Mama, the rhinestones are falling one by one
Because I always put the crown on my head
When you and Papa are sleeping. Imagine:
A fairy at the center stands with her wand
...
Once more, I have set foot
On this promised land
Where dark is right
And silence is the source
...
Dong Xian had dreamt
Of this day many, many times:
When he stepped
Out of the emperor’s chamber,
...
Between the terrible ease
Of promise and the flowering
Of regret, I must lay myself bare:
...
Ronald Baytan holds a Ph.D. in English Studies (Creative Writing) from the University of the Philippines. He obtained his MA in Language and Literature, with High Distinction, from De La Salle University-Manila in 1996. He is currently the Chair of the Department of Literature of De La Salle University-Manila where he teaches creative writing, Philippine literature, gay/lesbian literature and world literature; and holds the Charles Lui Chi Keung Professorial Chair of China Studies. He co-edited Bongga Ka ‘Day: Pinoy Gay Quotes to Live By (Milflores Publishing) with J. Neil C. Garcia and Ralph Semino Galan. He is currently working on The Queen Lives Alone: the Orient: Personal Essays and The Queen Sings the Blues: Poetry 1992-2002. He is a member of the ALON Collective.)
He Who Sleeps On My Lap
My friend
who sleeps on my lap
loves someone else.
He says he is a man
and a man needs a woman
and I disagree.
We argue until he grows
tired of talking
and sleeps on my lap
on this chilly night.
And I sigh,
knowing he loves
someone else
but still sleeps
gently on my lap,
innocent, not knowing
that I am here
slaughtering
one wicked wish
that when he wakes up
I shall be his dream.