Dreams About A Letter

By Justine C. Tajonera

She dreams about him
sometimes.
She always wakes up
at the moment
when he is about
to reply
to her.

A year ago
she told him
that she cared
for him,
knowing full well
that he would not
know what
it cost her
to write down
the words.

When she catches herself
clawing back
into her sleep
to retrieve
the thing
he did not
say

she remembers
that she was courageous,
that she once did
what she thought
she could not
do.

So while this story
is far from over,
she is lucky
that she has
no
regrets.

(Dec. 8, 2009)

For Kat


Image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/funtik/1175522045/

Sleeping Son

by Justine C. Tajonera

I could hardly
catch my breath
as I left the train,
a father and
his sleeping son
still a burning
image in my mind.

I was mute
for the entire ride
as a young woman
asked the father
with a silver capped tooth
about his ill child.

The boy's legs
were thinner than
branch sticks.
He was well-clothed
but struggling
for breath,
his eyes closed, swollen
and dreaming.

The father clutched
medical receipts
and prescriptions
in one hand,
despondent over how
to care for his
meningitis-stricken
boy.

My heart raced
back home
to the son
I left
sleeping.
I forgot to
kiss his cheek
and feet
before I left.

(Oct. 28, 2009)

Image from smh.com.au