Poetry

Nothing’s Too Far There is no escaping the long arm of memory, & the more I try to, I turn to it instead: During trips to my father’s house tucked deep in Badbad, I learned as a child to look at the blurring flowers when responses to “Are...

Every step I make on board I am ensured a duty A little chance to defend my King To prove him my fealty And every box I step ahead Going to the other side They promise me a promotion That may help turn the tide So on and on I marched...

I am woman.My menses borne beforesanitary napkins and tampons. I am woman.A breast cancer survivorclose to eighteen years now. I am woman.Daughter of a feisty Waraywho taught me how to fight. I am woman.Daughter-in-law of a warrior forFilipino music and freedom of expression. I am woman.Married to...

THE ETERNAL WOMAN The eternal womancomplainsabout the quality of breadin the kitchen. Nor do I growlback at herthough she angers melike a nail in my foot. MOONCURSE Although the aboriginal moon-mother mooninglyCalls out to him with her wild summonsHe’d prefer to stay indoors:To dwell in his cave...

A glimpse of a full moon On an early Thursday morning. You look at the living room And discover A presence long gone. And there is nothing You can do. Nevertheless My daughter lives In murals dedicated To brave women of a Southern town. My daughter lives In postcards Celebrating radical love. My daughter's spirit Thrives in symposium Analyzing...

Here the seashore stores The footprints of strangers And stories about the oceans Like nobody knows until now where the first wave came from And open secrets of ancestors Like the tryst of the sea and the sky But only eyes from far away can see