MASTERPIECE
by Lydia T. Bayedbed
Igorota, February 2003

The dream catcher hangs above my head
dancing to the melody of a nearing slumber
as the night lulls itself in darkness
will the moon echo the chants you whispered
or your heartbeat while you twined the beads
and spun the thread to weave it?
will it ever capture the mystery in your eyes
the countenance you always disguised
as the silhouette of a full moon god
will it enchant your mortal soul now
see through the dreams of sleeping goddess
and make you believe in my magic?
Will you find the beauty you imagined
paint it, sculpt it with your hands
purge the hues from your soul
or will you elude the moment
sleep in the land of shadows
and let a masterpiece slip out of your dreams?

AN INQUIRY TO A REDDER WINTER
can the winter be redder?
redder than the blood of autumn leaves
weeping profusely from the bare majesty
of a naked tree?
redder than the scorching sun
bathing the earth
with its crimson cries?
redder than the blooms of roses
basking the spring's early dawn rains?
maybe redder as snow blisters
my ashen palms and face
still i surmise:
how can winter be redder?
--pambie herrera, 3/ 7/ 03