The Art Museum

Years ago, I would wander

In and out of the figures

Marveling at the history

I probably would never know

I am here again

Recalling my naive innocence

And the fear of the uncertain

But today, I am older

And no longer as afraid

With confidence in my rich past

I now marvel at my future

Knowing I would do things better

Because of lessons of a decade

Jewels Never Loss

I was blinded by the reflected light

What I saw was skewed and bent

I could not see clearly

But I finally did once I moved

And cleared the lights path

I could not hear well

All I heard where the shouts

My ears closed themselves

But I told them to open

And as they did, I also heard whispers

What glorious sounds

My heart froze in fear

As the world crashed in on it

But as I cleaned up the debris

I saw the jewels that I never loss

Just hidden from view

And I'll never lose them either

Because they are embedded inside

In you and me and in the world

And in all of the universe

Inside of God's heart....

Para Sa Iyo, Anak/For You, Child

at huwag mong limutin

ang mga buhay na inalay

para sa iyong kalayaan

ito binigay nila

para ikaw ay mabuhay

kahit ikaw ay tahimik

kahit di mo ipapakita

ang lubha mong pagdurusa

huwag mo lang silang malilimutan

sa kanilang paghihirap

namatay sila sa kamay ng iba

para ikaw ay mabuhay

sa lupain na pinamana

sa iyo, anak

do not forget

the lives they gave

for your freedom

they gave these

so you may live

even if you are silent

even if you do not show

your extreme sadness

do not forget them

in their greatest striving

they died in others' hands

so you may live

in the land they left

for you, child

In the Daring

it is in the daring

that life is found

cowering when thunder crashes

you will still see

the earth burnt from lightning

running away from the flood

on high ground

all you will see is brackish water

speeding up to the summit

you'll be left breathless

but you'll also feel victorious

swimming against the ocean's current

it is an exhausting task

to get to a new but greener land

I Become

recalling the freedom of curiosity

the detachment to the possibilities

I become a little child at play

dismissing the seriousness of adult life

accepting the world's mysteries

I become a naive observer

remembering the wonders that filled me

learning to live out fantasies

I become a playful clown

ignoring staring eyes

enjoying my selfish fancies

I become an ecstatic fool