Distance

There you are
beaming that lovely smile
captivating me with your childlike ways
and all I can do is stare and smile back
you have cast a spell in me
that has caused me to worship you
from sunrise to sunset
and even in my dreams early in the morn

There you are
amusing me with your humor
and sensibility
you have taken me away
from my comfort zone
and you have led me on the road
to self discovery
you are a clear mirror of my psyche

There you are
a friend each day
who never seems to run out
of patience in my frailties
and pride in my achievements
who so intimately talks to me
and understands that my bed
has a wrong side to wake up to

There you are
headstrong yet sensitive
carefree yet caring
simple yet intrinsically beautiful
in countless ways you are wonderful
appealing to my senses
calling my entire being
to attend to your humanity

There you are
drawing me close to you
with your smile and grace
but I should refuse to be near you
my consciousness says no
and the universe dictates the same
though my heart weeps in silence
as I keep myself afar

There you are
like a tempest in a moral battle
which can only be won
with a shattered heart
I should keep this distance from you
for my embrace is madness
and your reciprocal tenderness is sin
we are not meant for this lifetime

There you are
so painfully desirable
and here I am
equally in pain
in loneliness
but this distance I should keep
like malady that cannot be cured
at least not in this lifetime

Together

Things are different when we are together
Feels like the sun shines brighter
And the moon shines brightest
The rain seems to knock
At the windowpane
The blue sky is bluer
And I've never seen the rainbow so close
Time seems to slow down
To give way to us
To be together

The world is not the same when we are together
Like potpourri of new meanings
Not needing to be discerned
I was taught that gravity
Pulls us all toward the center of earth
But what is this force that keeps us close
Drawing us near
Keeping us inseparable
The answer I need not know
The question I always want felt

I am at peace with the world and myself
When we are together
All the universe seems to agree
Look at how the trees bend
As a gush of wind blows
Feel the kiss of morning mist
As I wake up with your arms around me
We have all the time in the world
Feel it in your soul
This nirvana of proximity

i am a kite

                   i
               am a kite
             and i am free -
          proud without wings,
         flying next to eagles
       in the midst of blue skies.
     yet the irony of things is that
       i am grounded too; a neat
        piece of cord pulls me
           back to my master's
            hands like it is
              my lifeline -
               and it is.
                 when you
                  look up
                     you
                      see
                         me
                           p
                           r
                            o
                             u
                              d;
                                but
                                   when
                                    i
                                     look
                                       down
                                         i
                                          am
                                            h
                                             u
                                             m
                                              b
                                               l
                                                e
                                                 d
                                                  .

tempest

say a word and i smile
let your gentle wickedness
corrupt my fickle mind
let my curiosity be satisfied
like questions answered
by embellished truth
and casual carnal lies
open my mind
like an open fly
reach out for my consciousness
put this wandering mind at ease
like a candle flame
licking every inch
of that helpless wick
i spread myself to obedience
so that this thirst may no longer be
like heat frozen for all eternity
burning in the dampness of the moment
like torment seduced by your playfulness
oh, yes, you are the tempest
and i choose you to liberate me

Sahara

The scorching sun of the Sahara noon
Dried my lips
The sand dune played with my exhaustion
I lost all my strength
The oasis was nowhere to be found

Vultures were all above me
Like guardians
I was watched by them from afar
Waiting for me to lose myself
In the shifting sands

The heat was unbearable
Like a sting of a thousand scorpions
Only invisible
The air was dry
The sun was up

With each step I lost my will
To live
Slowly I fell to my knees
Face down
My cheek against the sand

My feet were swollen
My legs were numb
I prayed to my god
I prayed so hard
Every word was only a gush of breath

My life flashed before me
The people I met
The places I have been
The things I have done
But there was only me now

And the shifting sands of the Sahara
Take me, take me
I whispered
As I passed out
A sting of pain ran from my calf

Then another sting
And other
Though my eyes were so weary
To see that I was being
Slaughtered alive

By the twenty or so
Vultures that came down
To feast on me
The pain became unbearable
Until there was no more

Not even an awareness
Then there were only vultures and the pale blue sky
The humid air
The scorching sun
And the sands of the Sahara

A Midsummer Night's Dream

The stage comes alive with William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Running for about two months now, "Midsummer" has never failed to amaze its audience. The cast truly deserves standing ovation and the overall production is something we can all be proud of.

The 400-seater RCBC Theater is home to this classic tale of the different types of love and the insane things humans do for love. Watching the play, I was reminded of Sigmund Freud's claim: "You are always insane when you are in love." The play definitely has controversial appeal because of its content.

"This day my oaths of drinking wine and going to plays are out, and so I do resolve to take a liberty to-day, and then to fall to them again. To the King's Theatre, where we saw "Midsummer's Night's Dream," which I had never seen before, nor shall ever again, for it is the most insipid ridiculous play that ever I saw in my life. I saw, I confess, some good dancing and some handsome women, which was all my pleasure."

-- Samuel Pepys, Diary, Sept. 29, 1662

parallel || attraction

This poem has been voted by PinoyPoets as August's Gold. Thanks to those who voted!

the alarm clock rings                   bacon strips for breakfast
i wake up                                   great, my diet is on a day off
i can't afford to be late                a final dash of makeup
not today                                   and a gracious blow of my fruity
                                                                    perfume
a quick bath                               what a beautiful day
a quick cup of coffee                   i grab my bag and pick my shoes
that should do it                         and i walk around the room
i slam my apartment door           like i was walking in the streets of paris
i hear my neighbor curse            okay, time to go
like he is not used to it                i head to the elevator and press the
                                                                    down button
i press the button                       ding
9...                                            9...
8...                                            8...
7...                                            oh, i forgot my bracelet
this is taking forever                   6...
5...                                            5...
ding                                          ding
the elevator doors open              great, i'll be late
i enter                                       hmmm... does he ever comb his hair
nice perfume                              nice smile
i have seen her yesterday           i wish he would look at me again
and the day before                     if i chance upon him tomorrow
and everyday she smells nicer    wearing that same carefree hairstyle
i wonder what her name is          he'll get a lecture on hygiene
maybe i should ask her               4...
i clear my throat                        okay, talk to me
3...                                           3...
2...                                           oh, well...
ding                                          ding
okay, perhaps tomorrow             i can't wait for tomorrow

Golden Sun: The Lost Age

"Golden Sun: The Lost Age" hooked me on the first five minutes. I have been playing the game for almost two weeks now and I am still having a grand time.

The game is a sequel to the original "Golden Sun" but this one has longer quests. More puzzles have also been fuzed to the game and it will be helpful if you could get yourself a good walkthrough (like this one or this).


The details are rich and the animation is smooth. You may also import character data from "Golden Sun". Doing so will allow you to have a richer game experience because you can bring in djinns and artifacts.

Although I still have a lot of continents to conquer and djinns to tame, here is my rating for "Golden Sun: The Lost Age":
   Gameplay: 9.0
   Graphics: 9.0
   Sound: 8.5
   Overall: 8.83

adam on eve

your parting folds i will explore
i like it red and raw
so bare yourself and spread it free
     swell with feral undulations
     as i stalk your shy anatomy.

stinging kisses i will sow
on your blushing silk terrains
i will plow your moisten fields
     if only to quench this thirst
     with your citrus offerings.

your rounded mounds i shall cup
leaving no detail unturned
no lies will be told tonight
     as this tongue is preoccupied
     with surfing pleasurable curves.

waves of pleasure, stings of pain
when hard and tight collide
on satin sheets of sinful heaven
     take me in, oh, let me in
     my gorgeous -- pound, pound, pound!

when i was five

when i was five
i asked my grandpa
what is the meaning of love
he patted my back and said
you are too young
you wouldn't yet understand

grandpa then replaced his spectacles
and through them he peered
he slowly made his way to my grandma
like a nest to a weary bird

today i'm still wondering
exactly what is love
but that day when i was five
i knew, i knew for certain that --
lovers grow old
but love fades not

If you're a bird, I'm a bird too.

Jan Sardi made a perfect screen adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' "The Notebook". I haven't really read the book but somehow I had some idea of the plot (thanks to some friends who were too verbose to provide me with a summary). I am not into mushy movies but this one is an exception. You should watch it! Four thumbs up!



The film stars Ryan Gosling (Murder by Numbers, 2002) and Rachel McAdams (Hot Chick, 2002), and was directed by N.J. Cassavetes.

Weekend Escapade - Baguio and Mountain Province

Last year's visit to La Trinidad, Benguet led me to the age-old mummies of the Mountain Province. Two mummies were on display -- living testimonies (no pun intended) to the sophistication of the ancient Filipinos. Last weekend, however, I was suprised to find out that the mummies were moved to their proper resting place in Kabayan, a town several kilometers away from La Trinidad. I was disappointed at what I learned but, at the same time, I felt relieved that the mummies were finally back to where they truly belong.

It seemed that the Fates wouldn't want me to leave Baguio disappointed for another mummy was on display at the Baguio-Mountain Province Museum along Gov. Pack Road. The museum also showcased other century-old indigenous artifacts and a photo exhibit.

why?

why do i wish to be near you
   to feel your warmth
      and to see that smile

why do i make plans for the future
   including you in it
      although not all, just most of it

why do i think you are the one
   the one i could spend my whole life with
      in sheer bliss

why do i dream this dream
   knowing it's so far fetched
      yet not wanting to wake up

why does it have to be so complicated
   when wanting you is this simple
      and intoxicating

why are there so many questions in the world
   half truths and white lies
      and only you is the answer