manang yosi

there she was, beneath the post shade, deeper than where the shadows reside

people pass her by as if she's the ghost

whose feet touch the ground
no one knew her name

or perhaps because no one really dared to ask

the lines across her face, draw pity all over her soul

though the color of her hair made her divine
i wonder where she is from?

who she was?

and why?

for her age, she should have been dying

with her grandchildren's embrace

while her sons and daughters

should have been lavishing her with gratitude
but there she was,

covering herself

with a thin plastic sheet, she calls home

weeping as loneliness makes her a stranger to words

while smile forgotten her lips
i wonder how she struggle everyday

what she wonders when she looks at time

as it flies infront of her

i wonder what scares her

i wonder if there is more scarier than this

now, i recall how funny those sticks of cigarettes

cost mewhile it buys her time to wrap her memories

funny how i spend all my luxurywhile she already surrendered herself

to hopelessness and misery
remembering her made me realize life's uncertainties

with the need to enjoy it by the moment

but never being too reluctant with opportunities

if only i could thank her today