salamin

Ang tingin niya sa akin, tingin ko rin sa kanya.
Hinahanap sa lahat ng okasyon kahit kaarawan man ni Lola.
Kinahihiligan ang paggaya-gaya,
Wari’y walang iniisip na problema.

Kung ano ang tinatangkilik, hindi niya pinapansin,
At kung tinatawag naman, hindi siya umaamin.
Mabuti pa siya, walang masasakit na damdamin,
Pero huwag kalimutang siya’y mababasag din.

* * *

This was written seven years ago by a gangly first year high school student—me. If not for Lawrence, a hoarder to anything literary, I shouldn’t have known this poem is published in Home Life magazine (August 2008) whose poetry editor is Outstanding Sillimanian Awardee for Creative Writing and Palanca Hall of Famer Mr. Leoncio Deriada. I didn't even have a copy of this if not for Lawrence's initiative to send me a photo of my poem in the mag. I am still in shock but, at least, it makes me smile tonight.

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