ZEN Bitchin'

Dispatches from a foreign country

Month: March, 2009

Me, myself and I

Me, Myself & I (Remix) – Beyonce
The Narcissist
1The mirror has two faces:They’re both looking at me.The mirror has two facesAnd they both belong to me.
2Look at meStare at meTalk to me
Just don’t
Examine meScrutinize meAnalyze me.
3My greatest fearIs when the world turnsIts gaze on another–
The devastationIs going to be immenseAnd the whole world
Will have no choiceBut [...]

Centerfold

Centerfold – J. Geils Band
More than a year ago I was able to live–albeit briefly, my dream of working in a magazine. I served as Editor of Square, a magazine for young people. I chronicled that marvelous experience here and here. After that, I spent last year doing what I usually did, in terms of [...]

I wanna do bad things with you

I read in an interview that Allan Ball (creator of Six Feet Under) first read ‘Dead Until Dark’ at the airport, liked the book so much, found out that it was the first of a series of books (what would came to be called the Sookie Stackhouse novels), and read the series before phoning author [...]

Wrong impression

Wrong Impression – Natalie Imbruglia
The other weekend I traveled to Siem Reap to be with two men.
The first man took the bus with me. I’ve known him for about 8 months. We’ve been seeing each other intermittently over this period of time. Having coffee. Having sex. This was our first trip together. I was going [...]

Prayer for the dying

Prayer For The Dying – Bamboo
Vanitas
Malasutla and kumotNa bumabalot sa kanyangMatipunong katawan:
Makintab sa mapanglawNa liwanag ng kandilangMalapit nang maupos:
Tila hinahaplos ng usokAng malapad na balikatAt malamang bisig:
Mukhang naghihintayNg basbas ang paladSa kanyang pagkahimlay:
Tahimik ang paru-paroSa ibabaw ng hintuturo;Nag-aabang sa hanging
Bubulong sa balakang,Maglalantad sa nakatagongBungo sa kandungan.
phnom penh, 2007; edited 2009copyright Michael P. De Guzman

Jai ho

Jai Ho – AR Rahman and the Pussycat DollsLet me say this now, this post is not about the film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, which I loved very much (it made me cry in a good way). This is more likely a reflection of the side effects of the fame of the award-winning film on the Indian [...]