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ALBERT B. CASUGA, a Philippine-born writer, lives in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, where he continues to write poetry, fiction, and criticism after his retirement from teaching and serving as an elected member of his region's school board. He was nominated to the Mississauga Arts Council Literary Awards in 2007. A graduate of the Royal and Pontifical University of St. Thomas (now University of Santo Tomas, Manila. Literature and English, magna cum laude), he taught English and Literature (Criticism, Theory, and Creative Writing) at the Philippines' De La Salle University and San Beda College. He has authored books of poetry, short stories, literary theory and criticism. He has won awards for his works in Canada, the U.S.A., and the Philippines. His latest work, A Theory of Echoes and Other Poems was published February 2009 by the University of Santo Tomas Publishing House. His fiction and poetry were published by online literary journals Asia Writes and Coastal Poems recently. He was a Fellow at the 1972 Silliman University Writers Workshop, Philippines. As a journalist, he worked with the United Press International and wrote an art column for the defunct Philippines Herald.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

THE RITUAL



THE RITUAL

To leave an extra plate for one not there:
Mother perfected that ritual when he left.
There was no returning, but what of it?
He will be here at sundown. "Your father
Is always prompt. The raw dinakdakan
Will spoil if he did not come on time."
She waited, but it took so long. She slept.
Wrapped in her flannel blanket, she knew
She’d have enough warmth for both of them.


A.B. Casuga
05-17-12
Las Pinas City SM Starbucks Cafe
 
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1 comment:

Hannah Stephenson said...

This is so sweet and sad. It's the perfect length, I think....

May 30, 2012 at 5:35 AM

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