Passing Clouds

passing clouds--
she kisses me
behind the door

SS Yarmouth Castle

from deck to deck
Terry Wise drags away passengers
from the blazing SS Yarmouth Castle

His Steps

following His steps--
I get up
from a slip

Behind His Back

behind His back--
the disciples talk
on who is nearest to Him

Sunday Homily

Sunday homily--
I become
a child again

Glass Window

rainy afternoon--
she writes a haiku
on the glass window

First Night

first night--
the moonlight
enters our hotel room

Casting Net

Casting Net

casting net
into the river—
empty heart

***
Gapangeaya

gapangeaya
sa suba—
owa’t sueod nga dughan

***
Kahilwayan

nag-eupad
ro maya paguwa sa hawla—
sangkakutsarang silak

Enrollment Period

enrollment period--
co-workers' promise
to pay the debt on time

Sunrise

sunrise--
she wipes away
Guimaras' tears

Oil Spill

oil spill--
mangrove trees die
leaf by leaf

Waste Pickers

again--
the waste pickers wait
for another garbage truck

Oil Spill

oil spill--
the fragrance
of ripe mangoes

With Pilma Tonight

with Pilma tonight
we create
our full moon

Life in Charcoal

her framed charcoal
brings out
her life

Maeara 8-30-2006

Inch by Inch

the river bank claims
my ricefield
inch by inch

Out of Mind

worker...
out of mind
out of work

Jeepney Ride

two Korean students share
a handkerchief
to cover their noses

Alubihod Beach

missing
ladies in bikini frolicking
at Alubihod Beach, Guimaras

Like Sirius

like Sirius
Fulgencio twinkles
after sunset

Termites

Sunday morning--
a colony of termites
on their way to the books

One, Two, More

one oil coated turtle
two oil coated turtles
...more oil coated turtles

I Will Not Leave You

Guimaras--
I will not leave you
even after sunset

Beneath Guimaras Strait

I miss the moon
beneath Guimaras Strait--
early August

Terrorism

terrorism
wakes up
those who are awake