When a blurb is a poem is a blurb is a poem is a blurb

I wrote this blurb--which I also meant to be a poem--as my contribution to a book of blurbs. Yes, Angelo came up with a book concept wherein the entire book is made up of blurbs written about a book of blurbs. Neat-o. :)

The blurb/poem below--I am privileged to say--was accepted by Angelo as part of his book. I included this poem in my fourth book of poems, "Poisonostalgia", published by the University of the Philippines Press.


THE BLURB: ANGEL, OH

Losing it—the young woman was crying on the phone. She needed help. She wanted her blurb back. She was saving it. For the altar. For her husband. For the love of her life. She lost it, she said, on a drunken binge with friends. They all passed out naked in the motel room. She dreamed a stranger came and took her blurb. She had soaked the sheets by the time she got to the REM stage: next thing she knew upon waking—her blurb was gone. I was gripping the other end of the line, my legs crossed tightly, urgently needing to go—my own blurb was threatening to spill over and cream my jeans. I felt very sad and very anxious. Who will help this woman and those like her? Who will help me get away from her sorrow? Maybe her blurb is somewhere in this book, maybe Angelo Suarez took it, like a hairy tooth fairy, and he could return it, someday.

Shown in the photo is Palanca-winning poet Angelo Suarez. The photo accompanies his indignant, passionate rant against the MRT. To see the original photo, without the hearts, go to: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152013350696239&set=a.160132756238.117547.701371238&type=1