Every night when I was a child

I laid on my bed, oft beguiled

I could not drift into sleep

Because it would always creep

By the foot of my bed

Where it would poke out its head

And wait until the sandman came

So it could begin its game

Now, it was nothing sinister

It would just administer

Tickles until I laughed myself awake

And through the years this would take

My mind off what life depleted

All the arguments that were heated

The shouting and tears

The pushing and fears

That no child should ever face

In the home that was my space

Those nights in my bed

When I wished I was dead

It came without warning

And stayed ‘til the morning,

Tickling until I smiled,

Made me remember I was a child

Those were times long past

And I have searched and I have asked

Tracked and looked and scoured and penned

All to find my long-lost friend


 

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Pongkoe legends from Aklan

Pongkoe Illustration by Abe Joncel Guevarra
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