Dumaguete

In this place you could get lost
between sky and sea. Or turn away
from brilliant horizon and find

another pair of eyes,
of hands that struggle, too
and echo your own search.

In that First Place, the promise
was revoked by the burning
desire to taste the fruit.

Here, we ourselves couldn't resist.

And with juice of greed trickling
down our chins, our hearts
yearned for more than we can hold.

But here, now, we are the ones
who turn away, back to places
that have become elsewhere

while each step farther echo
clocks, and the longing to once more
return.