for Cris Anthony Mendez
who was beaten to death in a Sigma Rho initiation ceremony
UP Diliman, August 2007

***

Blood brothers, they say
Who would've thought rational beings such as
These educated, wisdom-filled men
Even in the prime of their youth
Would take this notion as literal
As animals would

Enter, would-be-brother
Clad in school clothes and blindfold
Cross this threshold of darkness
It shall represent true manhood
A young man's full-grown valor
Bravery at its best

Swing, oh leader
Swing as if seeking revenge
From what had transpired that same night
When you yourself, young and able
Clad in the same school clothes
Eyes stung from the same blindfold
In the same dark threshold

Earned those bruises

Red, from passion
Black, from desolation
Blue, from longing
And finally

Purple.
Victory.

You conquered the threshold
You beat the odds
Gentleman of courage
Prince of strength
Vanquisher of torment
You rose from it all
Brother, Comrade

But did he?
Clad in school clothes and blindfold
Crossing the threshold of darkness
Did this would-be-brother
Young, seeking full-grown valor
And bravery at its best
Earn the same bruises?

Red, from pain
Blue, from hopelessness
Purple, from agony
And finally

Black.
Death.

Where are you, oh brave leader?
You wisdom-filled, rational being
Will you take death as literal
As animals would
And deny, at its occurrence,
This so-called
Blood brotherhood?