SPECIAL ISSUE: CONNECTING GENERATIONS
 

One POEM
& A LETTER For You and ME

CLEOTILDE A. BISNAR

Widow of WWII Veteran

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