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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.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

SIGNPOSTS


 
 
SIGNPOSTS

Crossing this lake at sundown, we will see them
again perched on willows and elms along the banks
where no one has yet thought of putting up signposts:
there is no need for them here, nobody will return.  

The sweet larks of love and yearning warble quietly,
bewildered and detached owls are soundlessly glum;
but are there birds marked Selflessness? Oblivion?
This passing allegory is not lost on us who must leave.  

This journey through narrow trails that branch out
elsewhere before we reach familiar resting places
is all that we really have while we struggle here---
Is there a warm hut ahead? Can we stay longer there?  

At that final crossing, before we get to the other side,
will this lake show a reflection of where we’re going?  

---ALBERT B. CASUGA

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