Song of the Sea A Man I Met in the Airport A Promise to Keep

SONG OF THE SEA

Jennelyn Ibale

I asked the wind to kiss the tears in your eyes and carry them to the sea for they belong to a limitless home call the waves gently and they will lull you to sleep I have told them to sing you a song to ease the pain of longing watch the sun and the horizon become one for someday, someday I will come to paint your skies tangerine and pink whatever you imagined while we sit by the shore writing our names in each of our palms while I watch the stars residing in your eyes My beloved, do not cry for me I am contained in this soulless body I shall come to you soon once I am set free from myself who lost the key Wait for me, wait for me For now, can you listen to the song of the sea?

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A MAN I MET IN THE AIRPORT

Jennelyn Ibale

I remember, so vividly like it was yesterday when the plane landed safely, with the memories of my escape when in a moment before I face the reality again, it waved me a hello through that man I met in the airport reading a novel written by Paulo like he, lives that book like the table of elements, composing the Earth’s misery, when I sat near beside him, suspiciously, he started talking and warned my contemplating self too that he’s a bipolar, and that he tends to forget, the planes and flights, but not this time, with me, a stranger, meeting with the eyes I felt he read my entirety and I was left naked with all the truth and lies “There we embrace reality, even if it sucks our soul and keeps us in death, walking in a daily life of torment and inclusivity with the society that is made in recluse. I may never remember you

A PROMISE TO KEEP

Jennelyn Ibale

There is a promise I have to keep sealed with the night’s ambiguity I laid my eyes upon you, not blinking I am fully awake in this pact I cut this palm, this blood stain is not a foe I am with you, I do, I do

There is a promise I have to keep it is to hold your hand till eternity even if they grow thorns and won’t let me be

I’ll hug you tighter until we both bleed for you have known me as a bomb and also a crushed cherry we are the living art of our insanity I’d choose for us to despair together than one of us flying to see one down, one falling in the vast uncertainty and I have known you not wanting the dark’s embrace even when you keep using it as a blanket many times I cannot count to hide your screaming dreams and an ancient quill behind your bed I know the night’s too cold to hope I just wish you will not let go too of this path we’ll be taking all I know is until the end staying with you, falling and growing is the essence of a promise unbroken even the journey will keep us in torment yes, we have chosen, a road that is not taken

(inspired from the poem “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost)

Jennelyn Ibale writes poetry mostly on days when emotions and inspirations come into an outburst. Her poems portray the hustle and bustle of everyday life on an island of the Philippines. Her writing ideas include sunflower, love, longings, and stillness. She likes watching the rain and reading utopian books at the same time. Visit her at @alivingsunflower on Instagram.

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