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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.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

HUMMINGBIRD DREAMS



HUMMINGBIRD DREAMS


(For Marie Clementine at Sauble Beach)
 

Before long, the lullaby of the ebbtide
Would have lulled her, and the sundown
Swoon of the seagulls diving leeward
Becomes sights and sounds of another day.

Eventide catches her cuddling her doll,
Dancing on the sand all done for now:
“Goodnight, little stars, in the blanket sky,
Be good, be bright, be my light by-and-by.”
 
She wraps her ragdoll into a threadbare
Shawl left loose on a bare sunburnt back.
“Goodbye, sea, goodbye, sun, goodbye, all,
Let me sing our song until sleep shall call.”
 
She will not walk by moonlight, starlight
Being her appointed fireflies, like campfire
Fairies flitting from folded flowers to fire,
Quietly singing like little hummingbirds.


---Albert B. Casuga
August 21, 2013, Mississauga

 

 
 Photo by Adele Casuga

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