Finding Home

  Clouds, palm leaves Bamboo stems, song Wind, wood Energy, heat Ribs, hips Knee, thigh Arms to sky Feet to ground Heart to crown Spine long Breath Breathe, nostrils Mouth, tongue, roof Release Laughter from the core Up, down, around Love simply But deeply Then laugh some more.  I was inspired to write this poem after attending a class with Wanna, a certified Embodied Flow teacher at Lotus Shores Siargao in October 2018. It was the first time I attended a class that I found easy-going and filled with laughter. Wanna made me rethink the practice. That inward work shouldn't have to be so serious and somber. Instead, a little bit of laughter makes the ride so much richer and more enjoyable. This life is too short to just dwell on the darker side of things after all.  

Sit and be still Or try to be In body, in mind in spirit In sitting, patience For all to fall apart To fall away To fall into place Let the breath Slow down the body's rush Tether your warring mind Give space for your aching heart Breathe in and out Sit, be still Or try to be Breathe and fall into A place albeit brief, But a moment nonetheless Of peace.

For this new year, I pray for you these: Clarity on how to proceed Amidst life's dilemmas A recognition that there are Embers of purpose Still very much alive Here in your existence Renewed belief that no one knows you more than you do Trust in your inner intelligence As it leads you to your truth Resolve that no one is coming Only for the very reason that you're only neck deep In waters that only come up to your bruised knees You only need to see that While you can ask for help And those who answer Can lend you a hand It is only you who can save yourself. Remember, remember You were created intentionally, Given sacred breath Fortified by life Finally, I pray that you know In your body, heart, mind and soul, That you are worthy, You are worthy.

  Bayabas There is enough for everyone The birds and me They peck at the topmost Where my hands can't reach They take only what they need I on the other hand or Perhaps most humans For that matter Take more than what is necessary I'm afraid there won't be Any left-- the sweetness The succulence, The joy of the experience So I want more to ensure I have a stockpile of pleasure Most humans too But the birds, they soar And I with most humans remain Standing on lowly ground.

Years ago, a friend who owned a Gowns-for-Rent boutique in our city and other cities proposed to me that I be one of her models for their billboard ad featuring women of various kinds of strength. At that time, I was well immersed in the world of CrossFit. I was 35 at that time and had been the fittest in my entire life at that point. She had this concept of how she wanted to present a juxtaposition of this perception of society's yardstick of femininity and strength. I marveled at her idea. But I was clearly unsure of myself and other considerations living in a small city where everyone knew everyone, and everyone talked about everyone as if they truly knew everyone and having your face plastered on a tarpaulin 24/7 apparently was the dealbreaker. As much as I love to share my thoughts on social media through poetry and essays, my image presented to the public as a model was a totally different beast altogether. She told me in her very caring and sensitive manner that she understo

  This Good Life Orioles singing Coo of turtledoves Sweet Guava on my tongue Sugar Apple (Atis) too Mulberries in fruition Morning coffee Gently waking me Dew on grass Cradling my feet Sunlight through trees Words of affirmation: How are you? How is life treating you? I hope things get better for you. Shared stories of enduring Of past hope  Now manifesting It’s true what they say We don’t have to solve  Our entire lives And things never really Get solved They come together and Unravel, weave and unhinge This is just how it is And these seemingly, miniscule Things are what Carries us through Like remembering  To come up for air In the midst of mindless submersing in the chaos of the world Breathing like we’ve never Breathed before And finally knowing in our bones how life is good, and saying, Ah, life is really good.