(2) Lola Rosing

 

Thud! "Waak! Waak! Waak!" She heard it from the roof.

While confident that the prickly branches

she had anointed will protect their house,

she's now anxious when she hears some scratches.

 

"Piko! Pikoo!! Where could this old grouch be?!"

She shouted while hiding all her worry.

She must be stern in front of her daughter

and son-in-law, though she's still uneasy.

 

Now, she's running out of time. "Nak! Ereh!!"

The cawing outside has started to wane.

She must deliver her grandchild before

the "Wak-Wak" siphons their unborn in vain.

 

So, she thought she must make a sacrifice.

Slowly, she brought out something from her bag,

Clenched it and then mumbled something, while ma-

king the sign of the cross in a zigzag.

 

The scratches had stopped but the rain fell hard

which was trying to drown out all the cries

of her daughter who's still in agony.

She's now feeling the weight behind her eyes.

 

Hours passed and she finally heard of him.

He was grumbling 'bout how he had slumbered

on the bamboo sofa when he should have

safely guarded their laboring daughter.

 

He's no security guard, for sure. And

he's no policeman either in this life.

Only an old funny "Albularyo"

married to the town's old grumpy midwife.

 

When it was getting tad brighter inside

their Nipa hut from the light of the dawn

outside, she finally heard the crying

of her grandchild as she carried him on.

 

Just as she first laid eyes on the baby,

she thought he was the most adorable.

But then she noticed something different,

something shocking and diabolical.

 

Now, she instantly hid her reaction

because she almost cringed from what she saw.

She could only make the sign of the cross

and quickly whispered to herself, "Jusko!"