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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, April 2, 2014

VAULTING OFF THE SHADOW: A PAS DE DEUX


 
 
VAULTING OFF THE SHADOW: A PAS DE DEUX
 
(After the Doves, a Sculpted Dance
by Richard MacDonald)*

 
1.  The Doves

Hold me now in flight, you must not fall, hold my wings
Wrap your body around me; it is there to keep me warm.
How far can we go? Shall we try for branches of the sun?
No, let us fly to the sun itself, we need this burning fire.

Why feel coy in my grasp, I have you deep in my grip,
Even if you tried, you cannot escape smouldering ardor
Impaling you to my breast. It beats easier, harder for us,
Whence come the magic of loving when love has gone.


2.  The Dance

Was that his pas de chat to snatch her from disaster?
Quickly now, urgently now, hold the hapless Dame
As would a cat curl on the legs of its Master,
Dream now of a demure pas de bourree of fame,

While dreams still enthrall, while the dancing
Is still your language of love, of boundless courage,
While the arguments of your young body moving
To the beats of passion are still the true language

Of the good, the honest, and the beautiful:
Until then, mon amour, these decrepit hands cannot
Stop the deluge of fear, of hurt, and of the frightful
That would drown us all, before our windows are shut.
 

---ALBERT B. CASUGA
At Crystals, The Strip 04-01-14

 
*Doves is a sculpture inspired by “Swan Lake”, exhibited at the Crystals as The Art of Richard MacDonald, is recreated for the central figures in The Grand Coda, a monument to celebrate Dame Ninette de Valois, founder of The Royal Ballet in London.
 


 
 
 
 

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