Phil Literature In English (March 23) (Phoenicia Publishing, 2014); Juan Luna’s Revolver

(University of Notre Dame Press, 2009); Trill & Mordent

Set B (WordTech Editions, 2005); and eight other books. Her work
"The Secret Language" has been recognized by several literary prizes. She currently
By Luisa A. Igloria directs the M.F.A. Creative Writing Program at Old
I have learned your speech, Dominion University. In 2020 she was named Poet Laureate
of the state of Virginia.
Fair stranger; for you I have oiled my hair Social Context: The poem explores the effects of
And coiled it tight Spanish and American colonization on the speaker. It
Into a braid as thick describes the changes that a native
And beautiful as the serpent (Filipino)undergoes during the time of their colonial
In your story of Eden. rule. The whole poem presents to us the process of
colonial adaptation by the colonized. (natives)
For you, I have covered my breasts and hidden, Reader’s Context: What do these lines mean-- in
Among the folds of my surrendered Inheritance, your story of Eden, the beads I have worn since
childhood, headman’s terrified Peace-gift, the
the beads I have worn since girlhood.
bleached color of corn,watching with bird-eyes, lie
uncorseted
It is fifty years now Text’s context: Knowing the time and the complete
Since the day my father title of the collection where this poem was lifted tell
Took me to the school in Bua, you what?
A headman's terrified Peace-gift. Now read this second poem.
In the doorway, Apo On the Wall
The teacher stood, her hair by Bj Patino
The bleached color of corn, There’s this man’s photo on the wall
Of my father’s office at home, you
Watching with bird-eyes. Know, where father brings his work,
Where he doesn’t look strange
Now, I am Christina. Still wearing his green uniform
I am told I can make lace And colored breast plates,where,
Fine enough to lay upon the altar To prove that he works hard, he
Of a cathedral in Europe. Also brought a photo of his boss
But this is a place Whom he calls Apo, so Apo could
That I will never see. You know, hang around on the wall
Behind him and look over his shoulders
To make sure he’s snappy and all.
I cook for tourists at an inn;
Father snapped at me once, caught me
They praise my lemon pie
Sneaking around his office at home
And my English, which they say Task/Assignment: On a yellow paper, identify lines from “The
Is faultless. I smile Secret Language” and “Apo on the Wall” to show:
And look past the window, A. Visual Imagery B. Auditory Imagery C. Kinesthetic Imagery
Imagining father's and grandfather's cattle --
Grazing by the smoke trees. (Separate the set of imagery of “The Secret Language” from
“Apo on the Wall”
But it is evening, and these
Are ghosts.

In the night,
When I am alone at last,
I lie uncorseted
Upon the iron bed,
Composing my lost beads
Over my chest, dreaming back
Each flecked and opalescent
Color, crooning the names,
Along with mine: Binaay, Binaay

Binaay - goodness or kindness in the Filipino

Tagalog language From "Cartography: A
Collection Of Poetry On Baguio" by Maria
Luisa B. Aguilar Cariño, Published 1992 by
Anvil Pub.
Author’s Bio: Luisa A. Igloria grew up in Baguio City, in
the northern Cordillera, Philippines. Since November 20,
2010, she has written (at least) a poem a day, and these are
archived at Dave Bonta’s Via Negativa site. Luisa is the
author of Ode to the Heart Smaller than a Pencil Eraser
(Utah State University Press, 2014); Night Willow