Mercy Tolentino Steenwyk

“The rice fields
Framed the sunset
The backdrop
Of a fire tree
Aflame.

All the muddy waters
Tadpoles and little fish
Squirming the last drop
A nothingness, over time
The lucky frogs
Took the leap
The little fish
Baked and dried
The quick sudden movement
The pulse, the beat melted
In the sun.

The fire tree tragically
Crashed at its very heart
Left a jagged trunk
Mouth gaping open
For a bit of rain
A touch of sun.

The concrete floors
Changed three times
I cannot remember
The windows, too.
So many pictures
Of chubby cheeks
And mischievous smiles
Fearless eyes
Of teen age looks
The awkward beginning
And the unknown.

From this tiny town
Springs forth
Great minds
Great hearts
Wandering
About.

Inside the past is gone
Lolo and Lola
Memories of the heart
The house remains.

And the people
Inhabiting the walls
Breathing into the fields
The fire, the sunsets
The life of tadpoles
Frogs and fish.

And the people
Inhabiting the walls
Weaving the rice fields
Back to frame
The sunsets
As the back drop
Of fire trees
Aflame.”