I’m watching a cam on a street in the Philippines
in Davao where I lived for four years
I see a young woman standing on a corner
all by herself at 2 am Philippines time
A mayday alarm goes off inside of me:
WATCH OUT, WATCH OUT. You’re not safe.
Then I remember this is the Philippines
where the woman is safe standing
on the street corner waiting for a 2 am bus
unlike in my country America where
she’d risk one of those it only happens to others
who become easy prey for being raped or killed
The bus arrives. The woman gets on, and another
young woman replaces her an hour later
with no fears, no concerns, and I’m the only one in
these street scenes conditioned to fear the worst.
Bob Boyd