all around me
there simply is no sanity
toothbrushes have also
become part of it
the world seems
to have tilted
and almost everyone
is limping
muttering to themselves
stars like dogs bark
at your window
at night
I try to wear my sweater
but it won’t agree
and my mouth
is a valley down
which rocks slide
children look at
their palms for hours
and worst of all
affected is the moon
it turns into
quadrillions of chickens
pecking each
other’s flesh
spraying the universe
with blood.
one of which
went into my head
and the other
into my stomach
now I’m stuck
I can’t move
with my neck
drooping over
from the weight
and I can’t think
my body cannot
sense anything
my life is darkness
deepening
and when it ends
I will be the
liberated night
flying into the light.
like a mother
and rocks me
in her arms
at her breast
I feed
and become
free like the wind
life is so beautiful
so much fun
to fly
so have a nice day
and bye bye.
after days of rain
the mountains shine
shades of green
and the leaves
of my clove trees
dance in the wind
workers break rocks
with big hammers
next to my house
where a house is
coming up
and I am happy that
the cyclone
has passed
and the birds chirp
yes yes of course
what a relief
and my heart
is lit up with joy
as I greet my neighbours
and chat with them
and the rhythm
of the workers
breaking the rocks
sounds so beautiful
and Ajmal calls for
his mother and now
the birds are saying
O it’s so much fun
to feel the warm sun
and I look up at the blue sky
and the white clouds so bright
and they seem to be so happy
they are floating in bliss
and as I stare at them
they blow me a kiss
and I bask in this beautiful life
and there is nothing that I miss.
Dominic Alapat 