Maria: An Ode by the Mountains

Part 1: Encounters and Longings

I once visited a place of awe and wonder,
The scent of fresh bloomed flowers permeated the air.
A place so strange yet so familiar,
It brings that quintessential feeling of nostalgia and adventure.
Beneath the damp canopy speckled with delicate yet vibrant Rafflesia,
I fell in love with a pleasant je ne sais quoi.
As I wandered deeper beneath the windswept trees,
A gentle gust of wind tickled my knees.
A moment of curiosity, I looked behind,
A lady in simple white dress, a vision so divine.

Part 2: To the Tenth Muse in White

She smelled like delicate sampaguitas in summer,
Her smile as sweet as nectar.
She has a doe’s soft eyes and a refined carriage,
With a polished air of delicacy and resilient nobility.
I asked her if she was lost and alone,
She smiled, nodding gently with her floral crown.
She finally spoke and asked me the same,
And as I answered, I sought to learn her name.

Part 3: Of Blooms and Wistful Departures

Hesitant, she put her hand instead along my chest,
Inhaling deeply, she bid my heart to rest.
“Trust your feelings will unfurl, let them find their way,
I’ll ensure they’re heard, come what may.”
With a parting gift, a yellow bloom to keep,
“If you’ll be looking for me, know I’ll be in sleep.”
And with a farewell as mysterious as her guise,
She departed, leaving me to surmise.

Part 4: Was beßer ist reden oder sterben?

(German; is it better to speak or to die?)

A thousand words I wish to share with you,
But none of these are what you need right now.
I confided them to her, in fervent hopes she’ll find you,
For now, know that I’m here; patient, caring and true.

(Los Baños, 11/2018)