The Light Sang as It Left Your Eyes

[rcloenen-ruiz.livejournal.com]

I hope it's all right to post about poets as well. While the book below has been classified as poetry, it's actually more than that.

Here's a brief review: 

Eileen Tabios is one of the most prolific Filipino-American poets. She has a varied and exciting body of work in which the desire to engage the reader in a conversation is central.

"The Light Sang As It Left Your Eyes" is an account of the passing away of Eileen's father as well as an account of the historical and political reasons behind their leaving The Philippines. There are plenty of poignant images in this book, and while it is classified as poetry, it could also be easily read as a memoir.

While this book is highly personal in its account, it is also very much political. The poet talks of the mail-order bride phenomenon, the phletora of Filipina penpal sites on the Internet, the objectification of the Filipina and how she has been transformed into a commodity.

Alongside this, is the personal aspect of the poet coming to terms with the loss of her father.  The poet reminds us of the transcience of life, our own human frailty and our vision of our parents.

Here is a poignant line that I think would resonate with many readers: 

I want my father immortal, but that’s beyond my control.

This book is available also from amazon.com as well as from Marsh Hawk Press
Eileen's blog can be found here.