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In celebration of the October 4 feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of the environment and all of God’s creatures.

Eyes follow the sound

Ears scan the foliage

Breath on hold

Heart gripped still

Mind wiped clear like the sky in the lake

To await

The moment

The presence.

A rustle in the thickness

A break in the dimness

Behold!

The hand moves

The shutter clicks

With frenzied speed

To remember.


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Ma. Ceres P. Doyo

Ma. Ceres P. Doyo has been a journalist for more than 40 years. Her written works have won numerous awards, among them, two National Book Awards for Journalism (2015 and 2022). She writes a weekly column, the “Human Face,” for the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

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