I'm a Red October

I'M A RED OCTOBER
by Gregorio V. Bituin Jr.
10 syllables per line

(a poem for the 226th birthday of Filipino poet Francisco Balagtas)

I was born Libran, a Red October
and now serves as a poet, a writer
and new verses I write without despair
writing against poverty is bitter
writing for the working class is better

I'm a Red October not for nothing
writing with passion, vision for something
writing articles with many angling
writing poetry with a sharp sting
writing propaganda is my doing

a man who's fond of beer and poetry
with the aim of working class unity
who wants rebellion against poverty
and to abolish private property
system change is a dream, a destiny

they say I'm just a poor fucking poet
but a working class poet until death
writing even under bed lie beneath
even if people lay a poet's wreath
a Red October until my last breath

April 2, 2014