THE STREETS AT NIGHT

by Luis G. Dato

The cruel muse with tumult fills the cities,
They rear with gasping breath,
And thunder beats upon their pavements,
Thunder that came from death.

The stranger’s heart at eventide is lonely,
And weary must be roam,
As down desert-lands of treason
Faith roams in quest of home.

Love is a weary stranger, sad-eyed, singing,
In the cruel ways of art,
A weariness in quest of its women,
A youth in quest of its heart.

— Philippine Magazine
July, 1939

Luis Dato
Luis Dato

Luis G. Dato (July 4, 1906 - January 29, 1985) was a poet, writer and educator from Sta. Cruz, Baao, Camarines Sur. He published books in English including Manila A Collection of verse (1926), My Book of Verses (1936) and the Land of Mai in 1975. He also wrote several books and text in Bikol such as, Vocabulario Bikol-Ingles-Kastila (1963), Cantahon na Bikol (1969), Morfologia kan Tataramon na Bikol (serialized in Naga Times), Patotodon sa Bikol (Bikol Mail) and Sarabihon sa Bikol.

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