Contrast Of Two Views Poem by RIC BASTASA

on the other fence
are colored lights

a party of laughter
and a fountain of
drinks

roast pig, San Miguel
beer, Tanduay rum

clinking glasses
merry widows and
glints of new
moonlights on
clear glass

between us is this
wall of barbed wire
and fortune plant tall
for hedges

as a contrast
in here the lights at
the patio are turned off
the dogs are sleeping soundly
and the chairs by the door
are turned upside down

it is as though
the world here is a store
closed
and the storekeeper is
heeding towards home
after recording the
volume of sales

the accounting is done
and windows are closed
and tables all covered

there is peace
on this side of the world

they say
that on the other side
they are trying to talk about
preventing another war

ideas clink
views are diverging
so much talk
there is a preparation
for something
big and
horrible

and they call it
a diplomatic party
where eyes look intently
on each other
where schemes are
hatched
where fledglings
come out hopping
like nuclear
bombs....