Vantage Point

By Justine C. Tajonera

There are days when
nothing seems to work,
the horizon looks bleak,
a commitment feels like
a burden.

There are days when
the structures you put in place
to help you keep things together
makes you feel like
you're in a prison.

These days of disenchantment
are sure to come,
like any season or
law or cycle.

Those days will come
but your view is the only thing
you can change.
Nothing else.

So, I do not wish you
good days continuing or
a forecast of good weather
all your life.
I only wish you a good view
and a place to stand
when all things crumble around you
and all you have
is who you
are.


(Feb. 22, 2010)
Image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/beuel_sued/4256708689/

A Letter from New York

by Justine C. Tajonera

She talks about life
coming full
circle,
bringing back
memories of hillside
walks, plaid skirts
and falling leaves on
red earth.

There are children now
and husbands, jobs,
a life that has gathered
around us,
astonishing us sometimes
with how much things
can change
and stay
the same.

She tells me about
an exhilarating walk to
Central Park,
a book we both read,
and I imagine the passage
of time,
the boots and gloves
she wore,
the sound of the ducks
and the wind.

The distance between us
is bridged by a story,
one that we will tell
our children
when we are
grandmothers.

For Karina
(Feb. 17, 2010)
Image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/smoovey/3211678814/

Two Hours in Old Breton

by Justine C. Tajonera

We met at a cafe,
exchanging stories
about books,
words like life
lines, stringing us
together.

Different women, different
lives told in the language
of books owned, lent,
lost, borrowed
and bought.

We laugh as we say,
"But it's a book club!" in
retort to questions about
love and other sundries
of life,
knowing full well
how life
is inextricable with
the books
we read.

We savor our cups
of coffee,
listening, exclaiming,
laughing
over how we've
read the same
and different
books.

(Jan. 19. 2010)
For the Breton Book Club
started last Jan. 16, 2010 at Cafe Breton, Ortigas Center

Image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/44362511@N00/2464795110

Four Leaf Clover

by Justine C. Tajonera

She gives me a four leaf clover
for Christmas,
wishing me
all the
best.

I stare at the four leaves,
thinking of the five of
us,
our children, husbands,
former lovers
and interlocking stories
forming a pattern
all on their own,

talismans luckier than
any of these leaves
that embellish my ring
finger.

Our collective memories
are more verdant
than any field,

our tears and inside
jokes
more precious
than any
charm.

I hold this precious
trust among us,
greedily close
to my heart:

how beautiful
the leaves we make
in one perfect
stem of
friendship.

(Dec. 28, 2009)


Image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/cygnus921/2678359760/