BASTI'S BREW

The stainless steel teaspoon
almost noiselessly
clink against the porcelain cup.
Froth clings stickily
to its edges,
staining it a light, chocolate brown.

I can almost hear
the mochaccino whirpool
sloshing lazily
above the din
of attempted deep conversation.

After a while
the coffee grows cold.

But the rush of caffeine
lingers in our veins,
throbbing together with
the beat of searching hearts,
waking up to
life's passions and
the soul's dreams.

12:50 AM
Davao City
April 16, 2003

background: Basti's Brew according to Lon is one of the oldest coffeeshops of Davao. Even older than Blugre. There were only three of us talking that night, Lon, Jen and i. Most of it were about love and dreams. And in the end, we still don't know what we really wanted. Just like everybody else there, I guess. Hehehe!

TENTH ANNIVERSARY ni Noel Cabangon kahapon sa 70's Bistro. Wow. Siyempre nagpunta ako. Matagal na rin akong hindi nakakadalaw duon. Pero masaya pa rin. Pakiramdam ko parang umuwi. Nakakatuwa pa rin si Gary G. Buti at naalala pa niya ako at mukhang masaya naman siyang nakabalik ako.

AT DAHIL matagal na rin akong hindi nakakabalik, kagabi dumaloy ang inspirasyon para sumulat. Hindi talaga ito mga wow, pare! ang galing na tula. Pero masaya pa rin. Kasi nakasulat ako muli.


BISTRO. MGA TULA PARA SA IYO.


1. BISTRO

tahanan ka
ng mga dakilang
nakikibaka
nakikiramdam
sa naghihingalong
pilipinas.

kanlungan ka
ng mga mang-aawit
na sumusubok
buhayin ang pag-asa
sa pusong
pagod na.

daungan ka
ng mga kaluluwang
naghahanap
ng pagkakataon
na lumaya
kahit panandalian lang.

samu’t-sari
iba’t-ibang mga nilalang.
ngunit
nagiging isa
sa mga bisig mo.

1:52 AM
3-27-03


2. TISSUE

tissue

strewn all over the floor.
blown by ceiling fan’s
tender (almost nothing) gust.

dry.
tainted with bleeding ink
and smeared lipstick.
(and someone’s broken heart)

damp.
wrapped around a glass
(and maybe on trembling fingers)
full of spiked tea.

wet.
wiped against the beer bottle’s
flowing tears.
(and possibly that man’s too.)

soaked.
spilled with cold cerveza
warmed by lingering thoughts.
(and sometimes broken dreams)

later,
when the lights are out
the gentle movements
of the sleepy waiter’s broom
shall gather
you
all
in
one
big
heap.

2:01 AM
3-27-03

3. TIGANG

piga na ang katas
ng kaluluwa.

ngunit ang iyong tinig
ang nagdidilig
sa kanyang katigangan.

uhaw. gutom.
ngunit higit sa lahat
lito
sa kalawakan ng
buhay.

di na kayang
liparin
languyin

kulang na ang lakas.

ngunit pag
nalubog na sa awit mo
ang kamalayan,
ito na ang lakas ko.

bukas…
baka kaya pa ang bukas.
basta umawit ka pa
ng isa pa.
awit pa…

3-27-03
1:30 am

4. AMBROSIA

i have always heard that ambrosia
was food for the gods.

i have not tasted nor seen
ambrosia.

neither am i a god.

what shall i be fed?
i.
who is but a frail, hungry, thirsting human.
what shall i be fed?

ah.
sing to me your soul.
that mine may know how it is to live again.
nourish my soul with your song.

i know
not even ambrosia
can satiate me
nor quench me
as much as your odes.

1:40 AM
3-27-03