two cypress trees stood.
Mang Nestor, our driver,
Nely and Trining, our caretakers,
Alice, my babysitter,
the others I don't remember
I know they were 7 in all;
they chattered, they bantered
as they passed through our gates
with noisy laughter.
There, upright they stood
regally and tall.
In the house where I lived
two cypress trees stood.
My mother would bake a cake
on those happy Sunday afternoons;
or with her Singer,
or with her Singer,
sew fancy smocked costumes,
while we'd play hide and seek
until we'd see the moon;
little feet with hungry faces
there we would sit
in the canopy of braided foliages.
while we'd play hide and seek
until we'd see the moon;
little feet with hungry faces
there we would sit
in the canopy of braided foliages.
Surely, upright they stood
firmly and tall.
In the house where I lived
two cypress trees stood.
One day, people came by
hoping to say their last goodbye.
For my mother they prayed;
in the quiet of the night,
her spirit took flight;
a soft breeze in a
warm, and lonely night.
a soft breeze in a
warm, and lonely night.
Truly, upright they stood
bravely and tall.
In the house where I lived
two cypress trees stood.
Every ray of sunshine
that brought laughter in our home,
that brought laughter in our home,
or dark clouds of sorrow
that brought tears at our door;
that brought tears at our door;
Those colors ever so green
silently witnessed it all.
Always, upright they stood,
faithfully and tall.
As I said in my email, I love this one--your use of form (the repeated first two lines, which is called "anaphora", and the last two lines, repeated but with variation)--holds everything together and acts as a framework for the unraveling story. I love all the details--the SInger sewing machine, the names of the driver and the caregivers, playing hide-and-seek "until we'd see the moon". It really brings the world of your childhood alive. Galing!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I have never even heard of the word "ANAPHORA" and I'm glad to know that such form exists and I somehow used it in the right way.
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