October is here and I fear it is clear;
low gear, it competes with some holiday feats.
Halloween greets day thirty-one to stun-
with fun that October alone does own.
But I groan, as I said, it's too far ahead!
To be led to Christmas trees hoping to please
will tend to tease us to shop till we drop -
fast hop to a holiday two months away!
On display, gift-filled sights, and Christmas lights
are December's rights to sell fair and square;
not share at this time in October's prime!
A crime to now steal our Autumn zeal!
You
Would play
A certain
Album each year
While we pulled out all
Of the old ornaments
We've used since I was little.
No matter what might have happened,
Or yesterday's bitter arguments,
Today - hanging the garland - I'll forget.
In clockwork of merry traditions,
There's a sense of longing for those
Years where I was ignorant.
I decorate the tree
Wondering if we
Could return to
Those brightly
Sparkling
Lies.
Hot pine needle tea
With flavors of citrusy
Frosted cinnamon
And boughs laden with blue snow
Shaking with children laughing.
1.
Pasko sa Krisis
Pasko na naman
Pero gulo ang nararanasan
Ano ang tunay na kahulugan
Ng Pasko sa ating bayan?
Mga taong nag-aasam
Ng kapayapaan sa kapaskuhan
Hindi man lang nakamtan
Ang kanilang inaasahan
Ang Pasko sa krisis
Hindi namin ninanais
Hindi rin namin inaasahan
Ang mga bilihi'y magsitaasan
Ngunit gaano man kalala
Ang krisis ng bansa
Basta may pagmamahalan
Ang bawat isa
Tiyak na sasaya
Ang ating pagsasama
At kung may pagkakaisa
Malaki ang pag-asa
Kaya tayo na't umpisahan na
Pagmamahalan, pagsasama
Pagkakaisa't kapayapaan
Para sa pag-angat ng ating bayan!
-12/25/2000
(Dumarao)
*a project/assignment
On Christmas Eve, we rushed to bed,
talking of a picnic on the front lawn
and cooling in the sprinkler.
As we drifted off, we dreamed
of mysterious presents on our beds.
I woke as the sun began to rise—
the room was cool;
an eerie glow spilled past
my windowpane.
Outside, the world was upside down:
a white scene lay where green should be.
My squeal woke my whole family.
We ran outside to build a snowman.
As the sun climbed higher,
his carrot nose slid to the ground.
For a little while, we saw
what lived on Christmas cards.
It was the Christmas of all Christmas's!
Our great Canadian sanctuary;
Northeast Arms cabins up in Newfoundland
Wreathed in perfect white rustic winter charms.
In the crackeling of the fireplace
A warming glow and ambiance lingered.
Our family was whole and so merry
As we lived a great northern Christmas dream.
In a single room, our beds surrounding
A modest tree and not a gift in sight.
Then by Christmas morn there were gifts galore
A Rockwellian glow and children glad.
Though very young, the memory lingers
Beyond all others from those early years.
That Northeast Arms Christmas is clear as glass
A nostalgic reflection, crisp and dear.
Poverty stole the sky from us,
but childhood gave us wings.
God only visited at Christmas,
on the wings of a blue Cessna,
brought by the owner of the farm—and of our souls.
One day a year, God saw me.
ya'll heard the one
about and and gal
kissing on Christmas day
her Husband comes along
said whats going on
get from neath that misletoe
unhand my wife
darling let call it a night
Mister just let her go
then he balled up his fist said
I'll hit you with this
leave my gal alone
grab your rags
pack your bags
Fella it's time to go
I aint wrong for quick cheeky peck
ya'll been sliding tougunes
and you got your hands all
on her ass
aint airin out my lungs
cause i'm wrong
cause you damn well know
I'm right
take your jacket off
let's go out side
time for us guys to fight
bizzy me
you wiff my Gal
well that aint like I planned
see I'm her Mister
don't get it twisted mister
you egging for ah fyte!
852.
My Christmas 2023
From December 16-24 in the morning early
I completed the 9 dawns of Simbang Gabi
I was with the choir for 7 days
I wasn't with them for 2 Sundays
Also from December 16-24 in the evening early
I completed the 9 dusks of Novena by Liguori
I was in my bedroom to pray
After my 6 PM Angelus everyday
I received in December 22
My Christmas Bonus from Dumarao LGU
I spent it for our church & my family
For my workmates & for others dear to me
I attended also in December 22
The Christmas Party of Dumarao LGU
But I left them so early
At about 7:30
During Christmas Day 2023
I gave my Christmas gifts to my family
I attended the 8 AM Holy Mass
In celebration of 2023 Christmas.
-12/25/2023
(Dumarao)
*Christmas Day
Jesus was born in a shepherd's lowly manger
So that I can be born as a highly manager
Behind the scene God was preparing
The redemption was part of the plan
Jesus's birth was the initiation of the redemption plan
Enroute His death on the Calvary cross
The birth of Jesus Christ is the foundation for the perfection
Of the redemption of mankind
The first Adam brought poverty, sickness and damnation
The second Adam restored riches, health and redemption
We are redeemed from the curse of the law after His death
The Prince of peace returns the glory of man
Jesus's birth came to restore joy to mankind
Christmas is joy to the world for the fulfillment Of His covenant.
(Written 25/12/2025)
december
destiny
a
midwinter
present
carrying
a crown
of
sapphired
joy
Response to SPWC AUG 24
Christmas feels like halloween
Im haunted
The air is dusty, the room is musty
In your absence, everything’s tense
Nothing makes sense
Are you coming back?
Am I in denial, or just incredibly dense?
There’s a shiver, dust in the air
Am I dumb? Yes
But have things been damaged beyond repair?
I stubbornly stay stuck in a place
Not wanting to break free
Not wanting to leave the space
Where you used to be
Allowing you room to come back to me
And make it right
But I know your not coming back
Not after that night
Not after that fight
Tree that murmurs and breathes
Living like humans with leis and wreaths
One soul in time fated to trek
In a lost world of a living fleck.
Standing strong in the middle of a speck
A white dotted-speck in the center of a dim deck...
777.
Pasko sa Krisis na Naman!
Pasko sa krisis na naman sa ating bayan
Kayrami paring problema ng ating lipunan
Tulad ni Leni na may pasabog na naman
Pero nasaan ang animo'y “Ulat sa Bayan”?
NINGAS COGON…DAPAT BANG TULARAN?...
Iyo pang dinahilan ang mga nilindulan
Paano kung araw-araw mayroong ganyan?
Eh ‘di araw-araw ding ipagpapaliban?
Ano pa kaya ang idadahilan?
MAÑANA HABIT…DAPAT BANG TULARAN?...
Ngayong papalapit ang Kapaskuhan
May mga nabagyuhan, nilindulan at nasunugan
Oh kayraming nawalan at mga namatayan
May magagawa ba riyan ang iyong “Ulat sa Bayan”?
BAHALA NA SYSTEM…DAPAT BANG TULARAN?...
Atat na kami sa panibagong gawa (este ngawa) ng dilawan
Mauunahan pa yata ng paghatol kay Ampatuan
Sana sunod si Leila yan ng LP naman
Para sa mga nasa Leilayan ng LiPunan.
-12/17/2019
(Dumarao)
*perhaps or probably my final poem
776.
Mag-Simbang Gabi na Tayo
9 na arao bago ang Pasko
Mag-Simbang Gabi na tayo
Habang patungo ng simbahan
Mga Pamaskong pailaw madadaanan
Habang nasa daaan ay mapapakinggan
Nag-aanyayang kampana ng simbahan
At kapag nasa loob na nito
Mga awitin naman ng Pasko
Ito ay tradisyon na kinalakhan ko
Dito sa bansa naming ito
Makikita, mapapakinggan
Oh anong karanasan?
Diwa ng Pasko ay mararamdaman
Kapag Simbang Gabi ay dinaluhan
Mag-Simbang Gabi na tayo
9 na arao bago ang Pasko!...
-12/16/2019
(Dumarao…1st Day of Simbang Gabi…1st time Pope Francis celebrated this)
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