Questions and Answers This Year Part Two

“How do [you] breathe?” the next cut asked,
When everyday you started from top
From the first dance you knew up to the last
With no ability at first to abruptly shift
Your body from fast to slow or slow to fast?

You were in the brink of losing breath,
But you knew things that rescued you:
The electric fan, the water, the ice from the cooler,
The occasional utterance of “Go, guys!”

Your body eventually learned how to adjust
From fast to slow or vice versa.
If Mario asked you how to breathe,
You know how and you’ve shown it.

The next question is, “How will [you] see?”
Dad has his ways so you don’t worry.
He knows where to place your skill and size
So you can have a share of reflection on the mirror.
Dad’s eyes were there if you happen to be blind
And from his mouth comes the words of the wise.

“Where do I go?” was sometimes your question
When you didn’t know or forgot the place for you.
At times Dad’s even the one forgetting
But your buddy served as your guiding light.
Your Buddy asked too: “When you’re not with me,
How do I breathe?”

Questions came from mom and your music
But most of all, Dad blurted out his.
Everytime you felt pain and complained,
During lengthy warm-ups in the beginning,
Everytime you try to coordinate your feet with your arms,
When you’re tangled up with every step and stunt,
Dad would ask, “What class is this?”

Remembering the answer made you endure,
And, yes, you enjoyed the long warm-ups,
You coordinated your up with your down,
You did your best until that final night.
You really are part of the class he asked.

Dad used to shout in anger and let some things fly
But as the calendar cascaded two times,
Only the power of his voice resounded
With the question, “Where are the others?”
Hated your late completion on your last rehearsal day
But patiently polished the moves you’ve learned.
He asked, “Hataw ba yan? O mina-mark niyo lang?”
Wanting you to get used to your dance.

You remember these questions from dad
With all of his quotable quotes and lines.
You reminisce when mom and the music asked.
You know so well the answers in words and deeds.
They all made up your summer’s weeks.

Even though that big night was over,
Questions still flowed through each other.
“Pwede ba kayo?” is next to the list,
Whether it is about dance or just friendly trips.

This is the end of the never-ending poem,
But the continuity of what has been lingers on.
“See you soon, OK?”
That’s the final question.

You are Advance 2010!
Congratulations!