All She Ever Wanted Was (In This World Devoid of True Believers)

(to Charlotte Belialba)

All she ever wanted was
a man who believes that fairies exist
and butterpillars think and caterflies dream

who knows that parallel lines are parallel
only in short distances in respect to
the concept of infinity

that turtles leave their carapaces only when
it is not raining and that manatees are
after all merfolk pretending to be manatees
that look like merfolk

who believes that once is better than
never, and part of forever is better than none

that every day can be Valentine and
Christmas at the same time, while tomorrow can
be everybody’s birthday
(imagine those balloons and candles)

who knows that yesterday can hardly be
someday but will always be more memorable
than any other holiday

who believes that there is someone who believes
that there is someone who, like himself, believes
in such seemingly unbelievable make-believes
in this world of make-believing
devoid of true believers

- poem written in October 1996
Mandaluyong City, Philippines
Reprised while listening to “The Crying Scene” by Aztec Camera (Stray; 1990, Sire)