by Andrea D. Lim (Poetry)

February 13, 2016, Sibulan Port’s jeepney corner

We are all of equal weight
in manong drayber’s eyes—
as fixed as the minimum fare.

My mind’s carrying
a traffic of questions
heavier than the coins
passed from palm to palms,
like why injustices should
be etched in every Juan’s routines.

Towards him
there are questions
already relayed and received
yet

“No change,”
says the konduktor
when I have to
ask for it
because I occupy
a space for two.

This is the answer.

The coins clink
in his tight grip.