For Gabriela

inspired by Gabriela poems by Eileen Tabios and for her new Gabriela

Gabriela Silang
was the middle among many
siblings.
At meals
she waited and watched
her older brothers
hungrily grab for the
greatest pieces of food.
At times she could sneak
her hand underneath,
steal away a portion
for herself.

Yet she would not eat.

Instead broke off
much to the younger ones.
She ate from what was left,
scraps of the table.
She never allowed
her stomach's grumblings
to complain.
Never minded she was
the smallest from
so little food.
For when you looked
into her eyes,
there was a spirit
that never went
hungry.