Arlene Biala was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area. Her poetry explores stories of the generations who have left their native lands to live in America, particularly Philipino/a people. A performance artist with an MFA from the New College of California in San Francisco, she has studied under poets Genny Lim, Juan Felipe Herrera, Margarita Luna Robles, David Meltzer, and Lyn Hejinian. She performs with her brothers, Jimmy Biala on percussion and Billy Biala on saxophone, throughout California. Her stark, tender, sensual and political poetry goes beyond chronological storytelling into the dance of simultaneous experiences called forth by tragedy, family, and love.something reminds me that I am next
in line to continue the chant
meanwhile my mother is telling me
not to be afraid she is telling me
stories of her childhood
so that I may learn to be patient
she is teaching me to gather firewood
to pick up memories like pele’s tears
shining in the damp soil.
in line to continue the chant
meanwhile my mother is telling me
not to be afraid she is telling me
stories of her childhood
so that I may learn to be patient
she is teaching me to gather firewood
to pick up memories like pele’s tears
shining in the damp soil.