A Perfect Birthday

I asked Our Lord
“Lord, make this birthday
A perfect day.”
With that prayer in my heart
I held up my hopes.
Then one after another
Like a thread that is unravelled:
My requests: no one took note of
They chose
A song I did not like
Misspelled names
Limited to just a few choices
Far from being perfect
So I went to our Lord:
“I came only to complain…”
He gently touched my heart
And explained:
“The perfect birthday
One day would be
Your dies natalis
When I shall come
To take you with Me.
Yet it is so near perfect
To be surrounded by those
Who love you and pray for you
To unite yourself
To Me in Holy Communion.”
I pondered His words
And after a little more thought…
I change my mind
And agreed with Him,
“…Well, it was a perfect birthday afterall!”

-jara-
(c. 2012)

Traynta’y Uno

Sa petsa siyete sa Setyembre, mo-traynta’y uno na ko…
Ug ania kining balaknong halad nako:

Traynta’y Uno

Pasalamat ta
Sa grasya ug salot
Ngisi ug luha
Kahigugma man
O dakong kasuko
Mao lamang kini
Ang kasinati sa tawo
Kalipay man
O kasubo
Maabot man gyud
Ang hinabang
Sa mga kakuli-an
Masulbad ra
Ning mga problema
Busa, dili dapat
Ang dakong kabalaka
Huna-hunaa nga
Ang Ginoo ra
Mao ang mo-igo-igo
Sa matag adlaw
Ug bulahan ka
Sa imong pagsalig
Sa Kaniya
Dawata ang
Matag-adlaw
Nga gidungag
Sa imong
Kalibutanong kinabuhi
Ug gamita lamang kini
Para lang
Sa pagsilbi Kaniya.

-jara-
(c. 2011)

Prelude to Twenty-nine

What awaits

Beyond the dawn

Escapes my thoughts

I cannot seem to

Comprehend

The waves as they

Rush

Against the sand

Not much to glance

Yet I adore

These petals strewn

Amidst the grass

Under the shade

Of the forest grand

Stars seem to dance

On the sunbeam’s last rays

Admitting that

The night has come

To take its chances

Against the setting sun

Still my heart then

To a silent tune

Beneath the glance

Of things to come

Magical mystery

Woven and wrought

By Time’s sure hands

To grieve no more

And rejoice again

-jara-

(c.2009)

Twenty-Eight Verses

Twenty-Eight Verses

With the night at end

Ane the day begun

The sunlight glides

To break the dawn

And allow the rain

To pause and think

Of puddles that muddy

The path one takes

Or rainbows to usher

The day’s delight

And I pause to wonder

Of the things to come

Be they lights or shadows

Joys or adversities

And see that the difference

That lies beneath

Depends on one’s perspective

Of what is at hand

Thus, I resolve to wear

Those rose-colored glasses

That I may see

The world anew

From the optimistic perspective

Despite the hurts

Or the ills that come

The darkness shall fade

And the light shall come

With the rising sun

-jara-

(c.2008)