by Jonel Abellanosa
Stone
Church of the cockcrow that dungeons my addictions underneath its grounds for turning me into a pilgrim of my penance. No sidewalk vendor dances with three held candles, waved offering to the god- child - desire, obsession, slavery to the flesh. Nor host to touch my tongue. No “this is his blood given for your remission.” No “this is his body that you may enter the house when the host calls, Lazarus, come home.” I’ve to walk all the way through on my own.
Tombstone
Lazarus, herein lies the truth you shall see to believe
Blues Street Ode to Jesus
Ah, this dawn of the fragrant air, this Beet root, that birded tree. It spells true Cockcrow cracking the ground, seed Dropping its coat into sprout. Let me Echo your new life, Beloved, let me Feast with your tongue and eyes, Savior. Gasoline is your love, City on seven Hills with golden light, stream the steam In. Strum me the six-stringed flow, Just brother, just show. Let us we be Kinetic, jig to your blue jazz, joyous. Let us honk and horn the good gospel. Motion rotates, toot toot, round and round Numerous feet that join, hips asway On and on. Let homeless masses join, Push and pull the gentle hand, turn Quick, turn nimble, turn merry, go round, Round, clap. Clap, bebop, doo-wop our Salvation. This is the new sadness - when Turbine love unturns, when we still back Under. But tomorrow, we hum tomorrow, Visit, vista, vision the dream. No more tears When the day before the day before the day Exits, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Yearn, for we shall remember this Zest, with another future, this zeal
Jonel Abellanosa is a Cebuano, residing in Cebu City, the Philippines. He is a nature lover and an advocate for the environment, ecological balance and animal rights and comforts. He has three companion dogs – Donna, Yves and their lovechild, Daisy. His works have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, Dwarf Stars and Best of the Net Awards. His poetry and fiction have appeared in hundreds of magazines and anthologies, including Windhover, The Cape Rock, Otoliths, Muddy River Poetry Review, Chiron Review, Invisible City, The Lyric, The McNeese Review, and The Anglican Theological Review. His poetry collections include, “Songs from My Mind’s Tree” and “Multiverse” (Clare Songbirds Publishing House, New York), “50 Acrostic Poems,” (Cyberwit, India), “In the Donald’s Time” (Poetic Justice Books and Art, Florida), and “Pan’s Saxophone” (Weasel Press, Texas).