Sungkilaw Falls Poem by RIC BASTASA

so there were Japs pretending to plant trees
and rehabilitate the place
and with the colloboration of the mayor
the project went through
only after a while when they finally got
what they really wanted
the gold bars hidden beneath the belly
of the mountain
where Sungkilaw Falls
beautifully flow

after that time the Japs left
and the mayor too was rich
bought two mansions
a beach property and three
expensive cars

there are always thieves and
exploiters and
their conspirators

as i watch Sungkilaw Falls
i feel gratified that somehow there is still
something worth seeing in this place
which thieves cannot steal

the beauty of the water freely falling on the rocks below
the fresh air
the song of the birds that occasionally pass by

some decided to stay
and nest their eggs
on the trees
that the Japs planted.