Time

Home.

Am I deserving of this home?
For when was the last time I slowed

closed my eyes, let time fall back

Feel the ripples, its beauty

The beauty of this privileged —

this so spoiled yet opportunistic life?

For when was the last time I slowed, gazing out my kitchen window?

The last time I captured the beauty of the alluring sunset

The eye-healing, opening hues of orange, blue, pink.

How could I ignore my home,

This precious call of warmth?

For when was the last time I slowed, tasting the sweet-sour concoctions of my nanay at tatay?

My favorite dish 

Which ignites small fire in my mouth,

Slowly seeping into the depths of my stomach —

The comforting warmth of affection.

When was the last time?

For when was the last time I felt so naive, so ignorant?
The last time I let time slow past me,

Feeling the steady flow of the river 

And the cool, tickling carpet on my arms and legs, 

leaving that pesky pesticide-made itch behind

For when did I realize I can control time myself?

The monochrome memories — the rolling blue light, or the nature?

The consumerism and media, or the hilarious cackle of a friend? 

The tiny conversations, the smiles.

The tip-tat of the rain, and affectionate, warm huddles

The simplicities of life.

all slowed down.

That is how you control time

 in your loving abode.