Manila the Imperial City of the Philippines
It is like a mirror reflecting itself
What you see in Manila is you see the Philippines
There you see high rise glass building
The modern mask of modernity
You see commercial establishment
The breathtaking Mall of Asia
The century old China town is here
Manila is different for me
I see Manila the old walled city
I smell the fresh noodles of Ongpin
I still see the largest Rizal park along the bay
I still witness tourist attraction horse drawn calesa
I still like the hopia of Binondo
The age-old long line stalls of pawnshops along Escolta
Maybe the skyscrapers are the other version book of Manila
And the places I went in is the old version of Manila
Though the city changes, I still like the old version
Which version you are in
It's up to you for your choosing
My memory of Manila is eternal
Not to forget the Binondo Bridge whose ancient
Now being constructed modestly
This is the past and the future
Common denominator of history.
Categories:
pawnshops, city, history, identity, work,
Form: Prose
Downtown
broad squares
highway
out of these places
every nook and cranny alleyway,
shabby signboard,
makes a terrifying sound
when the wind blows,
we open a very narrow door
and meet an old man
who greets us with a warm smile
across an iron cage
we are always curious
about the treasures buried
in the darkness behind him
They are of no use to him.
Where are you taking all valuables
and putting them away?
from the people
trying to end up hunger
Like the sound of the wheels
of a train moving away,
there was always silence that swallowed the light.
And he was the richest in our town
Of course,
reputation has always been like this
"Not even a person."
What happened to the old man
who took great pride
not having a single person
to pick up the items
Where did his cash and gold go?
Were his poor clients successful?
must ask pawnshop best customer
of the old man,
snoops down
the streets of prosperous pawnshops
in the 21st century mega cities
Tokyo
Shanghai
New York
London,
and Dostoevsky,
We must read his book.
Categories:
pawnshops, love,
Form: Free verse
Metallic city howls like a wounded animal
scraped by nocturnal vigils
of grandchildren and elders
emaciated like tuberculosis lungs
gasping from chug-chugs of tobacco soot...
and the face of a night is hammered by
ripped moans like plucked strings in motel rooms;
pagan women opening limbs for a meal in silent fury.
This is the other side of town, so real...
beggars peddling hope; factory shoulders
ranting over shuffled cards and fired gin
as wives’ blistered fingers
clean rented pots, gibbering same monotone of hymn,
“give us daily bread, daily bread”.
Outside, the pier coughs off
the commercial honks of weighed cargo
reeked with labor’s perspiration,
where pawnshops buzz with greed's snicker...
the evening owl attempts winks
under the grime of bloodied moon…
it spits the larynx of tenants’ raged hoots
wishing morsels of fresh sunset
would pour some grace of life’s salve. I weep
before the shrill of red sets in... again.
------------
Truth Contest sponsored by Anthony Slausin
Re-post 5/28/2019
Categories:
pawnshops, anger, angst,
Form: Lyric
Some Helpful Counsel During Hard Times
By Elton Camp
If a financial emergency should unexpectedly arise
There’s an easy solution right there before your eyes
Payday loan stores are everywhere and do what’s right
To get you get out of whatever is your own fiscal tight
As to the interest the places charge, don’t make a fuss
You will have to pay what they ask, so no need to cuss
If your debt you can’t pay in full as soon as its due.
The place will make it very easy the loan to renew
Maybe some of your extravagant goods you can drop
For a loan at the friendly neighborhood pawnshop
You can always excuse it with the hopeless dream
That your loan you can repay and articles redeem
You claim that you paid five thousand for that ring?
At the pawnshop though, only a hundred will it bring.
If you arrive even one day late to redeem your gold
You are likely to find that for a profit it has been sold
So, my wise advice is, to stay out of financial water deep
The help of payday loans and pawnshops you must seek
My friend, if this writing you have very carefully read
I hope that you have decided to do the opposite instead
Categories:
pawnshops, funny
Form: Rhyme