It's September, the Philippines' peace month. Down south, war rages on. The peace talks between the government and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front has collapsed. The government peace panel was dissolved. Last night, the government's peace office where I work gave a farewell dinner to the peace panel.


On the fifth day of the peace month
as war rages in the south
the negotiator bids farewell, saying,
"Now, I have time to smell the flowers."