these bodies still remember the storm

159 · Coco Pineda

Cold Homecoming

It’s been two years, hasn’t it? An exile, exiled from the Exile’s Hub Bound to learn, unlearn, and relearn How to live, how to love, how to laugh.

Isn’t it funny how It took longer for you to pack Than to jump straight back To the former that is now the now?

It would’ve been nice To carry pieces of home Across miles and miles of stalk If only I knew where comfort resides.

So here I am again. But in foreign, familiar territory. Motionless, but in motion. Growing, yet undergrown.

Though I do know that I am To be welcomed here again Or so I hope I’ll be. (2/12/22)

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161 · Coco Pineda

Bagong Síkat

Nagtatanto kung bakit Naibsan ang sakít Sa gitna ng tag-araw; Isang palaisipang ‘Di mabigyang linaw.

Anong awit ng tag-ani Sa mabathalang Ama'y ibinahagi Na sa isang dagli: Ginapas, ‘di butil ng pait; Butil kaytamis ‘di pinagkait.

Na sa pagbawing balak, Si Helios lubos ang galak Na pahabain mga araw, Upang habulin, mga sandaling Kimi at walang galaw.

Na baka bawat bukang-liwayway, Hudyat ng bagong simula; ‘Di lang sa dalawang dosenang oras Na uubusin ng guni-guni Ngunit para sa adhikang namamayani.

Anupamang nais sabihin Ng kalawaka't kapangyarihan, Dalawang hakbang pasulong At isa patalikod, Ngayo'y hinay-hinay na't di bubugso.

(6/24/2019)

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