Thursday, August 21, 2008



MY BOOK

He sleeps in the mat
where I wander
through the night

He snores through my ears
while I listen
to his fears

He wakes up slowly
the itch in my brain;
It feels funny

He yawns in my face
tickles the seam
of the embroidered lace

that is dangling
in front of me
swims in my vast sea.

"Picture is my painting on a Philippine woven mat (banig)"


FLOWER WOMAN

Plucked
from the ribs
of Adam
You came to life
inside the node
of the bamboo
Molded
in the midst
of mud that
is made of gold

Maria, Magdalena
and Mary Ann

You grew
out of the mystery
of the seed
in the rain,
you opened
and swayed
with the wind

Hibiscus, Santan
and Jasmine

Beautiful is the maiden
at seventeen
like fireflies
in the month
of December
Behold!
the fire
of the tree
at Fuente-
Woman

Picture is the author's own painting and the poem is a translation from Cebuano "Babayeng Bulak" published in the book "Haling".