The Philippines looms, unspoken, in our plans,
but unlike Hawaii or Tennessee or New England,
we know none to leave the light on for us to get home.
Cebu sits as thick on our tongues as Tahiti,
needing Google Translate to take over
and say I want to miss you.
Our homelands have become that childless
aunty or uncle who will watch and love
the nieces and nephews, but are too happy
when the visit is over,
and they can set their home
back to right.
Christian Hanz Lozada’s (he/him) near-accolades include two Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominations, runner-up in the Blossom Contest for BIPOC writers, and almost dated Super Bowl halftime star Jessica Alba (if an initiated conversation counts). He wrote the poetry collection He’s a Color, Until He’s Not. His poetry has been published worldwide, including in Bamboo Ridge, Cordite Poetry Review, and Emerson Review. He has featured at the Autry Museum and Beyond Baroque. He lives in San Pedro, California, and uses his master’s degree to teach his neighbors and their kids at Los Angeles Harbor College.
ELEVENTH HOUR LITERARY 