The Tony Encounter At Myrna’s Coffee Shop Poem by RIC BASTASA

I really admire him giving me his time
For a good coffee at nine
Matched with choco-raisin cake

Bespectacled tony
Jesuit priest
White barong
Still slim
And walks
With counted
Composure
He looks at me
With a eye
For a mistake
Keen eyes
Frisking my soul

“You’re flourishing” he said.

I am fat
Tall and pumpkin cheeks
I can say
I have a basketball
Inside my
Pink polo shirt
As gift from an
OFW
I sip my coffee
Sliced my choco cake
With a fork
And take a
Big bite
I am flabby
After I left
The seminary
Where we were buddies


”you’re strong” I thought.

I could not be stopped
Asking him:
how did you manage to stay as Jesuit?
Did you have a lot of struggles?
You like the solitude, do you?
Do you have a strict routinary prayer?
How is you religious life?

How’s your sex life?

“It is a grace, a gift”, he blurted.

“We live in poverty
All our salaries go to the Jesuit society”.

He gave me the sad news
About sonny leaving the novitiate
Years ago
About Roy leaving the priesthood
A few months ago,
And Fr. Mac pulled out
From Arvisu and now
Chaplain of the PGH,
A sore.

“What could be the possible explanation
Why priests are leaving? ”
“Has the Jesuit society studied the trend
And found the explanations? ” I asked him.

“We are a few now”
“We will have a new campaign
For vocations” he answers.

“I will be leaving for a consultors’ meeting
Tomorrow for an early flight to manila
Then I will be in Davao for another
Important meeting.
Just his afternoon
I met with a benefactor who will give
65 dollars a month for our scholars”
still tony talking.

What I cannot forget, as he cancelled my
Room reservation at the Jesuit house
As I decided to stay in the hotel instead,

“You saw the light, and we are still blind”,
he said with a rush.

It was ironic, I know, and I will be thinking
About his answer, for nights and years.