POET OF THE WEEK
Emily Porcincula Lawsin
Week of June 19
Back to your body of water collection
57/365
57/365
“Tubig” Means “Water” in Filipino
Mama carried jugs on her back
during the war,
struggled sea sick across the Pacific,
found true love on her first day in Seattle:
on bended knee,
Papa taught her to dig
the sunset sands of Alki Beach,
for Geoduck -- not Manila -- clams,
laughing, in boots
too big.
“Tubig” Means “Water” in Filipino
Mama carried jugs on her back
during the war,
struggled sea sick across the Pacific,
found true love on her first day in Seattle:
on bended knee,
Papa taught her to dig
the sunset sands of Alki Beach,
for Geoduck -- not Manila -- clams,
laughing, in boots
too big.
Emily Porcincula Lawsin, Seattle
FAVORITE POETRY FORM Free verse or narrative because I view writing as liberation.
READING NOW Alaskero Memories by local Filipino American poet and playwright Robert Francis Flor.
FAVORITE LOCAL WATER Puget Sound, where my late father worked most of his life. Every year around Papa’s birthday, I try to go to the waterfront to hear his voice again.
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