Leaving Surigao on a Shorthaul Plane

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On a necklace made of common shells from the ferry place in Cebu,

I twisted every bead on plastic string

as we hopped over thirty islands. Well, that’s what Mum said.

We wheeled our cases off the runway.

After I hugged her sisters and played with their daughters, I heard something about ‘mapagbiro’ sons. Then, I exchanged waves, smiles and Pisos for chocolate worse than home’s.

When I turned seven I started trying

to catch the odd ‘Salamat!’ when I helped cousins to fish, watching lips haggle under the orange market lights which were melting the sugary iskranbol,

before the other kids’ whining eyes – and mine, too!

Mum held my toasted arms up,

her friends rambled on by the river whilst I scraped for some syllables and coconut strings; in time I gathered courage and asked for help. When I opened my mouth,

half of my family tree started to rot.

Half of my family tree, started to rot when I opened my mouth – I gathered courage and asked for help,

for some syllables and coconut strings. In time,

her friends rambled on by the river whilst I scraped.

Mum held my toasted arms up

before the other kids’ whining eyes, and mine, too –

which were melting the sugary iskranbol,

watching lips haggle under the orange market lights

to catch the odd ‘Salamat.’ When I helped cousins to fish, when I turned seven, I started trying

smiles and Pisos, for chocolate worse than home’s,

I heard something about ‘mapagbiro’ sons, then I exchanged waves after I hugged her sisters and played with their daughters.

We wheeled our cases off the runway.

As we hopped over thirty islands – well that’s what Mum said –

I twisted every bead on plastic string

on a necklace, made of common shells from the ferry place in Cebu.