7. • Born on February 23 1945 in Manila
• Also know as “Krip Yuson”
• He has authored 23 books, including
novels, poetry collections, short fiction,
essays, and children's stories.
• He is a founding member of the Philippine
Literary Arts Council (PLAC)
• He currently writes a literature and culture
column for The Philippines Star.
• He also teaches fiction and poetry at Ateneo de
Manila University, where he held the Henry Lee
Irwin Professorial Chair in Creative Writing
8. DREAM OF KNIVES
Last night I dreamt of a knife
I had bought for my son. Of rare design
it went cheaply for its worth– short dagger
With fancily rounded pommel, and a wooden sheath
• 3 stanzas
Which miraculously revealed other, miniature blades.
• 15 lines
Oh how pleased he would be upon my return
from this journey, I thought. What rapture
• The word
will surely adorn his ten-year princeling’s face “knife”
when he draws the gift the first time. What quevering mentioned
pleasure will most certainly be unleashed.
twice
When I woke, there was no return, no journey, • It is a free
no gift, and no son beside me. Where do I search verse form
for this knife then, and when do I begin to draw
happiness from reality, and why do I bleed so
from such sharp points of dreams?
