Sound of Falling Light
By Carlos Bulosan

When she saw the big face again
nosing in the dark, she ran back
into the great cave and screamed for help.
But the face went closer and closer till
it was all around her, and she was defenceless,
and it was pursuing her from everywhere.

Helpless, she flung herself upon the stone
floor and a star shone brightly above her
and angels sang everywhere and there was silence
and then a voice said softly: “You can go now.”
When she opened her eyes there was no darkness,
there was only light; but she could not see
the white trees that whispered as she passed.

She only knew that she was born
and she was afraid to die.

Reprinted with permission from CARLOS BULOSAN AND HIS POETRY, THE ANTHOLOGY by Susan Evangelista (U of Wash Press, 1985)

© Carlos Bulosan