to junior on his 35th birthday

there is a long and unending string
that ties my heart to yours;
yank it, and i’ll falter.

you can leave it slack,
you can reel it in,
keep it in your pocket and carry it around.

not just one tie but many;
not binding but a bond;
not an always straight line;
theseus in the labyrinth—
you at its aperture, me at its center.


Manila. 5th January 2007.