Democracy In The Philippine Islands Poem by RIC BASTASA

there is this little boy
who is practicing to ride a big bike
his feet are short
and so are his hands
and always
in this predicament
does he fall and tumble

the years passed
and it is the same boy again
practicing to ride his
big bicycle

sometimes i am just curious
what is this boy
eating and drinking
since his feet are still short
and his hands are still small
he never had the guts
riding his bicycle to the full

it is the same situation all over again
he falls and bleeds
and cries that the bicycle is always too big for his
short feet and small hands

he falls and he tumbles
he bleeds and he fails