Shakespeare

Shall I compare thee to the bard?
How do you think you'll fare?
Although his name has come to fame
Known pretty much everywhere
Excel with verse, that he does,
Some say his plays are tops
Perhaps learn his work you must
(Every student wishes that would stop)
Are you sure, though, your own verse
Really is less poetic than Will's?
Exams coming -- my students think Will the worst

- believin


This piece originally appeared in Acrostic.

An Acrostic by Tomas Estrada

Turning, twisting, twining,
Overnight they were gyrating.
Moments of endless pleasure,
Arises the point of measure,
Satisfied souls allure.

Endless inquiries
Start to annoy.
Time to tell the truth,
Remove those dirty words.
Adhere to the man
Described as the one.
Alone you will be none.

- Tomas Estrada

Dark Confession

Lament of the past, an anguish to cure,
Ungodly hatred turned demented like hell,
I waited for time, enough for me to return.
Despite the slumbering days, I was left imprisoned,
An agony so deleterious took me to nowhere.

Compliment and honor I never thought of,
Alluring maleness seemed rare to find for a
Broken heart that took years to heal,
An ambiguous sentiment no nymph may wish for.
Tough! They said I was! But –
Alone and empty feeling, senseless fellows didn’t see.
Nightly misery made a rotten heart,
Awoke to enjoy enough the world’s splendor!

- Luida Cabatana

An Acrostic by Orven Enoveso

Oh to be me, myself, uniquely I.
Reflecting extremes, revolving deviations.
Vice with virtues mixed, as saintly as sly.
Excellence, mediocrity both bestridden.
Nuanced greatness, delusion of mine.

Explicitly muted as implicitly loud.
Not wanting excess, neither settling for less.
One day humble, the next day proud.
Vulgarity and flair both possessed.
Enjoying fully this adventure, life’s game.
Sundry characters in one indeed, as surely as
Orven Enoveso is my name.

- Orven Enoveso


This Orven Enoveso piece originally appeared in Creative Writing Exercises. Bisoy originated a regular creative writing exercise in his company, participated by copy writers in the office.

An Acrostic by Jam Jovir

Just as the sun rises in the east,
Over the silent hills, fertile valleys he seeks.
Vines and wires, the long miles he takes.
In search of prey, to fill his hungry heart with a feast,
Roaring courage like thunder, but swift as the wind;

A king is on the hunt again.
Master of the heavens, yet frail in manner,
An eagle is proud with no prejudice; yet a comical hunter.
To live by the claw and rule the clouds,
Over nature’s mercenaries, lay claim to their blood.
Naive yet a killer, merciless; an arrogant scream he cries,
Gone in a blink after a graceful killing; he takes to the skies.

- Jovir Amatong


This Jovir Amatong piece originally appeared in Message In A Bottle as a creative writing exercise. Jovir Amatong lives in Compostela, Cebu.

Gently Weeps

Wally’s Blues

Weep me these strings,
Appease my new mourning.
Lend me your wings
Lest I fall, adjourning.
Yonder clouds, he sings
Surrendered notes, returning.

Bend it now, my master,
Lost but now resumed.
Undo these songs of plaster,
Endure this past entombed,
Seduce this soul impugned.

Goodnight and Go

Imogen Heap

In the mist, I listen.
Merry Miss, I implore.
Out of this old prison,
Grant me this last encore.
Echo then more than ever
Now and when it’s all over.

Hide and seek in my sadness.
Even then, how I shiver.
Amber friend, do remember.
Pray, don’t speak of this madness.