68 Poem by RIC BASTASA

staring at you

We sound the same
I mimicked you for twelve years
Like a mynah bird
Your choice of words
Your accent
Nasal like the American guest professor
of ateneo de manila university

To a certain point
I wanted to be like you.

One night I went out
Of my body
Like a wind
I went into you as you breathe
For air

I took the tours
In your mind and detours in your heart
And even in the sensitive
Places of your loins
& groins
To find what is in you
That I love

I stayed longer in the chambers
Of your heart
On a closer scan of your arteries
a closer, careful look

I did not find you there
I did not even see
My picture of my face that you said
You really love

We sound the same I thought
We were never alike
We have never really spoken
i am shaken

Now I am back in my body
To be myself, this time just be myself

Staring at you.