SPECIAL ISSUE: CONNECTING GENERATIONS
One POEM
& A LETTER For You and ME
CLEOTILDE A. BISNAR
Widow of WWII Veteran
Photography by Tess. Lotta
sadness that I have experienced
my heart was touch of
the sadness
around the world there are
many temptations to avoid
i want
i need
i sometimes don’t know if there’s something more
Dear Grandchild:
I am from Angeles City, Pampanga, a province in the Philippines, a sea away from here.
I am an orphan. My father was killed by Japanese soldiers, and my mother fell ill and died during the Japanese occupation.
As an orphan, there was nobody to push me. Nobody who told me to try hard in school. Nobody who put food on the table. Nobody who said I love you and goodnight.
But—I had natural knowledge. I thank God for this. So, I can read and write a little. I wrote you this poem. I give you this gift.
World War II was different, anak.
And I write to you, in hopes that it will never happen again