by Stephanie Ochona
Bahay kubo, kahit munti,
She tucks me into bed and starts to sing,
Ang halaman doon, ay sari sari,
I dream of our backyard, chickens roaming freely through the weeds,
Sinkamas at talong, sigarilyas at mani,
My bare feet follows the uneven gravel path,
Sitaw, bataw, patani.
A snake hisses behind the tall grass and I stop.
***
Kundol, patola, upo’t kalabasa,
Its cold, leather body brushes against my toes,
At saka mayroon pang labanos, mustasa,
I am frozen, holding back tears,
Sibuyas, kamatis, bawang at luya,
As the snake slithers around my ankle,
Sa paligid-ligid ay puno ng linga.
My eyes open, her arms wrap around me and I go back to sleep.
Stephanie Ochona is a Filipino writer and illustrator based in unceded Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung country. Through her writings, zines and comics she explores themes of diaspora and belonging.
Hyades Magazine 