What Student-Athletes Should Be

Gretchen Ho

By FRANCIS SANTIAGO

September 14, 2010, 11:53am

MANILA, Philippines – On the court of the Shakey’s V-League, Gretchen Ho rises on top of the net and extends her arms to thwart any volleyball kill from an opposing hitter.

I'll Be Gone

Years will pass and you'll remember
All that died within your grasp
And I'll be gone, you'll sleep uneasy
Upon a bed built of regret
You won't forget the loss of passion
As the past sleeps in your mind
Years will pass and you'll be searching
For things you'll never find

Don’t Let Me Go

He’s now letting me fly away and enjoy the beauty of the world. But he doesn’t know that, I would rather lose my wings and be his possession than to release and blindly explore the vastness of the Earth. Freedom may offer me the mountains, the rivers or the islands, but they don’t really make me happy and satisfied. For in my soul, I know what I long for. I am sure in myself that my contentment lies in him. And his desire to keep me with him would be the greatest fulfillment that nothing out there could give. He feels guilty for what he done to me, and now that I am finally given the liberty he thinks I deserve, he’s expecting me to glide in glee. I stop, water blurring my eyes as I give a one last look. He is silent and expressionless. After a moment, I turn away, face the horizon, flap my wings and bid goodbye in my thoughts that never turn to words.

Broken Teen

Never call me Emo ‘cause I’m not one of them

I’m not used to be one of them

I maybe have this illness but I still walk free

The true me is keep inside this empty room

Yes! A broken teen is who I am

Am I happy deep inside or just in mind?

Beneath my smile is a voice calling for help

Behind this whole body is a broken me

My life is bounded with crimson thorns

Each night I cry ‘cause I couldn’t hide the pain anymore

But it heals the wound that laughter’s can’t cure

I wake up with invisible tears

Pieces of me scattered in my room

And the clock stops to tick

The dawn will again rise, slowly unlocking the door

But still I’ll be left inside with fear

Another day gives me unending sorrow

Hatred and loneliness creates sad music

Concealed in the midst of the deafening shout

The hymn continuous to flow inside me

And it feels like it slowly kills me

Seems like I’ll still be lose in the shadow of broken me.