Tradeoff Poem by Michelle Candelaria

When darkness comes
To the land of hope
And cries of bitterness and pain are heard
The reality of a slow bitter death
Is felt in its very soul

How come that the pearl of the orient seas
After the tyranny that pushed it down
Has gained no love, no respect, and no comfort
From its own blood and flesh

After the death of the martyrs
The birth of the rebels followed
Blood has flooded the entire archipelago
And drowned all its dreams

Its magnificent beauty and richness
Seems lost in all the tragedies
And no trace of light was seen
Except the spark of a shining knife

Its flesh was cut, its bone cracked
But the heart still beats, the mind still works
And after the sweet pain experienced
No choice was left…
but to KILL and LIVE.