Last night was your birthday
Forgot to tell my cousin
to light a candle
on your grave.
DID I LOVE YOU ENOUGH
DID MY WORDS HURT YOU
YOUR SHADOW STALKED ME
I PROMISED
THERE WILL BE NO TEARS
I remember your laughter
as you sit in that corner of our apartment
and Itim, our cat
who tried to catch the basketball on TV
You loved to watch the World Series
“When you go to L.A., cheer for the Dodgers!”
We won, Dad!
You must be jumping in heaven.
Jesse was only four when you left us
There was a storm in September
Oh, the rage of death
I hate wearing black
They all wondered why
Silence engulfed me
No sadness in my eyes.
SHOULD I SAY SORRY THAT
I NEVER SAID I LOVE YOU
NOR UNDERSTOOD
THE ANGER IN ME
AND THE LETTERS YOU SCRIBBLED
ON THE MIRROR
“TAKE YOUR MEDS, I BEGGED!”
Nope, I will not kill myself
I will write all the sorrow
I do love you
Until there is no more tomorrow
The enmity
The hostility of
No mercy
Each night I pray the rosary.
Help me, Daddy
When life is not easy.
I’m past 70.
I got it.
We will eat your birthday cake
Open the champagne!
For Ohtani and Mookie
Yes, this Sunday
I will light a candle.
I KNOW THAT YOU
ALWAYS LOVE ME.
Fe P. Koons
Fe P. Koons is a poet, sports feature writer, and a film critic. She has a master’s degree in Mass Communication from the University of the Philippines Diliman. She is also the president of The Los Angeles Philippine International Film Festival (The LAPIFF), based in Carson, California.
