For Mao... Poem by RIC BASTASA

we flew on the same plane
we sat beside each other.
i was happy.My best friend
is with me. We have not seen
each other for quite a long
time.

Manila and its night lights
and its famous sunset would
have been best for us.

I imagined eating at Vikings
it would have been fun with
you. We love sushi. That salmon
was perfect. The hot wasabi.
The lobster was amazing. We
love food.

Luneta Park is a cliche.
With you it would have been
tolerable. Something to write
about at the sunken gardens.

When we arrived however you
told me: Leave me alone.
I want to be alone this time
in my life.

My best friend.


(for indeed, he did not want
me to be arrested with him,
that hard core communist wants
to love this country alone)