Children

Conceal / Unconceal

/ Janice / 2 Comments

In the city of Manila, I remember always seeing kids go from car to tourists to jeepneys and people coming out of churches with strings of Sampaguitas in their little hands.  As a kid, sometimes it made me scared to talk to them.  Other times, I wished I had money so I could buy some from them – at the very least, because I loved the smell of those tiny, white, fragrant flowers…

Day 5 of 2013 November PAD challenge.

Conceal / Unconceal

sampaguita girl

Ma’am, please buy some flowers
They’re lovely, you see?
And smell them!
They smell like heaven!
Please?
Even one would be good
My mom, you see
She’s terribly sick
And my dad has run away
My little brother right here
Hasn’t eaten for days
And my baby sister
is in need of milk
and…
Really?!
You’ll buy them all?
Thank you, Ma’am!
God bless you, Ma’am!
My family thanks you, Ma’am!

one peso…
five pesos…
ten pesos…
twenty pesos…

Here you go, Boss!
I did good today, right?
Can I have my dinner now please?
And can I play after that?
Thanks, Boss!
I’ll be good tomorrow too
Just wait and see
And you won’t even have to beat me
I’ll meet my quota
And maybe more
Just please
Don’t beat me
Don’t beat me
Anymore
Please…

2013NovPAD_button

One Good Piece of Sheet

/ 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.

image

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…

2013NovPAD_button

The Last Time I Was Here

/ 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.

image

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

2013NovPAD_button

News of the Day

/ 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

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

2013NovPAD_button