true love

beware of true love
her kiss will turn you
into a princess

trust me, it’s not
a good time to be a princess

the tiara digs
into the scalp
it glitters too much
in the sun, in the crowd

with the width of the heavy dress
it's impossible to board
jeepneys or buses
or habal habals

its frilly hems tangle
with sewer covers, too

with the long silk gloves
you can’t eat lechon
and puso with bare hands
but at least you save the world a little
by declining to use
the plastic ones

the heels, don’t get me
started on the heels

the corset, gods…

anyone, please
point me towards fake love
i need fake love’s kiss
to turn me back to my old
middle-aged man self

please



2024.jul.17