerking.

So many things are on the news these days. I get so tired of hearing about them. Some matter and some don’t, I know. But one news I read about today reminded me of something…

Day 2 of 2013 November PAD Challenge

News of the Day: India

…people got hit by a train today
after they stopped the one they were in
and attempted to get off onto
another track…

everyone in the world was buzzing the news
how tragic for those passengers
how unlucky

Photo Credit: http://m.theatlanticcities.com/arts-and-lifestyle/2012/12/dumps-train-tracks-and-polluted-water-where-kids-play/4064/

why didn’t anyone come when last week
my 5 year old friend was ran over
by a train too

maybe because people don’t really care
about squatters living by the train tracks
and the kids who play there

so we try to look out for each other
we know the schedules of each train
and how many cars long

our cardboard and tin houses shake
the babies don’t even cry anymore
we are used to trains

but I can’t get used to the accidents
to see my friends get squashed
i can’t sleep

I guess it’s not so bad though
better than living at the garbage dump
it’s cleaner here

Appearing

November 1, 2013November 1, 2013 / Janice / 2 Comments

It’s been a long hiatus, but I’m back. Slow to start, but at least I started.

I’ve decided to have a theme for this year’s poem-a-day challenge. It’s going to be Orphans and Street Children. I’m not quite sure yet why, but I feel inspired to do so.

So get your tissues out. I suspect that this month’s poetry, at least here, will be quite a tear jerker.

Day 1 of the 2013 November PAD Chapbook Challenge