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    Gendel Sarabia
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    The poem describes Manila as a hermit crab that carries the shells of past cultures on its back as it searches for food along the shore. However, it finds nothing but hears the mocking cries of restless seagulls flying above. The poem uses the metaphor of the sidewise crawling of a crab to represent Manila and its flaws as it struggles to survive in a deserted landscape.

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    The poem describes Manila as a hermit crab that carries the shells of past cultures on its back as it searches for food along the shore. However, it finds nothing but hears the mocking cries of restless seagulls flying above. The poem uses the metaphor of the sidewise crawling of a crab to represent Manila and its flaws as it struggles to survive in a deserted landscape.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as RTF, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    2K views1 page

    Manila

    Uploaded by

    Gendel Sarabia
    The poem describes Manila as a hermit crab that carries the shells of past cultures on its back as it searches for food along the shore. However, it finds nothing but hears the mocking cries of restless seagulls flying above. The poem uses the metaphor of the sidewise crawling of a crab to represent Manila and its flaws as it struggles to survive in a deserted landscape.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as RTF, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    MANILA

    Federico Licsi Espino Jr.

    “Dust and crabs, dust and crabs.”-Nick Joaquin

    A hermit crab upon the beach of time,

    She bears the braces of her former homes,

    The shells of foreign cultures and the slime.

    Now she looks for food as small waves comb

    Upon the shore where bits of driftwood lie

    But she finds nothing in her hungry quest;

    Instead she hears the cries of gulls which fly

    With frantic wings that never seem to rest.

    They mock her as she crawls upon the sand,

    The sidewise movement of the crab

    Which Thomas saw in a deserted strand

    And used as metaphor in songs that throb

    With life. Yes, this city is a pair of claws

    Crabbing, creeping with all its tragic flaws.

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