As I was walking home alone
I saw a woman who made no sound
My breath was heavy as stone
When I saw her feet not touch the ground
I raced towards somewhere safe
Away from the monster that I saw
My, how my shoes began to chafe
The skin from my feet had been rubbed raw
I ran faster and faster
But to no avail
I was still heading towards disaster
I prayed my feet wouldn’t fail
The old woman was too fast
In front she suddenly appeared
My mind raced back to my past
And all the things that I had feared
I could not see her
She was like a mist
It was all a blur
That I missed
In a blink she was gone
Like she was never there
It was almost dawn
And I said my prayers
I ran home and covered my ears
Because all my way back
All I could hear
Was the sound of Wak—Wak—Wak
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Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Inspired by ‘Aswang as an Old Woman.’ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.
Wak-wak (Aklan) Illustration by Ysa Peñas
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