Generosity

by Justine C. Tajonera

This embrace has no limits.
It has nothing to do with depletion,
with the weary resignation
of giving away too
much.

For something so essential
there is no measure,
no moment of having had
enough. 

Go fearlessly into
the heart of the matter
and see what is really
needed.

It hardly has to do with
the amount of things,
the weight of things,
the number.

For grief and joy,
comfort and
love
are hardly grasped
by limits,
but they are all
completely
absorbed and
conveyed
in a touch.

(February 2, 2010)
Image from http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XzPziB_BzTzbxSc1BlxwaQ

Yellow Flowers In The Trike

By Justine C. Tajonera

At first I don't notice it
but this trike
is well-loved.

The worn leatherette seats
are mended,
a handmade mirror
is screwed near
the ceiling,

all the wires that
secure the hooks
on the frame
of the windshield
are covered
with black rubber,
the black handrail
hanging near
the side car
is clean and
well maintained.

It's only a trike,
you might say,
random in selection,
really,
because I'll never know
when I'll ever
ride it
again.

But somehow,
the image of
the bright yellow flowers
twined around
the sampaguita,
hanging from
the ceiling hooks
of the trike
made me smile
the whole
day.

Someone bothered.
Someone thought
this place
was sacred.

And I am grateful
to the gruff old man
who drives this
machine.
He doesn't smile
but he's generous
with us
who hand over
our seven
pesos
in the morning.

(Dec. 4, 2009)

Image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhuntarun/2799886444/