Vicarious Poem by RIC BASTASA

you're off to Mindoro
on a night flight from Davao
to Manila

i am bound for Manila
on an early morning flight
for a conference
in Faura

we're heading finally to
a new direction in our lives
to start this new year
with a lot of missions

you go for the smile
i will try, but for the meantime i keep
my mouth shut

i like you (i doubt if this is
love, it is just a very sensitive issue)
i may follow you
and pursue you (till the end of my
life, but when? and where?)

the hands of morality grip me by the throat
giving me the signals
that it really means what it says

you know what i mean.
i still have fences to mend.

there will be a nice hello.
hot and sizzling barbecue.

the goodbye will be as cold as
frozen meat
who knows, i will eat it raw.