In Five Minutes.... Poem by RIC BASTASA

when i was sixteen
i won a poetry award
in honor of
a national poet and
so i went to manila
to receive the award
with my uncle who was then
the budget secretary of
the president

and he asked me,
how long did i write the piece,
and i answered,
"in five minutes" with
that tinge of arrogance
he shook his head, but that
is the truth,

as i told you,
poetry is just fun
a game, a hobby, a past time,
and you write it
on whatever mood,
sad or happy, lacerated of
exhilarated,
there is always poetry


and it is quick and sudden,
like a spark of a plug,
or a lightning hitting the
tree,
with all the sounds of
thunder
or simply the whisper to
my ear, saying i love you dear,
or the breaking of a glass
in that marriage ceremony

or the scattering of rice
in the fields
or the flying of birds
away from you
or that swarm of bees
chasing you.


yes, in five minutes.
a quickie.