Three Strangers by Julman Tolentino Three Strangers came upon my house. The First looked at me and said, "My what a wicked soul! Let me offer you salvation by means of Christianization." and with this he held out a cross... and with this he held my soul. The Second looked at me and said, "My what a savage beast! Let me offer you civilization by means of education." and with this he held out a book... and with this he held my mind. The Third looked at me and said, "My what a worthless fool! Unlike the others, I won't tell you lies We came to enslave not to 'colonialize'." and with this he held out a gun to my head... and with this he held my body. Now these Three Strangers have left my house... and with it they have left their gifts. But instead of salvation ... I received desperation, Instead of education... I received deception, and even when given the truth, I received nothing but destruction. Now I am left alone... to uplift my home... from its devastation. But like the Sun each day we rise, and like it's Eight Rays we shine, and like Three Stars once our heart, mind and soul combine we glow like Red tapestry our blood flows like Blue... rivers out to oceans... oceans out to sea like my people never to be held captive always to remain free like my people never to be held captive always to remain free. For there will come a time when the 'Bells of Revolution' will chime. And there will come a day when my people will cast their shackles away. There will come a bolt of lightning from the sky which will open my people's eyes and call them 'to rise, to rise!' up from the depths of ignorance out from the layers of colonial lies. They shall now hear and now heed the idaw's battle cry. Mine is the heart of the caribao. Mine is the soul of the idaw. It is time for Revolution... Hear the chimes of Revolution... Strike now! back to poetry home