SMOKE

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A rather bizarre mannerism

Big eyes blinking unusually fast

Beads of sweat perpetually trinkling

Mom figured out, I was left aghast.

“Don’t lie!” she said.

I was once a clumsy little lass

Butterfingered I admittedly was

I keep dropping objects, I break glass

Things slip through my fingers, out of grasp.

“Don’t lie!” she said.

But reminders are then forgotten

When negligence bears a dreadful mistake.

Mom’s favorite bowl I have broken

“What to do? What to do?!” I panicked.

​“Don’t lie!” she said.

 ​

But strong is the person’s resolve

If one is caught in dire situations

It’s wise to bury the crime, I reckon

Since I can’t grope for valid reasons.

“Don’t lie!” she said.

But not for long, a question escaped her lips

“Asa ang yahong nato Anajean?”

I froze seeing mom her hand on her hips

I will be doomed… and doomed I had been.

“Don’t lie!” she said.

I thought I’d face thousands of daggers

But disappointment’s all I see

Taking responsibility matters

All is well if we live honestly.

​​Don’t lie!” she said.

No secret is forever concealed

Revelation’ll come sooner or later

No smoke remains hidden and obscured

To live with integrity is better.

“Don’t lie!” she said.

My mother instilled this in me:

“Do what’s right,” she keeps repeating

Secrets gamble our security

There is no escape in hiding.

“Don’t lie!” she has always said to me

Secret demands for revelation

Hands could not grip, smoke finds escape

Keeping it provides no solution.

So before I do something unwise

In my head, I hear my mom’s advice

“Don’t lie for a liar lies.
Foolishly hiding smoke that rise!”