Two poems for April

Two poems for April

“Still a sad state of freedom: Thoughts after Hikmet”

There are times those people on high talk about freedom

As if it is the most precious idea they've wanted

They talk about love of country and of people

Thinking those words are really coveted

They did wave the flag, dress their garb, or even use the local tongue 

But deep inside these are empty moves and phrases appeasing folks as easy to done

Especially during holidays creating various feats

But one day for example, as they endorse whether to China or America

Only to end like using Hikmet's words:

"and you too, with your great freedom-

You have the freedom to have loans or become a military base."

They would talk through and through those words

Trying to appease people of various sorts

Be it the learned burgis to the swarthy masa

Those words as if uplifting despite chains continue rattling

Yes, chains bound by the same people claiming to be patriots

When in fact vassals of imperialists

and a monster called "capital".

Pardon for the thought for as everybody yearns

Those words being preached, continue to ring our ears

We wished to cry freedom not as a mere phrase but as a feeling

Especially in a time when the order have the freedom to exploit our lives and resources

All for their entrenched interests near and far

They are all free to arrest nor imprison us

Or killed in the name of "freedom"- all for capital's sake.

I doubt that kind of freedom if that's the case, 

The freedom under the present order how bullshit that kind of phrase

Yes we are indeed free in the words brought by law

But reality may become otherwise as the order sees it

We are all free as Hikmet said.

"But this kind of freedom," he added, "is a sad affair under the stars."

“A Letter to Patricia”

My dear, darling Patricia:

You ask what am I doing?

I am admiring the urban landscape

All despite the rain

Seeing the modern buildings

While people waiting for the passing train

Trying to normalise things

Despite this dreaded pandemic

Only to be treated by politicians

As part of their rhetoric

I am here in my room typing at my laptop

If not reading reports about elections

Pink, Red, Blue, various colours enough for a hang-up

I leaf the pages of the books, notes calling for revolution

And from their hopeful phrases words of consolation

It is summer in Manila now

Although sometimes drizzled with rain, heat prevails

And trying to cool off by the air conditioned breeze

Reality be like marred by the bullshitries

Such as paycuts in salaries

How difficult life this pandemic

To think "working from home is good"

Yes indeed but for some exploiters

An opportunity to exploit us for a pittance

Either paycuts or floating status

Using this situation as an alibi

Recently I hear news about "returning to workplaces"

As ordered by the finance department

They even use small businesses and "returning to normal" as alibis

If not threatening work-from-home business with removing tax and other privileges

What a gaslighting statement then as I hear those reports

Especially when the secretary said "he was appreciative about their contribution"

And yet he denied requests to extent their remote-work arrangements

If not telling "they should be situated in an economic zone"

What more of removing their tax holidays

And 5% tax on gross income. 

If not hearing news making a promise a system's toy:

An agrarian reform program turned into a counterinsurgency ploy?

They even turned down calls to raise the living wage

While favouring a four-day workweek, 10 hours enough for a rage

I am not surprised for as any other campaign promise

For under the rotten system it becomes a malice

The fact that his promise of change ain't true for under a wretched order

That we who are concerned anytime we'll face the slaughter

Sorry for the thought but reality keeps us worrier

Be it crisis, or the bullshits, all from a wretched order

And sometimes I wonder, is it really recovering these days?

Or just giving us some semblance of fresh air then shutting it out afterwards?

Of course they speak about recovery, with words such as "better normal"

But under this repressive order will there be hope in an imperialist's vassal?

Well, since they talk about easing restrictions, expect more protests

Expect spontaneous actions, battling the order and its pests

Not surprised if in response there will be countless arrests

But still we'll burn that devil, his horde, and even their nest!

Pardon if my thoughts gone political

For at first you’re asking me how am I

For the fact that the situation’s gone critical

Why should a concerned I deny?

Until when the crisis prevails

Or will hopes be end as mere tales

Such bullshitries than “change” continue to seen

All from the tyrant and his horde so mean

But I hope flowers of various sorts will blossom still

The way our aspirations will always prevail.

The way I admire the landscape

Trying to create a future where everyone "all as well"

Perhaps so long as the order is trying to create hell
We together will destroy them the way this homeland's past did tell