A Family Poem by RIC BASTASA

mama cooks the food early morning,
papa feeds the chickens, pigs, and ducks
pastures the carabao, and buys some fish
from the nearby market,
elder sister does the cleaning of the house
elder brother cleans the bathroom
and harvests some vegetables from the garden,
i am assigned to open the windows, turn off the lights
and sweep the yard,
to each his own work, and when everything is done
as set by the clock,
mother then calls us for breakfast,
to each seat we place ourselves.
ready for the prayer, after which we
together eat.