We call my grandmother Inay (mother in Tagalog). She is a century old today! Here is a poem I wrote for her several years ago:
it’s a hard place
being her and being alive
between the river and the rock
crying raw across the wavy years
and smiling too
it’s hard to grow as ripe as she
losing all sense
a fruit that has long been fallen beside
that tree
that life
how many animals has it been?
how many moons
over this long tide?
just a whisper and nothing less.
just a brief breath across that candle
we are all lighting
when we say those words.
happy birthday and mahal kita
*mahal kita means i love you in tagalog.