When I die
I want to be buried
by mango trees
that my ancestors planted.
If they still exist,
the mango trees.
Both my grandfathers died
before I saw first light
but they lived on through
blood and sweat,
sick lonely mornings,
handpowered bamboo switches,
and unspoken i love yous.
Growing up
we traveled to visit the man
whose name was Juanito,
my mom's father.
We'd light up incense
and cook his favorite foods
for him to eat at his grave,
my only connection to
my gēn.
On his birthday i stole a taste of a bowl
of noodles on the kitchen table
that i didnt know was for him;
I'd like to think that
we shared that meal together.
When we visited the man
whose name was Francisco,
my fathers father
we'd bring flowers
and my cousins and i
would work all day and night
to repaint his mausoleum
hiding under four story tall
bamboo trees.
His children say he was once
A great mayor and thats the only
good thing ive heard heard them say about him.
My name is John Francis,
and when i was five
I wished to be buried there too
but there are no more mango trees around.
I want to be buried
by mango trees
that my ancestors planted.
If they still exist,
the mango trees.
Both my grandfathers died
before I saw first light
but they lived on through
blood and sweat,
sick lonely mornings,
handpowered bamboo switches,
and unspoken i love yous.
Growing up
we traveled to visit the man
whose name was Juanito,
my mom's father.
We'd light up incense
and cook his favorite foods
for him to eat at his grave,
my only connection to
my gēn.
On his birthday i stole a taste of a bowl
of noodles on the kitchen table
that i didnt know was for him;
I'd like to think that
we shared that meal together.
When we visited the man
whose name was Francisco,
my fathers father
we'd bring flowers
and my cousins and i
would work all day and night
to repaint his mausoleum
hiding under four story tall
bamboo trees.
His children say he was once
A great mayor and thats the only
good thing ive heard heard them say about him.
My name is John Francis,
and when i was five
I wished to be buried there too
but there are no more mango trees around.