MEN DO NOT CRY

What's on my mind? My Poem Today. Dad at 97. If he were still here. His birthday today. I would split a Pedro Domecq with him. But he is not here to call for the "bottoms up". Now that I could drink him under Mom's table, he is not here. All right, I could cede you that prowess, Dad. But now, I could outrace you.

MEN DO NOT CRY

(For Dad, January 9, 2018)

You will tarry, won't you?
Now I know I could outrace you
to that boulder where you left
the bones for Sport, my Sport.
Oh. You are right. I lost him
when I was eight. Ran over.
Uncle Joe told me when I whistled
for him for his supper. I just ate him, he said.

You will make up for my stream of tears.
would you? You laughed. I cried.
A man does not cry. Ever. You chided.
But I am 74, Daddy. I am still crying.
Not for Sport. This time because I can outrun
you. But you have left. The boulder, too, is gone.

--- Your son, Ambit a.k.a. Albert B. Casuga

OUT OF THE SHADOW

What's on my mind? My Poem for Mother who would have been 95 on January 11, 2018. (With Charito Casuga Corpuz Daisy Buenaventura Casuga Valenciano Rachel Ruth M. Espinueva Chikit Corpuz Vesterbaek Lourdes Veronica Nicky Casuga )

OUT OF THE SHADOW

(For Nenita Buenaventura Casuga+ Mommy)

There, atop the hill overlooking the sea,
You waited for him to come and get you.

"Come out of the shadow, Nenet, baket ko.
I have waited this long. Come with me."

Grasping his hands, you let out a sigh,
"What took you so long, Paking? I waited."

Atop that hill overlooking the sea, he tarried.
He knew she would brood and ask: "Why?"

"They were not ready with the Nara hut,
Where I would take you and our children;

Yes, atop a hill overlooking the sea, when
it is done, we will all be there; keep it shut

from rain, where there can only be sunshine
atop that hill overlooking the sea. Come then."

Mommy, you held Daddy's hands gently, and
came out of the shadow. There was no rain.

--o00--

(Con amor duradero, Mommy. We love you.)

--- Ambit, a.k.a. Albert B. Casuga