Tsismis Poem by Benjamin Chiu Uy

Tsismis

It was these staled provincial barrios, where
Iong armedbanana fronds and the tall coconut trees,

Shaded the roof thatches, metal sheetings
The idled life where nothing is left for people but to live with own their gossips,

They were civil to each other,
But behind their backs, lies the big secrets,

The exaggerted versions, refurbished, retold again and again,

Between the old neighbors, new acquaintances, newly allied friends,

Gathering on porches, huddling behind house's corners, in open courtyards,
Behind closed doors and the forrests.

Your secrets are out in the open or hidden in ear whisphers.

It was social media, with, or without malice,

Life would be so boring if they dont know how you meet your wife,
Where your income comes from,

What hidden mysteries you are hiding with your other mistresses,

Slices, spicies and dirts you are hiding in guise of a decent family man,

Erstwhilepriests, lonely old men, retired cops, alcoholic drunkards,

Old spinsters, beautiful neighbhors,
Everything concievable for discussions,
In the private life of an individual,

And those who fled the town and those who hang themselves,
Those who got robbed last night and the corpses who are silent and needs a living witness.

Where sleepy idyllic wind are making the somnolent town restless, hungry for another gossip.