Three hundred and thirty three is all

Plaza Mayor, Intramuros, Manila (18th century)

THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY THREE IS ALL
José Mario Alas

I
Three three three
Do not make forty eight, see:
Innate are we to Iberia
All else extrinsic, anathema

II
But forty eight
Cannot measure three thirty three
To speak of spite and white and hate,
Set this reined tongue free

III
Three hundred thirty three
Mutes forty eight –-
Its rapacity, obscurity;
Renaissance at hand, so are we
free.

IV
From the proud Legaspi
To the ashen treaty
Rebirth we be.
Our victory.

Circa 2002

Copyright © 2010
José Mario Alas
Manila, Philippines
All rights reserved.