ondoy revised

and the water that day
it flooded my street
saturated my town
swallowed my light
till all i could see was this intangible liquid
this unrelenting storm
and everything around me lost it's form

and the water that day
took all that i built
the symbols
that made me worth something
anything

and the water that day
i only asked for a little
enough to nurture my green
replenish my thirst
didn't ask to be submersed
but i can't control the water
all or nothing says the water

so it came and it soaked
it shook and it took
the stores that clothed me
the food that fed me
the corner shop that laughed with me
the movie house i went to to getaway
to get by
i wish i was a bird
i could fly fly away
and i wouldn't have to rely on these man made buildings
this economic geographic plan
i wouldn't have to stand in the middle of ruins
pay for mother nature's actions
i could just fly
just i and i

but what good would it do
just i as a bird
flying high above all the people that grew me
my soul's memories
running on dirt roads
high roads
the thrill of the city
the pollution and traffic
i would be homesick

flying high above it all
i and i watching it all fall

so the water that day
stole away my house
stole away my love
drenched my blouse
bruised my bones
left me with a dilapidated home

but the water that day
did not take these fingertips
the water that day
cannot take away this heart

so thank you dear water
for your unexpected visit
rain on me my fare weathered friend
but you do not reign this spirit
you do not reign this hope
so to you, dear water, i shall float