A House Poem by RIC BASTASA

rusty galvanized iron
as roof
barely a third of the space
mixed with the
nipa shillings

this is the house
by the side of the sea
with bamboo slats
as walls

the sea is not calm today
the bamboo fences are shaky
to the strong wind

i am inside a house of glass
i see all these
but i hear nothing

leaves of the jackfruit are blown
to the other side of the
fenced area

beyond this frame of mind
i cannot say anything

i am caged.
Our vision is caged.
We do not see
the whole picture
and people think that
we are wrong
that we are blind.