Umuwi

By Patrick Yuson

I.

Malls and skyscrapers, 

A sea of concrete and glass,

Kept everyone indoors with  

Air conditioning,

To distract from the

Inevitable.

II.

Luis, my cousin, drove us

Around Las Piñas, 

Swerving around cars, Jeepneys, Tricycles, motorcycles;

“People crossed the street

In a hurry but were

Never hit, as they were mere waves in

An ocean of chaos,” I thought as we

Swerved around cars, Jeepneys, Tricycles, motorcycles, and people.

III.

Casinos

Landmark

American Air Base (former)

Resorts

Knavish

IV.

Morning set

On the horizon,

Near perfect clouds

Touching the flaming

Ellipse,

Manifesting a landscape akin to that of a dream,

All while my ship cast its sails and journeyed on to foreign seas,

Racing for treasure and tranquility, only to be met with a tempest. 

V.

Being with family reawakened my

Admiration for the Philippines.

Through a hurricane of thoughts, I relentlessly battled;

A ship alone at sea, bracing against the might of the ocean.

Now, I have reached the Eye.

Gazing at the people before me as I drifted along the calm waves,

Appreciative of the sun and the Kamayan waiting back on shore,

Suddenly I changed course and found peace in a mind at war.