seen from Estonia
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seen from United States
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Standing outside the store
Lilis Surjani - Sansaro
The masters make it all look so easy. Drives me nuts.
The pouring rain outside is pounding on the tin roof. Distant thunder rumbles. Tropical storms are so lovely.
pencil drawing, calbayog, 2025
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Gendjer Gendjer
pencil drawing, calbayog city, 2025
Twenty years ago, I wandered deep into the hinterlands of Southeast Asia seeking romance.
I found humanity.
Last night I sat up trying to better explain what I mean but..
It escapes my words.
Let me think.
Lilis Surjani - Gendjer Gendjer
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Smiles and Machetes
pencil drawing, calbayog, 2025
I wander through the crowd of street vendors downtown looking for fruit. After three years they all know me. The men cast sullen looks at me. The machete look. The women give me smiles but I wasn't born yesterday.. And who am I anyway?
I smile back. But I look over my shoulder.
Isn't that what they teach?
I do love the fruit though.
Calbayog 2025
Lilis Surjani - Sansaro
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Letters home
pencil drawing, calbayog city, 2025
"Juno is dead." Emanuel told me.
We were sitting on the terrace watching the sunset.
"Who's Juno?" I asked.
"You remember," Emanuel went on, "we visited his home during fiesta."
"Ah yes." I remembered climbing up a slippery hillside to get to a nippa hut perched on a ledge. I actually didn't know where I was. Just a small bamboo home. Everyone was drinking shots of whiskey.
"You want some?" One of the guys held up the whiskey bottle for me.
"No thanks," I replied, "I don't drink."
Which after thirty years still surprises me.
"Gee, he was young," I said, "how did he die."
"He got killed." Emanuel said.
"Wow, that's terrible."
"Nah, not really, no one cares, he was a murderer."
It's moments like this that I am aware that I am about to hear some deeper truth.
"Huh?" I said.
"Juno was a killer for the gangs," Emanuel explained, "No one cares that he got it."
"Gee," I said, feeling very small, "how did they.. kill him?*
"I don't know." Emanuel said.
Caybago, 2025
Lilis Surjani - Teung Teuingeun
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Air Mata (Lilis Surjani) - Lilis Surjani
Tjing Tulungan (Mus K. Wirya) - Lilis Surjani
Sedjenak (Mus K. Wirya) - Lilis Surjani
