By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo

 

I never intended to officially publish the poem Spillway which I wrote in 2015. I sent the poem to Marian Eikelhof of the Foundation Literary International, upon her request to write about “love”. A month after, I received this notification: Thank you for your wonderful love poem Spillway which we have selected as the winning poem about the theme of ‘love’ in November 2023. We sincerely hope your heart never stops writing and honor you with a money price ..” I am grateful, my cup spills over with love.

Fundación Internacional de Literatura (Cuba-Holanda) promotes intercultural solidarity by joining forces internationally, to strengthen the world peace process, build symbolic bridges of mutual understanding, and create a network of intellectuals and artists who defend humanity through the various artistic expressions.

 

Spillway

I cannot sulk in a corner and wait for you to open
my whole body wants to cuddle in a cradle and let go
of the tears that are about to dribble on my cheeks
and break the embankment that I lean on
and make it crumble, like a block of soft meringue.
I will not.
I will never.

the nuts and bolts have loosened up
the shackles of my brain,
and my heart pumps tears like clouds pump rain
to San Roque Dam, causing an overflow,
drowning crops and taking debris to Agno River
washing away with its fast current, draining away….
releasing primal sounds from the gated spillway
and it rages, it does not stop
i doubt if it will ever stop.

the invisible mirror parades the possibilities
of what could be you and me
a thin possibility that is thinning with each day
like the balding forests being burned for palm oil
roasting the thick skins of orangutans
surprised by their sudden slow deaths
and invoking a miracle, out of an impossibility
of surviving the narrow tunnel to breathe fresh air
and to feel human warmth and compassion,
or just a hint of reason from those in whose hands
lives are juggled for game.

I will not.
I will never.
I will not stop
this agony from flowing out of my eyes
and break free from the pores of my skin
let it flow, let it dry in the heat
let it be snatched by the wind
let it rain, let it flood.
open the gates.

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