The beats are slow, like rain
in a slow freefall:
the bruised heart, a bursting dam.
A Scavenger’s Song
15 years ago
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Haiku: October 23, evening
The house is dark and silent
waiting for my return,
dark, silent for a long time.
waiting for my return,
dark, silent for a long time.
Call me James
Bilib ako sa mamang ito. Nakilala ko siya sa gym, kung saan ako nag-woworkout. Isang hapon ng Linggo nang nakita ko siya na nag-tre-treadmill: matangkad, nakasalamin, kina-kalbo na, at nakasuot ng loose t-shirt at running shorts.
Pagkatapos ng 10 minuto, lumapit siya sa barbell area at nag-buhat ng 105 kgs. sa bench press. Gulat na gulat ako, dahil ang feeling ko, mas bata ako kaysa kanya. Ganuon pa man, 70 kgs. pa lang ang pinaka-mabigat na kaya kung i-bench press. Kaya nang nagpahinga siya, nilapitan ko at tinanung ko kaagad kung ang edad niya.
"Oh, I'm 71." Wow, sabi ko sa kanya. "You've been lifting weights for so long?"
"Oh, for the past 10 years, already. That was after I had a quadruple heart bypass and my doctors were telling me I may not live beyond two years more. That's how bad my heart had become," sagot niya ng walang mala-kayabangan. Simple lang magsalita, at hinde mabilis, kaya na-lilip-read ko siya.
At bumalik siya sa dumbbels, at nag-incline flyes siya ng 50 lbs. sa bawat kamay. Diyos ko po...super lakas itong si lolo. Hanggang 30 lbs lang ang kaya ko sa ehersiyo na ito, at 4 repetitions lang. Binilang ko ang reps, niya, umabot sa 12. Nang-natapos siya, pumalakpak ako nang basta. At duon ko namalayan na mayroon din palang nanunuod na iba, at pumapalakpak kami sabay-sabay.
Lumapit ako sa super-lolo, at kinamayan ko siya. "You're a model for us," I said. "What's your name?"
"Just call me James," he said, smiling at me and those who were watching us, including the gym staff. "I'm calling it a day...." at sabay binuhat ang kanyang gym bag at pumasok sa showers.
Ayon sa staff ng gym, MWF siya duon, at retired businessman kuno. Nakatira sa Lee Garden sa may Wack-Wack, walking distance lang sa gym.
So? Mga pare ko.... itong si James ay isang living testament on how lifting as an exercise can heal disease and prolong life. Siyempre, all-around yung exercise ng mama... treadmill, core exercise, at weightlifting. Sinilip ko paglabas niya sa shower room...wow, parang trenta anyos ang katawan. Firm ang abs, at v-shape ang likod -- ripped ang chest and arms. Siyempre, naka-jogging pants na siya, kaya di ko naman masabi kung ganuon din siya ka-well endowed duon. (Mga tsismoso....)
Lift for life.....
Pagkatapos ng 10 minuto, lumapit siya sa barbell area at nag-buhat ng 105 kgs. sa bench press. Gulat na gulat ako, dahil ang feeling ko, mas bata ako kaysa kanya. Ganuon pa man, 70 kgs. pa lang ang pinaka-mabigat na kaya kung i-bench press. Kaya nang nagpahinga siya, nilapitan ko at tinanung ko kaagad kung ang edad niya.
"Oh, I'm 71." Wow, sabi ko sa kanya. "You've been lifting weights for so long?"
"Oh, for the past 10 years, already. That was after I had a quadruple heart bypass and my doctors were telling me I may not live beyond two years more. That's how bad my heart had become," sagot niya ng walang mala-kayabangan. Simple lang magsalita, at hinde mabilis, kaya na-lilip-read ko siya.
At bumalik siya sa dumbbels, at nag-incline flyes siya ng 50 lbs. sa bawat kamay. Diyos ko po...super lakas itong si lolo. Hanggang 30 lbs lang ang kaya ko sa ehersiyo na ito, at 4 repetitions lang. Binilang ko ang reps, niya, umabot sa 12. Nang-natapos siya, pumalakpak ako nang basta. At duon ko namalayan na mayroon din palang nanunuod na iba, at pumapalakpak kami sabay-sabay.
Lumapit ako sa super-lolo, at kinamayan ko siya. "You're a model for us," I said. "What's your name?"
"Just call me James," he said, smiling at me and those who were watching us, including the gym staff. "I'm calling it a day...." at sabay binuhat ang kanyang gym bag at pumasok sa showers.
Ayon sa staff ng gym, MWF siya duon, at retired businessman kuno. Nakatira sa Lee Garden sa may Wack-Wack, walking distance lang sa gym.
So? Mga pare ko.... itong si James ay isang living testament on how lifting as an exercise can heal disease and prolong life. Siyempre, all-around yung exercise ng mama... treadmill, core exercise, at weightlifting. Sinilip ko paglabas niya sa shower room...wow, parang trenta anyos ang katawan. Firm ang abs, at v-shape ang likod -- ripped ang chest and arms. Siyempre, naka-jogging pants na siya, kaya di ko naman masabi kung ganuon din siya ka-well endowed duon. (Mga tsismoso....)
Lift for life.....
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
October Haikus
01
My mother's soft tribal chants
remind me of Chulya:
Sleeping maiden, flowing springs.
02
Mists sweep Bontok's valley floor,
moist kisses on my breasts --
flowing milk on virgin earth.
03
(Reprise)
They ravaged my sister's home,
threw her to the river:
writhing soul in frenzied waters.
04
Your cheeks hint of Bay-yo's lilies,
mountainsides in bloom
awaiting the rains of summer.
My mother's soft tribal chants
remind me of Chulya:
Sleeping maiden, flowing springs.
02
Mists sweep Bontok's valley floor,
moist kisses on my breasts --
flowing milk on virgin earth.
03
(Reprise)
They ravaged my sister's home,
threw her to the river:
writhing soul in frenzied waters.
04
Your cheeks hint of Bay-yo's lilies,
mountainsides in bloom
awaiting the rains of summer.
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