a serenade

as i begin to strum
the strings that is your skin
of this guitar that is your being

i slowly close my eyelids
for this solitary serenade
building up in the darkness

my mouth trembling
my tongue waiting for the rhythm
of the song i often sing

and in the hurrying tempo
of my seasoned band
watch me uncase your gleaming microphone

warming in my well-practiced hands
and hear me sing your song
silence in the wildest performance.


31 May 1994
- published by the Philippine Free Press in June 1994