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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, June 6, 2012

HER VIGIL



 HER VIGIL

 Crush a handful of grass, and still you smell the salt from the sea.---Luisa A. Igloria,    “Pantoum, with Approachng Storm", Via Negativa, 06-05-12


 It will not cease, nor will the smell of grass
 supplant the scent of brine from this sea,
 this angst from a sacrifice that was not worth it.
 I must keep your plate on your side. Keep vigil.

 You will come home, even as a hint of a shadow.
 I will always keep your side of the bed warm,
 however cold you left it. Come in from the storm.
 It will soon be over before you know it. I know.


—Albert B. Casuga
 06-06-12

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