This is just lovely. I'm starting to feel more and more like this poem, with the beauty and metaphor rapidly fading in the face of the less-than-ideal world events happening everywhere. The Phillipines, Thailand, Kashmir, Syria, Yemen, Palestine etc etc the list goes on. Sometimes it has me rattled to the point where I'm uninspired and just want to spend time with that person who makes everything light and easy again. I feel like that's what this poem is about (at least to me). My favourite pieces are those that provoke thought and this is a prime example of that. Sorry for my little rant. Beautiful write.

A lovely write with a lot of yearning for days gone by. I love your visuals when you write, they just transport the reader right there. Well done!

Mahal, this is absolutely stunning and original as always.

Manila, what does it take
to break someone's heart?
A poem?
A night of incessant thoughts?
An unreplied message?
Lowly birds still perch
on your pensive streetlights
and I am a spectator
of your clandestine sorrows and hunger.
^^
This is a truly beautiful yet sad start. Any one of those things could break a heart BUT there are more things in life that can truly break us like how the world is slowly but surely going to the dog's, so to speak.

Third-world people
had grown tired of Christian beliefs,
and suddenly the Philippines
had become bloody:
vigilante killings, war on drugs,
extra judicial killings...
Manila, have you ever questioned humanity?
^^
This is very true and sad. I am an atheist but believe that if there was a God then why would he want to ruin the world he single handedly made?? Then I think how others say its to test faith but I still question hid motives... Sorry I will stop rambling about my unbelief.

But with this mug
you always had your coffee on,
you're breaking my heart...
I've no time for sad news
and a president who feigns ignorance
^^
I really like this part it speaks so much volumes' and my interpretation is that we are all making the wrong imprint on the world.. Not sure if 'on' is meant to be 'in' though.

for dandelions had stopped
flourishing on my poems.
^^
This is such a sad part that (I feel) because the world is being destroyed your poetic mind is too... I guess you like dandelions as they always make an appearance in your works.

And I just really miss every coffee
I used to have with you.
^^
I do not know how to interpret this but I guess you have moved away from your home time this missing it??

Great write, nominated.
Em

This has so much going on within it. Sad yet so wonderful

Congratulations.

Congratulations on your win!

So glad I nominated this. Well done, definitely deserved

CONGRATS! This poem deserved it. ..

I'm glad this won!

Judging Comment:

This is a political piece that just demands your attention with every verse that grows more and more morose. It's an absolute shame about what's unfolding in the Philippines, Duterte is acting more like a dictator rather than a democratic leader, with the extrajudicial killings of 'drug dealers', the announcement that the country will be severing ties with the United States, which places the country in a delicate area due to this allowing China to be more aggressive with the country. This is a beautiful piece that provokes thought; I'd even liken it to a Banksy piece for its brutal honesty.