Quiet River, Loud Conversation
The 19th of May.
Summertime in my country.
Autumn of my life.
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At the riverside:
Me, three classmates, one cousin.
Lamp in the dark night.
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Loud conversation.
Bongoy river is quiet.
Drinking party blues.
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We gathered at dusk.
Miyo, Bobong and Alden.
Cousin Eng and I.
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Today’s my birthday.
Classmates and I are ageing.
River is ageless.
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Plain celebration.
Previous birthdays were plainer:
penance and fasting.
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In 1960,
my Quest began hereabouts.
It has cycled back.
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Thus I celebrate
with remnants of my childhood,
survivors of time.
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Boyhood friends, neighbors.
I left when I reached high school
as a state scholar.
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In the big city,
my Quest begun in earnest.
Long, tiresome journey.
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I returned later
and wasted 15 prime years.
Then I left again.
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I have found my Quest.
To fulfill my destiny,
I’m back to home base.
© jrmrB366–377 May 20, 2017
Related threads:
https://www.facebook.com/jose.r.reyes.5/posts/10212684572731899
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1073446832785932&set=a.100809600049665.449.100003618751013
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