6: 25 P.M. Poem by RIC BASTASA

it is dark now
another war shall be fought

not between the muslims
and the christians

not the New People's Army
and this government

these wars never end
like a circle of violence
begetting another
violence outside
and inside

us.

this is the war of myself
to myself
on a night that ends
on the light
that comes on another dusk
and early mornings
and noons
and afternoons

like this circle without beginning
without end
this violence upon myself
unto myself
and from myself

this inability to find the tunnel
and the light
at the end

that opening