Monday, February 7, 2011

The Happy Hoi Polloi by: Kerima Polotan Tuvera

“In the Luneta, all colors blend ‚ the brown and the white and yellow of people; the green and blue and red of shrubs. Towards the sea, the great sward stretches, and the globes of light hang like huge pearls, are caught in the waters of the lake. People flow by, stop and eddy, break and whirl again. Across the pond, a band plays; a balloon breaks loose from some child’s grasp and floats towards an early star. Here, the land lies flat and green, broken only by stone; there, it rises in a series of small hills that hide the curving tips of a pagoda. The doves come, cooing and beating their wings around a man, dressed in a tiger’s suit, and giving away candy. The lovers try not to be conspicuous. A family spreads the contents of a bag — kropeck, juice, biscuits. One mother lies on a mat, unashamedly nursing her baby. On other mats, men and their wives, kicking their heels at the sky. The park guards  watch when they can but soon grow weary and give up. The sky is like a canvas washed clean, gray along the edges, and you think, looking over the heads around you, how distant the heat of living is — tonight’s dishes, tomorrow’s bundy clock. Joy is a fitful moment, but better that than nothing.”

2 comments:

  1. I don't know what "the happy hoi polloi" means. But reading the passage, I can say that ...

    It is full of description of Luneta.
    As we all know, Luneta park which we formerly called Bagumbayan is where our national hero Jose Rizal got shot. That is why it became part of our history.

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  2. Going back to the story, it describes Luneta as a place where lots of people are there to enjoy life, families bonding place,couples dating place, and for stressed people who wants to unwind.

    In short, Luneta serves as a sanctuary where people finds serenity.

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