Santan

In the middle of the park,
I am a pink and smooth baby –

my mother manages to put santan
in my fists, the grass makes me rash

like hell and I scratch it out —
nails like needles, my skin turns

the same shade as the flowers
I’m molding into necklaces.

I have sucked in so much sap
that I am practically made

out of the flower.
Dig a hole in the earth, stick me in,

and some life with red petals,
sweet sap, and tough leaves

will grow in my place.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Grace Torrecampo
Grace Torrecampo
Grace Torrecampo is a 24-year-old Creative Writing student at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She studied in U.P. Baguio and settled back in her native Quezon City after a year. She dyed half of her hair blue during that time and she regrets it to this day.

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