For Derek Walcott, 23 January 1930 – 17 March 2017

You have to be half awake
Precarious as vernaculars
Of light

You have to bring the startle
To the shadow
And shelter
The word that sits
On your tongue

For each wish
You are allowed
One pebble

You have to keep slow

Before a stillness
Before a step
And a goldening tree

You have to follow
The river
Past its shoulder

And see

- Jonel Abellanosa

Jonel Abellanosa resides in Cebu City, the Philippines.  His poetry has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies including, Anglican Theological Review, Rattle, Poetry Kanto, Spirit Fire Review, Episteme Literary Journal, The McNeese Review, The Literary Hatchet, GNU Journal and Pedestal Magazine.  He has two chapbooks, Pictures of the Floating World (Kind of a Hurricane Press) and The Freeflowing All (Black Poppy Review).  He is a Pushcart Prize nominee.