Basking in the Gray

Free verse poem by Reyca Mae D Eduarte

In the warmth of youth, we basked in the sun

Free from worries, and uncertainty, life was all fun

Days were bright, and hearts were light

The world was ours; nothing was out of our sight

But life is not so kind

I used to love a game of chase

The rush of getting things done at a steady pace

But now, only a never-ending chain is there And the things I used to cherish now seem tiresome

In a vicious cycle of productivity

I feel chained not to complain

As the years passed, the dishes grew A “chore” is what life has become

The vibrancy of youth, ever so bright

Unseen like the stars in the daytime

It’s easy to forget what we once felts

As we trudge through life, trying to excel

A joy-filled heart of mine

Now replaced with a sense of being torn apart

The weight of dishes dims my light

Making me feel like I’m losing the fight

As if I carry the world in my palms

I yearn for days when I can just dance in the rain

But I face the weight that I bear

Finding a way to cope each day

And perhaps I can find a moment to rest

To take a break from the never-ending test

But honestly, the gray we wear is what we need For in its depths, we find our peace

So I let the world be bright and bold

Bright and bold, revered by others

For I find solace in the stories untold The quiet moments in the grayness

There’s beauty in that stillness

In this gray, a peaceful shade

No need to choose between left or right or pick a side

The world may rush and spin so fast

But in the gray, we can outlast

A place where we can all reset

Lost in the routines, we forget to play. The monotony makes us dull and gray. But it’s the part that cannot be denied

A reflection of who we are, And a symbol of all that we’ve come far Gray with age, the world may seem

But basking here, I find a certain charm that’s hard to sway within.

Firelights

Poem by John Patrick M Pagauitan

Firelights in the sky, shining bright with their loud voices, beneath my shoes, flowers bloomed, in the place where we both stood wondering if I could forever stay forever, inside your embrace

Ephemeral light in the night, once again, charmed me in sight

"Such a beautiful thing to see, isn't it?" yes, it is, you're such a beautiful thing to see.