You’re poem ‘Ikaw at Ako’ came to me in a dream. Just a few minutes ago. I was cajoled by my older brother (he is recovering from a stroke and did not make an appearance) to read it at a poetry reading event. I got to the venue unprepared, with a very dear friend who did not reveal his identity in my dream, but he seemed the jolly sort, supportive cheerleader to all my past adventures. Somebody had uploaded the poem on my mobile phone, but I never got to read it. Now inside this ‘green room’ I scramble and fumble in practice. Is my delivery doing justice to these lines? As my time to take the stage comes near, I start to hate my brother for nominating me to do this. I begin to hate myself for foolishly thinking that I could do this. Someone, a plump woman is suddenly at the door. People are waiting for me to start, she tells me. My heart races. And then I awake. Ikaw at Ako? I google the poem’s title. It leads me here. I read it and discover a very beautiful poem. I am now bringing myself to task, to practice to ‘perform’ it, even for my family, as I should have in that dream. Thank you very much for this.
