Catfish

the skin around my fingers

scaled off, like they were

on those catfish at the market

it jumped at me, at full speed

they were all captured in a basket

with little to no water

they wish death comes a little quicker

all the muscle tensed up

for a final jump, if they could

get out of this lump, maybe

the ocean is right next to them

maybe, they won’t be eaten or killed

“a leap of faith, this won’t be my last day”

plop..

the fish tried to wiggle its way

on the hard concrete

it must have hit the head when it lands

the fish lady picked it up with one hand

another holding a knife, a customer pointed

at the jumper, and said “I want that, but alive.”

Quickly made my way out of the market

held my grandma’s arm, I felt distressed

the fish will be okay, right grandma?

he couldn’t live on land, that’s why

she was rescuing it, right?

if my skin is peeling off

will I get a new one?

t.l.

Don’t fall in love

People said, “don’t fall in love”

because all it takes

is a split second when you decide

to jump off a cliff, for her.

You thought “it’d all be worth it”

you could feel the wind go up your spine

a heavy heart and a thousand butterflies

your anxiety is screaming,

and you’re asking yourself

“What am I doing?”

You couldn’t stop now

you couldn’t go back up again

you will keep falling until you hit the ground

hopefully, when you do

she is there waiting, for you.

t.l.

how are you

how are you

how is your heart 

I haven’t checked back on you

it’s been almost a year

are you struggling 

or are you enjoying

life as it is

we’ve been doing this 

for so many years

did you see all the good parts

did you keep all the tears

and skip the rest

“what is your one regret?”

can you hear the clouds laughing

jumping from this mountain 

to the next

can you hear the fish sing 

swimming across the ocean 

against the strong current 

“if tomorrow never came

what would you have done?”

t.l.

checking back with myself once in a while

Girls

every time you heard it on the news,

people said he was mentally ill

he lost it, he didn’t mean to kill

he was sexually deprived

it was one of his “bad” nights

he must feel so guilty, deep inside.

every time you heard it

it’s a kind man with

a nice family, his wife

and kids love him so much

they don’t know why

he did all the hurt.

you hear it again and again,

he must have been in pain

he must have gone insane

he must have gotten crazy

his mind must have been hazy

he’s misjudged, misunderstood.

we’re sorry, we promised he’d be good

we’re sorry, next time he won’t be rude.

every time you hear, people said, “that poor girl”

she should learn to protect herself better

what was she doing, alone, at that hour

what was she wearing, asking them to stalk her

our teachers and mothers,

they told us when we were much younger

don’t take that drink from a stranger

don’t turn to that dark corner

be a good daughter,

don’t go out at night

go home when it’s dark outside

it’s not safe out there,

for a little girl like you

there are hungry wolves and bears,

you can’t never get through

what are you going to do

their hands are bigger, and yours are small

they forgot to recall

your raper could be your neighbour

your killer could be your lover

so don’t tell us to run back to the house

don’t tell us to change that blouse

don’t tell us to keep our head down

don’t tell us to be afraid

don’t tell us it’s gonna be okay.

teach them, let them know

that the weak will become stronger

the oppressed will always speak louder

we will never surrender

step on us and we will grow taller.

t.l.

flowers that bloom at night

flowers that bloom at night

and be gone in the morning

they live between dark and light

especially when you are still sleeping

oh how beautiful and hidden

little gems that stuck between two rocks

the forbidden fruits taste sweeter

when you’re the only one who sees her.

t.l.

(queen of the night flower only blooms one flower for each night, like a promise a girl made to wait for that one person for the rest of her life)