New Year, Same Me

Pam Concepcion

After ‘Bagong Taon, Isang Palindromo’ by Vijae Alquisola

The new year starts
with ashfall once again.
I can’t help but cloud fears
of being the same person. Last year,
I can no longer distinguish the ruins:
volcanic or man-made,
past or present,
it’s all the same disaster
regressing to mere concepts.
I’ve gotten burned out
from finding a new light
in a world that’s been burning up.
The fire has crossed the second degree–
I’ve felt all that I can ever feel
& all I can say is
“I’ve been here” before
The year finally ends.

The year finally ends–
I’ve been here before
& all I can say is
I’ve felt all that I can ever feel.
The fire has crossed the second degree
in a world that’s been burning up
from finding a new light.
I’ve gotten burned out
regressing to mere concepts.
It’s all the same disaster:
past or present,
volcanic or man-made,
I can no longer distinguish the ruins
of being the same person last year.
I can’t help but cloud fears
with ashfall. Once again,
the new year starts.