We Are Young Only Once

Yes, the title says it all. This is a tribute to the charming young gentlemen who escorted me in front of the Mission Hospital to catch a jeep to Jaro. :)

Maybe we’d

Roll like marbles in the grass

And feel the blades

Poking into our eyes tightly

Shut

Against things

We’d Just Ignore.

Maybe we’d hum

The national anthem

(Bayang magiliw, perlas ng silanganan)

As Rico pukes into the empty

Lot,

As Paolo gapes with his mouth

Wide open

Like lonely taverns

And as Rick counts the stars

That multiply before his

Startled eyes.

Tom,

We’ve had enough Marlboros.

Just tend the bar, will ya?

We can only be young once

In this moment

When the wind dares not touch us

For fear of being slashed apart.

We can only be young once

We are only young once.

We are only young once.

Just once.

Just...

 

Reviews

[Zatoichi]

As Paolo gapes with his mouth
Wide open
Like lonely taverns
And as Rick counts the stars
That multiply before his
Startled eyes.

The whole poem is wonderfully written; that particular stanza caught my eye. Angst is easy but your writing has a sweet joy to it. thanks Z

[Philosophile. (Maddy)]

I loved this! The way I see it is that the charming gentlemen has set your metaphorical fire? Well written as usual!