Presenting Poetry - When I was born the whole town celebrated

Since my birthday is fast approaching, I would like to present this poem. Recently published in Anak Sastra, a light-hearted poem about my birthday and my hometown's 'fiesta'! The pictures below were taken on my birthday last year in the Pilipinas! :-)

When I was born the whole town celebrated

My mother was convinced

she’d name me after our patron saint, San Sebastian.
When I close my eyes I can still see
the flamboyant parada - marching musicians, swaying crowd,
the multi-coloured banderitas festooning above
like the jumbling wires of electric poles;
I remember the sparkling perya - the tarnished laughter,
and the sour scents of Ferris wheel.

On a bamboo table there’s the sheen, succulent lechon –

a charcoal-roasted pig, a claret mansanas in its mouth.
Everyone drooled just by looking, yearning for the host
to start chopping the humongous treat.
My mother tells me how my uncle lifted her into a tricycle
and hurled his arms like a traffic officer,
trying to break the string of devotees,
and cut through the swelling waves of procession.

Once, a whole town celebrated and I was born,

and at times I still wish I was named Sebastiana...

Romalyn Ante©

La Parada

Las Banderitas festooning above

The Lechon

blowing my cake with my pamilya :-)

A literary e-zine that will take you as far as South-east Asia

Two of my poems are recently published in Anak Sastra Literary E-zine.

So what is Anak Sastra?

They say that they're 'a quarterly publication which hopes to provide a venue for Southeast Asian writers to promote their writings in English. The magazine also encourages expats, tourists, and regional connoisseurs alike to submit writings that share their experiences (real or imagined) living or traveling in Southeast Asia. '

Their recent issue is out now and can be read HERE.

If  you want to try writing in the theme of South east Asia, this ezine is actually a good platform on which to start.

 So go on, read this issue to get a taste of what they publish and get submitting!