Play Dead!

Play Dead!

by Melchor F. Cichon

March 16, 2016

You must

Play dead!

At all times!

Never move your lips

Nor speak anything

Against any person

In authority.

Nothing!

Allow all condemnations

And unfounded allegations

To penetrate your hearts.

Always!

Never see the directions

Of the winds

Nor feel their passing.

Never!

Never

Raise your closed fists.

Never!

And never, never report

Any corruption

Nor any overpricing

To anybody,

But to your self

Only.

And lastly,

Never ask shy

You must always play

Dead.

Never!

Is this the mind

And heart

And arms of Oblation?

And the spirits

Of Diwata ng Dagat?

Is this the spirit

Of Rizal and Bonifacio?

Of Ninoy Aquino?

Of Lean Alejandro?

Play dead!

But what will I tell

My children's grandchildren

When they ask me:

"Why did you play dead

When you were alive?

Alive?