Antonio A. Apostol, Jr.

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, USA

As Class Poet when he graduated in 1956 from T.R. Yangco High School, Philippines, Antonio delivered his graduation address in poetry. He was writing prose since then and only in 1997 did he write poetry again. He intends to publish a collection of poetry which he hopes to complete and dedicate to his wife, Rhodora. A recipient of the Editor's Choice Award and a Distinguished Member of The International Society of Poets, Antonio has his poems published by The National Library of Poetry. Antonio says, "I write poetry to open the eyes and to stir the hearts."

Antonio may be reached by e-mail to: ApostolTR@aol.com

A Wild Man's Prayer

Ah, the book
a chronicle of man's six millennial dark journey,
of his torturous trek
through the scorching desert of sweat and blood and tears,
of God's two houses,
of bread and corn and oil and grapes and milk and honey
overflowing on their table
and their resultant hubris,
of their stony refusal to give ear to their father's call,
of people not his,
wild people many of whom heard and heeded
and became, too, the bricks of his new temple.
Ah, man, search its coded pages.
Descry the emerging shape on Theos' and Logos'
trestle board: "Let melt man in the crucible
and pour him out a pure gold into our mold."
Man? God?
Ah, Lord, I pray, don't snuff off the candle yet.
Give me the chance
to drink in your cup, to feed in your mount.

Man's Heritage

Ah, the infinite dark space
Strewn with myriad floating pebbles
Of sparkling lights and twinkling fires
Of which the Eternal declared: "They are mine."
Take off your hands, O man.
For no flesh and blood
Ever shall have dominion over them
And on these wastelands,
Neither any heathen
Shall stake his nation's flag,
Nor any mortal shall renew them
And bring forth clouds
And balmy air and rains of life.
For these are the hosts of glittering mansions
Pledged to the seeds of the Highest,
The vast estate set apart for
His righteous heirs, His holy gods.