Fields of Gold

Listening to Fields of Gold poignantly sang by Eva Cassidy reminds me so much of  summers gone by, of my childhood in the provinces — Ilocos and Cebu, when I walked in fields of gold.

I remember simple joys with my grandparents when we had to buy ice from the local market because there was no refrigerator. There were plenty of trips to the beach and lots of eating. I especially miss them today particularly my lola Matilde who passed away four years ago. I remember spending many summers with her in Cebu growing up. She would take me to Church at the break of dawn, as in 5 in the morning. She had a deep abiding faith.

May was our favorite month since it was fiesta time in our town and the church was teeming with activities. I remember her making angel wings for me as I joined the parade of children in church dressed as angels throwing rose petals in the path towards the altar, preparing the way for Mama Mary.  She loved her.

I miss her so much now, this was our month. May was the time when flowers would be in full bloom. She was a hard working lady, and she loved to sing those Visayan love songs.  Legend says my lolo saw her while she was singing on stage in a town event. She was always the outspoken one, my lolo was the reserved calming presence. It was an interesting match.  They tended a farm together growing corn, rice and sugracane (tubo). I had lots of tubo growing up (maybe that is where I got my sweet tooth and toothache;) Sometimes it was just me and them and it would be awfully quiet and she would sing and everything would be alright.

I miss you very much lola and I remember you today…Always, always, summer goes too soon…

—
Heart Song:

Many years have passed since those summer days
among the fields of barley
See the children run as the sun goes down
as you lie in fields of gold…

You’ll remember me
when the west wind moves
among the fields of barley
You can tell the sun
in his jealous sky
when we walked in fields of gold…