A Family Landmark Poem by RIC BASTASA

It did not start with us. we are smooth as the outer skin of porcelain.they did not make us their problems. we followed the rules. we bowed to the faces of authorities.

it was grandpa, who at the age of 79 decided to marry a woman of 19. She was not decent at all. Her hair hid some snakes. We saw it once when we had dinner together in that old house.

grandpa was blinded by his lust. we were patient for light. since he had the money and the power we did nothing but attend to his wedding ceremony.

the woman had black lips. her hands were gnarled so she kept on wearing gloves.
everyday she wore masks, always choosing the angry ones. I guess she was angry with her childhood and her family.

grandmother died early. She had fats all over her body, and then she lost her reason to live. When she died i was only 5 years old, but i had a sharp memory of her then when she kept all the best bread in her room.

after the marriage took place in the famous church of the city, we left the honeymooners in their chosen room. It was expensive.

Aunt who was from Manila decided that we better see the Shrine where Rizal was under the custody of a military general.

Then the news broke out. Grandpa was murdered by his second wife. Inside his room the woman was gone. Taking all the money and his shotgun.