The Changes Of The Times Poem by RIC BASTASA

when we took vacations in your place my dear cousins we brought you lots of
things: sacks of bananas, another sacks of camote, sacks of rice and
some fruits from our farm in zamboanga

that was in the late 70s when we truly missed each other and you cooked our bananas and camote and rice and you drank the juice and licked the pulp of our fruits
and you my dear cousins

in returning our kindness
you also treated us for a picnic in the nearby river where
there were still lots of fishes and big rocks and crystal clear waters where the wild ducks sometimes land to drink and rest and then fly in flocks
where the myth of the beautiful mermaid and her human lover on a forbidden tryst continue their madness
on a full mooned night
and we listen and someting magical still rings
like a longing in our hearts

we told lots of stories and time ran so quickly without notice
there was no delay at all, no boring moment
we simply ate and drank and sang some songs

we surely missed each other
on those abundant times

but my dear cousins, times have changed, kindness now not given and if given is not returned
you have been too busy and we too have been too busy too
looking for ways
to survive these hard times

we do not visit your place again, neither you visit us too,
i heard the news that the river in your place has dried and all the fishes there die
and the mermaid story was no longer told as no one wants to listen to myths
and no one believes anymore about fantasies
and giving and being kind
has become a waste of time

and i no longer hear the excitement of the word
'cousin' anymore
i have seen the changes, and let me tell you,
i do not blame anyone.