No stars, just the bokeh
2:59 AM
Some people party way early than you think
at two in the morning,
bottles are strewn in the sidewalk
under the shade of a lightless dawn
there’s a dead rat,
it arches in a C, perhaps
someone considered it for a pulutan
to pair with that beer
but was still too sober
to seriously (seriously?) have it for sisig,
inihaw, or god-forbid, kinilaw!
There were bokeh-like lights
off lamposts or off eyes too tired to focus
This (or that) beggar-man must have
declined their offer to tagay
perhaps, he doesn’t want any bloodshot
eyes or hangover
he knows, he knows
he’d probably be keeling over that liquor’s acid
and grow hungry than ever (smartass)
so, he’s legs were buckled at the edge
of a waiting shed seat,
eyes closed, arms crossed,
sleeping peacefully
with the bokeh-like lights
swadlling the sky
on a Saturday dawn.
Notes:
pulutan — is a Tagalog term for finger foods. Complete definition here.
sisig — is a dish made out of roasted and chopped pig’s head, liver and other offal seasoned with calamansi, soy sauce and chili peppers. View recipe here.
inihaw — roasted; broiled (meet and fish), as defined here.
kinilaw — or Kilawin is a Philippine exotic delicacy in which the main ingredient is raw fish or meat marinated in vinegar, pepper, chili (preferably siling labuyo), chopped onions, and garlic and either cooked or served fresh without cooking, as defined here.
tagay — a Filipino word means SHOT or to chug, as defined here.
