the only one

all around me, clocks
on brownstones and monuments
a phalanx of horses,
around Rizal and Bonifacio,
beyond, the mutiny of grass-flowers
over walls, over graves,
i sat on the damp ground,
i drank from a wine-bottle,
i wiped the raindrops off my brow,
everything was still,
the trees never broke into a rustle
the reeds bowed meekly,
birds pecked at pollen, that was their life
there wasn't a song in my throat,
a groaning of the earth, underground
i was the only one, among the crowd
the only one, to pick the meaning
from the broken pieces

Author's Note

Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio are Filipino heroes, who helped free the Philippines from its Spanish conquerors

Reviews

[E G TEN]

Interesting write Kabayan, you have your own unique ways of expressing yourself through uses of
words and wordplays that makes the readers think and rethink of all the possibles and the
possibilities. Your pen inks deep, worthy of mentioning both Rizal and Bonifacio. Very cool.
Thanks EG.

[highonwords]

thank you, kabayan , for the wonderful comment and visit

my best to you,
steph

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i could visualize and hear the groans of the earth...and the understanding of the speaker...i could feel that, the only one who really understands...maybe the only one making the real effort to understand.

[highonwords]

thank you, jacob, for your wonderful comment and visit - i was thinking about myself as a tourist among the crowd

steph

[Ruth]

Wow, beautifully expressed...insightful and poignant...much enjoyed :)

[highonwords]

hi poppy - thank you so much for the visit and comment

steph

[Ruth]

Most welcome Steph :)

[. serah .]

-- you definitely have a gift for poignant as well as vivid poetic expression... -- my favourite expressions in this piece are "the mutiny of grass-flowers", "the trees never broke into a rustle" and the image in the closing lines... -- the sadness you relay is haunting but also magically transforms into a song of revival and reconstruction... -- excellent work...

[highonwords]

i find your review very touching - i appreciate your visit very much - thank you for taking to time to sit with me and read this poem from a distance - thank you

my best,
steph

[. serah .]

-- you're welcome, steph... -- my trip to your universe of verse was very rewarding...

[highonwords]

i am so glad you enjoyed the poem - it is a pleasure to write for everyone

steph

[. serah .]

-- i'm sure it is... :)

[Lydia Shutter]

Steph, your writing has changed by leaps and bounds in a short time. What a powerful scene you paint in this one. When the song of life is stolen by circumstance, we must work hard to put the pieces back together...but it is possible. Very well written. Lydi**

[highonwords]

i was thinking about Italy, France, Intramuros (in the Philippines), the local plaza in my small city, where i grew up and thought what if i am a tourist in these places - then this poem came - thank you, lydia for the visit and review

steph

[zunie frost]

I love this write . it have a soft touch in it . great write . thanks for sharing

[highonwords]

hi zunie - thank you so much for the comment and visit - glad you like the poem

my best,
steph

[zunie frost]

Welcome my friend