The Village Water Tank

By Ramil F. Jasareno

It’s been two decades since 
the engineer left, the old
water tank stands like a tomb
waiting for his visit. I still remember
when he first came, holding
a sketch plan nobody understood
or bothered to look.
My father was firm. The engineer 
could not use the existing deep well
for water source, as the village depends
on it for household chores.
He has to dig his own water
either below the ground or above
his head.
 
The deep well soon stops running,
the village people refused
to repair the machine, abandoning 
it altogether – the water tank 
and the dead well staring at
each other with regret.
 
Now the water tank hides between 
pomelo and santol trees, beside the 
village chapel keeping its watch. 
Sometimes at night I hear a sound
of hands digging in the ground
and climbing up the tower
searching for the ghost of water.

Ramil F. Jasareno lives in Sorsogon, Philippines. He is a lawyer and poet. He spends his free time writing poems and playing chess. His poems are due to appear in the Eunoia Review in July 2024.