Dear Tatay

Most father poems are written to be sent to anyone's father, but this father poem that I composed was especially made for my late father who is already in a better-lovelier place with the Almighty God.  Tatay, you will always be in my heart.  

I am writing you this letter

With your smile envisioned on my mind.

That was my Birthday the last time I saw you

Since I last heard your gentle voice,

Since I last felt you by my side.

I clearly reminisce each moment; each memory.

Flashbacks of sacrifices made to keep us happy.

Endearing visions of you,

Holding us close to your heart.

One intertwined family,

Thought nothing could break us apart.

Huh, Tatay, do you still remember your funny dance moves

    Everytime you ‘kulit’ Nanay during your anniversaries?

Or when you used to tell me about your bitter past

    Against poverty and how you worked hard for your family?

Or when you always looked at the wall clock

    And reminded us to go home before 12 midnight?

Because Nanay can’t sleep thinking of us…

To read me some biblical stories during my childhood days…

   The Daniel’s story at the lion’s den? Ruth and Moses?

When you prepared food for us and nobody wanted to eat it?

    Because we were looking for nanay’s delectable cuisine?

Or the time when we were both had horseback riding

    At Lake Sebu?  When you taught me how to handle a ‘tirador’?

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN

Without any word of warning,

Without kissing me goodbye,

You heard the inescapable call of death,

So you had to obey.

Although you seemed to be serenely asleep,

We had to bury you beneath the sand.

My beloved Tatay, never returning,

Far away in an unknown land.

Losing you, sweet tatay, has caused

A colossal emptiness inside.

They say, we have to learn to let go of you…

As there must be better reasons why you must go…

Yet, it remains a recurring nightmare; haunting us

No matter where we hide.

We can’t run away from it…No place to escape from it

An open wound, stubbornly refusing to heal.

A crushing tragedy; a painful test.

Like an evening rain freezing my throat…

But don’t worry tatay, the Lord has not forgotten.

He has filled us with faith and hope,

Enveloped us with His mercy and compassion.

And have you forgotten the diamond you’d left behind?

Our family’s backbone; our shining star,

Our beloved nanay, without whom,

We wouldn’t have become who we are.

Life, in essence, is but a make-believe.

One day life’s illusory barriers, which are keeping us apart,

Will crumple and give up.

It will be then, tatay that our paths will cross again

And we shall meet again.

Hopefully, with God’s consent, cuddled in your arms

Where I will once again breathe but this time to live

In eternity with you…No more goodbyes…

We love you very much Tatay.  We miss you very much.  We need you.

December 01, 2008

AIM Room…11:50 a.m.

Makati (My father died in Nov. 29, 2008: 20 days after my Birthday)