A PARK IS BORN

Tonight, the cogon fires,

Tomorrow, the heavy tractors

tearing at the roots of ashes

We must destroy in order to create

the lovely and the irrelevant,

the park now a blueprint dream in

some first lady’s drawer (Some years

ago Bobby Kennedy was here.  They

covered the shanties with cosmetic palm.)

Yes, we must have a park

a green and beautiful sight

to rest our weary eyes.  And

tomorrow the rumble of tractors

not quite drowning the convulsed roll

of evictees’ feet. 


                                                              - Ma. Lorena Barros
                                                                1968