The Dangers of This CraftThe Dangers of This CraftMa. Fatima V. Lim Wilson Ma. Fatima V. Lim Wilson

How we sing, even as we are boiled alive.How we sing, even as we are boiled alive.Those who torment us strain to sustainThose who torment us strain to sustainOur last notes. In a landscapeOur last notes. In a landscapeOf sameness, our crooked towers scrapeOf sameness, our crooked towers scrapeSensibilities, the well-trained eye.Sensibilities, the well-trained eye.Why when starved, do we thrive?Why when starved, do we thrive?Remembrance of childhood’s breadRemembrance of childhood’s breadRising. The taste of dulcified Rising. The taste of dulcified Dropping of air. Our well-Dropping of air. Our well-Meaning friends beg us, please,Meaning friends beg us, please,Speak in the measured tonesSpeak in the measured tonesOf the mediocre. Show offOf the mediocre. Show offOur mastery of muteness,Our mastery of muteness,The ambidextrous virtuosityThe ambidextrous virtuosityOf work-stained hands. LetOf work-stained hands. LetThose knitting needles, heavy-Those knitting needles, heavy-Handled axes fly. Why mustHandled axes fly. Why mustWe hear voices? See the moving We hear voices? See the moving

Parts of still objects? And so, Parts of still objects? And so, We insist we no longer seeWe insist we no longer seeThrough whitewashed walls.Through whitewashed walls.We confessed our dreams of flyingWe confessed our dreams of flyingHave ceased. We scheme,Have ceased. We scheme,The miracle of money keeping usThe miracle of money keeping usAwake. Our pleasure liesAwake. Our pleasure liesIn memorizing the exactnessIn memorizing the exactnessOf recipes. We are found to beOf recipes. We are found to beMost eloquent when quiet, evenMost eloquent when quiet, evenAs we argue happily with the teemingAs we argue happily with the teemingInhabitants opening doors in our heads.Inhabitants opening doors in our heads.We stare seemingly unmoved at the fireWe stare seemingly unmoved at the fireOf our burning books, all the whileOf our burning books, all the whileEnthralled, reading secrets in the flames.Enthralled, reading secrets in the flames.They think they’ve killed us offThey think they’ve killed us offEven as somewhere, everywhere, a childEven as somewhere, everywhere, a childRecalls the beat of the ocean womb.Recalls the beat of the ocean womb.

They dance upon our tombs, They dance upon our tombs, unawareunaware

Of how they have fallenOf how they have fallen

Victim to the rhythmVictim to the rhythm

Of our singing bones.Of our singing bones.

gift gift Ma. Fatima V. Lim Wilson Ma. Fatima V. Lim Wilson

I have imagined I have imagined Making love with youMaking love with youSo oftenSo oftenI am pulled ajarI am pulled ajarWhen you walk towards meWhen you walk towards meMerely,Merely,With all your clothes on.With all your clothes on.We have come togetherWe have come togetherCountlesslyCountlesslyThat I can bear the distanceThat I can bear the distanceSet by furniture and fabricsSet by furniture and fabricsIntimate friends, the airIntimate friends, the airAnd worst of allAnd worst of allThe nights.The nights.

I have come to believeI have come to believe

In the power of those scenesIn the power of those scenes

That when I touch things:That when I touch things:

Bottles and handles,Bottles and handles,

Light switches,Light switches,

And the soft insidesAnd the soft insides

Of fruits,Of fruits,

They squirm,They squirm,

PerturbedPerturbed

By the violenceBy the violence

Surging through my thumbs.Surging through my thumbs.

Strange. You have never kissed me.Strange. You have never kissed me.

You brushed my elbow onceYou brushed my elbow once

As we crossed the streetAs we crossed the street

And my lower extremitiesAnd my lower extremities

Were honey:Were honey:

Every nerve, pore and cellEvery nerve, pore and cell

The havocThe havoc

Of hundreds and hundredsOf hundreds and hundreds

Of singing, sweet bees.Of singing, sweet bees.

To R. To R. Ma. Fatima V. Lim WilsonMa. Fatima V. Lim Wilson

Though you sit beside me,Though you sit beside me,

Brush your shoulder against mine,Brush your shoulder against mine,

And whisper close enoughAnd whisper close enough

To lull my cold ear to sleep,To lull my cold ear to sleep,

I know you are somewhere else.I know you are somewhere else.

You are in a day-old petalYou are in a day-old petal

Floating on a puddleFloating on a puddle

Born from last night’s rain.Born from last night’s rain.

You are in secret lines I readYou are in secret lines I readFrom some old poet’s heart-taleFrom some old poet’s heart-taleWhich my falling tears reveal, Which my falling tears reveal, And wash away.And wash away.You are in the little teeth of biting wind,You are in the little teeth of biting wind,The outstretched hands of fallen branches,The outstretched hands of fallen branches,And the silent stranger of a road I trod onAnd the silent stranger of a road I trod onWalking, walking homeWalking, walking home

Your book of rhymes heavy in my folded armsYour book of rhymes heavy in my folded arms

Your voice still in my earsYour voice still in my ears

A lullaby of faded flowersA lullaby of faded flowers

Walking, walking homeWalking, walking home

Shivering from yesterday’s rain.Shivering from yesterday’s rain.

FATIMA LIM-WILSON FATIMA LIM-WILSON (1961–)(1961–)

She studied English literature at the Ateneo de Manila University, graduating with She studied English literature at the Ateneo de Manila University, graduating with a bachelor of arts cum laude in 1982. She traveled to Japan, as a scholar, and a bachelor of arts cum laude in 1982. She traveled to Japan, as a scholar, and studied Japanese literature and language for one academic year. She then moved to studied Japanese literature and language for one academic year. She then moved to the United States, where, in 1985, she earned an M.A. in English literature with an the United States, where, in 1985, she earned an M.A. in English literature with an emphasis in creative writing from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She emphasis in creative writing from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She moved back to the Philippines and from 1986 to 1987 worked as the confidential moved back to the Philippines and from 1986 to 1987 worked as the confidential assistant to Rene Saguisag, the spokesperson for the Corazon Aquino assistant to Rene Saguisag, the spokesperson for the Corazon Aquino administration. When Saguisag won a senate seat, Lim-Wilson served as his administration. When Saguisag won a senate seat, Lim-Wilson served as his confidential assistant from 1987 to 1989. She traveled back to the United States to confidential assistant from 1987 to 1989. She traveled back to the United States to continue graduate education and completed a Ph.D. in creative writing from the continue graduate education and completed a Ph.D. in creative writing from the University of Denver in 1992. Just before finishing the doctorate, Lim-Wilson University of Denver in 1992. Just before finishing the doctorate, Lim-Wilson published her first collection, published her first collection, Wandering Roots/From the HothouseWandering Roots/From the Hothouse, which won , which won both the Philippine National Book Award and the Colorado Book Award. both the Philippine National Book Award and the Colorado Book Award.

As a notable success in the world of creative writing, Lim-Wilson has received As a notable success in the world of creative writing, Lim-Wilson has received numerous awards, scholarships, and grants worldwide, which include Palanca numerous awards, scholarships, and grants worldwide, which include Palanca Awards (Philippines) and scholarships from the Universities of Vienna and Oslo, Awards (Philippines) and scholarships from the Universities of Vienna and Oslo, Oxford University, Uppsala University in Sweden, and University Oxford University, Uppsala University in Sweden, and University