Poem by Kuting Juan-Gajitos
The sky fell down
The day you died
The city was flooded
With black tears
From sunken eyes
That secretly wept
The city lights were dim
And the sounds were muted
Souls with bend backs
Shuffled on silent feet
Murmuring loud whispers
Of guttural prayers
You lay down in your
Silk-lined coffin
Gilded for all to see
I stand mourning
Beneath the gallows tree
Where you hung alone
Do you remember
When I took
Your broken body down
From the tree's withered branches?
You looked so peaceful
Another soul freed from strife
They came, then, to your funeral
Weeping and howling counterfeit sorrows
Drenching the grave you're in
With crocodile tears
While their eyes remained dry
Like their dessicated hearts
Where are you now,
My erstwhile love?
Are you waiting for me
To follow suit?
Will you wait for me
On the other plane?
I am traversing life and death
Between sleep and waking
I see your face everywhere
I hear your voice in every breath
Your old cologne fills the air
As twilight embraces the sky
Again, I lay down and I hear the rain
Pounding on the tin roof
As it drummed that first night
You took me in your arms
But you are not here
Only your ghost lingers
💻💙🙏