POST DATA ON MANILA

By Luis G. Dato

O city, million-souled, thousand-streeted,
I feel your breath upon me,
The sound of your many voices,
Tread of anonymous feet.

Goodbye, Manila, emporium of bills and kisses,
And ladies with the hurrying hips
And ever-freshly painted lips
Of a mouth where nectar drips,
Good-bye, we’ll see the Mrs.