Continental Drift

Arlene Biala

Arlene Biala’s stark, tender, sensual and political poetry explores stories of the Pacific generations, particularly Filipinos, who have left their native lands to live in America.  This collection goes beyond chronological storytelling into the dance of simultaneous experiences called forth by tragedy, family, and love. 

Poet and performance artist Arlene Biala received her MFA from the New College of California and lives in the San Francisco Bay area.  She is the author of a chapbook, bone.  This is her first full volume.

“What comes across the drift is a tropical landscape of sensuous memories rooted in sorrow, but rescued by enduring love.  Dynamite disguised as sampaguita!”—Genny Lim

America, why is your library so full of tears?
                                    —Carlos Bulosan

slowly through the tall grass    you weave america    amber waves of fear    as you are  
sold for seven dollars a month to a cannery    hand over your heart    clasp america to
your breast    as the truck bumper hits the back of your knees    forcing you to walk
faster    cradle this great country    as you hop trains to seattle, stockton, lompoc,
fresno    to slave for tomatoes, grapes, fish    all the while the bolo knife thwacking
away particles of dreams: saving money to send back home, meeting your american
brothers, equals, compadres,    prospering in the new land    everywhere you go, the
sign reading: absolutely no filipinos allowed    hold fiercely your pen    waving angrily
amidst ugly towns of racism of hatred    as you learn to write in english    swiftly
bleed america free    of indifference

             —for David Meltzer

6 x 9 inches • 36 pages • ISBN 0-931122-95-3 • $7.95