The Mustard Seed

(For Fr. Joseph A. Galdon, SJ)

Along Katipunan Avenue

I hustled to take the jeepney

Could not remember what day or time it was

I have my pen and paper ready

You said, “Take your test first.

Remember to take deep breaths

and just answer the questions you

know first. Do not linger . ..

I tremble and took it

awash in sweat and sun

in the may summer there…

I met Cymbelline and Luisa

I took my seat

in the far north of the room

checking my compass

confirming my feng shui as if it mattered

Done in two and a half hours

I flagged Fr. G at the hallway

He patted me at the back

“How was it?”

I finished. I answered them all

Good. I expect you to be here soon

I hope so

He winked

The following week

He called and said

You are welcome to sign some paperwork

Come at 9 am tomorrow

I was there bright and early

Sitting down on the park bench

Across the Rizal Library

I fidgeted and smoke a drag or two

I saw Luisa who smiled back

Are you coming?

Oh, are you going there too?

Of course, common!

Inside the English Department

I saw Cymbelline and some others

in the green room of Fr. G

His Grecian nostrils in full flair

You ladies wait

As I sign up Bernard ok

He put on his double wide lens

his Parker pen…

As I await my turn

He hugged me and said

See you are not only good in numbers

also in letters

I tearfully remember him

Reading his autographed

piece entitled, “The Mustard Seed”

mssives he wrote

advising me on how to coach

my students at Marianas High

back in the 90s

He said to be patient…persevering

I remember my Palauan student

Jackie who gave me a postcard

from Hawaii

graduated with honors….

I recall the days I was teaching

English Literature and Composition

as well as dealing with Jostens

in the Yearbook…

Oh… Fr. G…

As I sit down in the park bench

along Rizal Library

last January before you said farewell

I know you are here

with me , in me

as the effervescent wind

and trees danced

I know you see

I hear you believe

I listen you heard

I wanted to continue

the legacy

the inspiration

the word

the mark is indelible

The Mustard Seed

no time , no man

no catastrophe, no cause

can obliterate it

It is you

alive in this world

now in the realm of the divine

knowing the unknown

among the unknowable…

I create. I awe. I create

I know God is here

as much as you are.

The Mustard Seed …