Reflection & Closure

To my long-distance lover,

I've been counting all those years.

You're the voice upon my telephone,

From morning until dawn.

Our wish to meet each other someday

Turned out to be a mystery.

To my early high school crush,

That sweet young lady full of class.

I thought you'd be my first and last,

But no worries—it's all in the past.

You were too expensive for me to hold,

So I let go my fantasy, at last.

To my beautiful Manila girl,

Our visions blurred within the swirl.

You showed up once in September,

Then disappeared after winter.

But thank you for the gentle care,

For the forbidden love we shared.

To the one I shed my tears,

I fell so hard beyond compare.

You had all the things I prayed,

Together we conquered miseries.

You brought me back into control—

But in the end, you took it all.

To my lost childhood friend,

I don't know why we met again.

Not as strangers like before,

But as lovers in my downfall.

I'm sorry for the tears you wept,

You met me only at my worst.

To the lady who made me a man,

Thank you for the long, hard run.

It wasn't you who brought the end,

It was me who failed again.

Never regret the time you gave,

It showed me where my life begins.

To all the girls I've loved before,

I'll remember you all once more.

But I have the one now by my side,

To whom I'll give again my life.

She may not have me whole and full,

But I'm no longer the same fool.

You made me wings before,

You built me my own world.

You pulled me from the hollow—

But hollow is where we go.

Time is what I need,

Too little time indeed.

Once, perhaps we tried...

I want it one more time.

Back and forth, unsteady,

But I lay down, thick and heavy.

I don't know who will stay,

If our souls just drift away.

If eyes had words to say,

They'd close and look away.

For lips no longer cast

The spell of dashuri.

But I can't let you go,

It's not that I don't know...

I just have no reason why—

You made me stop loving you.

Some habits I used to live,

And waking up with you was best.

The feeling I cannot forget,

It gave me comfort in distress.

Some habits I used to live,

They warmed the night of chilly eves.

Ever since in wilderness,

We used to walk while both undressed.

Some habits I truly feared,

Like waking up in stranger's bed.

Tired of things that never last,

But sometimes they're the safer bet.

Some habits I have to break,

For trusting you's my worst mistake.

Let's just call these vices fate,

For some habits bring only grief.

Haiku, hay naku

Pahirap sa gobyerno,

Sakit sa ulo.

Rally sa daan,

Patayan sa bundok,

Kurap na patok.

Ating kalaban,

Kapatid pang turingan,

Nagpapatayan.

Isang malayang taludtod

Para sa isipang napagod,

Mga gamit na salita'y

Sa tiyan hinuhugot.

Sa kantang bulag, pipi at bingi,

Ako roon ang tagahanga.

Di man matawag na may depekto,

Ngunit ako pa yung mas malubha.

Nakalimutan ang papel,

Maging ang lapis na pangmarka.

Nahumaling sa pagbabago

Sa awtomatikong makinarya.

Namumutla ang pintura,

At mga brutsang naaagnas—

Ilan lamang sa hiwatig

Ng talentong tumatakas.

Mga liriko kong nilikha

Hanggang ngayo'y walang nota.

Sinubukan pang awitin,

Ngunit hindi na madama.

Susukuan mo na ba

Ang buhay mong may tugma?

Kung tatakas ka ngayon,

Matatawag ka bang malaya?

You are my Angel,

And I am your Demon.

I am the Beast,

And you are the Moon.

You have the rays

That burn my skin.

I am your savior,

When darkness reigns.