By Paolo Concepcion
Poetry

After photograph no. 3 in Hajar Kabalu’s Minsan sa may Bagsakan

One more customer
So that I can give
My daughter the latest
Phone in the mall.

One more customer
So that I can buy
My wife the flat screen
television she wants.

One more customer
So that I can grant
My son’s wish to have
A personal computer.

One more customer
So that I can afford
The down payment for the
Car I always wanted

One more customer
So that we can move away
From our annoying landlord
To a house we can call our own.

One more customer
So that my son can
Ride the jeep to school
Tomorrow.

One more customer
For my daughter
And the milk
Of her son.

One more customer
So that I can buy
My wife
Her medicine.

One more customer
So that we can eat
A hearty dinner
Tonight.

One more customer
So that I can pay
The stall’s rent
That’s due yesterday.

Bili na po kayo.