About Dean And David Poem by RIC BASTASA

two best of the minds
in the university
taken away by the darkness
of the state

cruelty to political beliefs
intolerance to a different view
that is what happens

they were brothers
sons of a judge of the town
their father is a prosecutor

Dean was buried on the shallow
part of the bank of the
Saluyong River

David was kidnapped in Sapang Dalaga
and disappeared forever
the body not found

The fingers of justice point to
the state as culprit
yet the case was dismissed
for lack of evidence

Now, my friend
this happened to a family with means
and power

You? Son of a fisherman
Your mother is a laundrywoman
what right has you to voice out the
shortcomings of this
wickedness?

I, who, for the long years of study
has done nothing, except to kowtow
call me a coward
remind me that i may die a thousand deaths
but i am already tired
to be blamed again for the death of more
brothers in the field
in the struggle
in this revolution that arrives at nowhere

Fruitless i say.
I prefer this silence in my poetry.