Before All Else

My friend, Ate Lan, found this while cleaning her email account. The truth is, I have totally forgotten about this poem and it was such a wonderful surprise to come across old works which were discarded. If I can remember correctly, I think I wrote this when I was in Bahrain and was maintaining a different blog (a blog which I may have deleted or may have just forgotten what the log-in details were...tsk tsk tsk, how typical). Anyway, enjoy the poem. Cheers to 2005!


shoot that moon before it gets away
grab those stars
before the sun makes them sway
grab his hand
before it's too late
run hard towards Neverland
before it closes its gate

swim the ocean, sweet girl
who cares if you paddle like a puppy
swim the ocean
but always come back home

dance like Martha or Agnes
before your bones turn brittle
paint a new kind of Mona Lisa
before every face is branded little
tell your mama you love her so
before fate strips you of chances
give your papa a warm, big hug
before cold mists advances

swim the ocean, sweet girl
who cares if you can't float without tiring
swim the ocean
but always come back home

cheer for that sister who longs to win
before she flushes herself in the toilet
hold your brother's hand when it gets rough
before he ends his life with a bullet
play pretend with your lil nephew
before he gets too old
grieve for old friends lost
before hate gets too bold

swim the ocean, sweet girl
who cares if your glides are so unlike a swan
swim the ocean
but always come back home

laugh with your greatest pals
before laughter turns into a cliche
wonder childishly about all things
before age sweeps out your naivete
blow each candle on your birthday cake
before time blows one candle out
love dearly, madly as if tomorrow is the end
before cupid retreats and turns about

swim the ocean, sweet girl
who cares if you'll swim alone
swim the ocean but always come back home