christmas eve (a not-really-a-christmas poem)

Music: Natutulog Ba Ang Diyos by Gary Valenciano

While browsing over my old notebook, I found a poem I've written at the back of a baptismal programme two years ago. It was probably one of the last poems I've ever written, and now that I've reread it, I realize that I kind of like what I wrote, despite the fact that it's pretty...uh...pathetic.

It was originally untitled, but I thought of a more or less appropriate title for it now. Revised it a bit, but the general idea is the same.

christmas eve

you put down the phone and mentally pat yourself on the back

for not breaking down

and you close your eyes tight and try not to cry

(still you see his face, oh so vividly)

in your mind you see him boarding that wretched silver bird that will

take him away from you

forever (forever is such a long time)

to a place with no rain nor snow

and the only storms are those made of sand

and you see him plain as day

looking down the black ocean filled with regrets and bitterness

of spending so much time with each other

(still, it is never enough)

and minute after minute he flies farther away

and second after second he slowly forgets your voice that

calmed him many a sleepless nights

and he sees the horizon

and dreams of men and women

in long, flowing robes

and you let the first tear fall

the minute he steps on foreign soil

(still, you know he is not coming back)