Jeepneys

JEEPNEYS

To Vicente Manansala

who, made, this, work, of, art,

what, does, it, represent,

where, is, it, the, scene, we, see, that, is,

when, is, it, day, time, please,

why, is, it, abstract,

this, is, your, painting, isn’t, it,

how, do, you, paint, from,

orange, yellow, red,

green, blue, black,

white, yellow orange,

yellow green, blue green, from,

irregular, elliptical, prodigal,

brushstrokes, going, this, way,

that, way, every, which, way,

circles, inside, circles,

floating, half-moons,

overlapping, polygons,

broken, glass, so, many,

bits, and, pieces, of, it,

something, you, see,

but, we, do, not, see,

what, do, you, see, anyway,

wheels, roofs, pedestrians,

smoke, dust, grime,

traffic, air, pollution,

now, we, see, what, you, see,

yes, or, do, we, really, no,

no.

Originally published in The Galway Review (February 15, 2016)

Jeepneys (1951) by Vicente Manansala