Sizzling adobo and sinigang
for the baby of the family, Lola says,
wrapping her arms around your neck;
her warm embrace couldn't help
but comfort all your inner troubles;
she lets out your inner child in the most
amazing ways, taking you to the zoo
and the park to play, running with you
no matter how old she gets,
she's young at heart, she says,
so more ice cream and adventures
for the two of you, for life is to enjoy,
to play in the streets of her hometown
the same way she did fifty years ago
and to experience her happiness
in sewing or cooking for her family;
she wants you to inherit all the joys
this world has to offer, so she laughs
with you while watching TV,
no matter how sick she may become,
she will always be there by your side.
Shekina Oh is a teen writer who started her writing journey in the pandemic. Currently, she mostly writes poems and short anecdotes, alongside other genres. Her work has been featured in the New York Times and Write the World. When not writing, she loves planning pretend vacations and watching movie clips.
