Love in the time of plague: Elizabeth Castillo

Elizabeth Castillo

Immortal Love

a love that transcends

time and place,

a soul meeting her twin flame

in her recurrent abstract dreams

a love that defies laws

immortal love,

one that is extra-ordinary

a love that takes her far into the heavens.

changing faces,

in every century, every decade that passes

but it's still YOU my heart beats for

mystic love,

through fragments in space

illuminated by a strange force

I keep on seeing you

in every place that I go to.

centuries passed,

memories elapsed

still this heart aches

dying to be with you once more,

serendipity playing a game on us

for this love always leads me to just YOU.

immortal love,

my soul intertwined to just ONE

I have been reincarnated a thousand times,

but through all the changing seasons and lives

my spirit keeps on searching for only YOU.

 

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Setu, February 2023

Poetry Affects Eternity: Elizabeth Esguerra Castillo and Shahid Abbas

Elizabeth Castillo

Elizabeth:

Poetry and sunset they go together,

For indescribable words cannot just be uttered

The moment you lay your eyes on

Such magnificent poetic beauty.

Shahid:

Poetry is the language of the soul,

Love, peace, brotherhood, justice, and harmony are its goal 

The beauty which exists in every mind, 

Reminiscing lovely memories each time.

Elizabeth:

I am the poetry I write,

The cool breeze brushing your cheeks

The humming birds in a dreamy meadow,

The howling wolf on a mountain peak,

What would be this world without poetry tomorrow?

Shahid Abbas

Shahid:

Poetry is the love in ones' heart, 

I feel the universe and let it be my part 

The image of nature,

Allows us to appreciate all creatures.

Elizabeth:

Poetry affects eternity,

Though the world is in uncertainty

The verses will be passed on,

Inspire many future generations

We live in the shadow of life's poetry.

Shahid:

Poetry the core of the world,

The Universe exists in it's every word 

The passion

Which awake the dying nations.

Elizabeth:

A poet's word lives forever,

The lyrics of his song will linger

A thousand years may pass,

But poetry's legacy will last. 

Shahid:

No doubt we will be forever alive 

In the golden pages of literature,

The universe will read 

Of the beautiful creations we have. 

Elizabeth Esguerra Castillo / Shahid Abbas

Philippines / Pakistan

***

BIOs

Elizabeth Esguerra Cadtillo is a multi-awarded International Author/Poet/Visual Artist from the Philippines. She is the author of 2 books "Seasons of Emotions" (UK) and "Inner Reflections of the Muse" (USA) and a co-author to more than 100 international anthologies. Elizabeth's works were already translated into 13 languages. Elizabeth is currently also pursuing her career in Visual Arts.

Shahid Abbas is an International  Poet and Writer, he was born in a village in Tandlianwala Faisalabad, Pakistan. He finished first a Government Degree Course in Tandlianwala College and also at GC University Faisalabad from where he attained a MA degree in English literature. He began writing poetry at nineteen-years old. Shahid is presently working as an English Teacher. He has received many writing awards from online writing organizations. His works were translated into different languages. Shahid's poetry has been published in many international books as well as his stories in international newspapers. He is the author of " Words From Nature" and a co-author of a haiku book "We Speak In Syllables" and 7 others.

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Setu, April 2022

Poem: Oppressed Souls

Elizabeth Castillo

By Elizabeth Esguerra Castillo

I stand on Mount Nebo as clouds gather around above,
In front of me lies this majestic, panoramic view
Biblical places of Jericho and Jerusalem
And immersed myself in a contemplative mood.

This mystic revelry brought me back,
To the time Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River
This Land of the Prophets where pilgrims often travel
In search for their lost souls, blessed by the spirit of the gods.

The arid, dry land now cries in deep agony,
Women and children and the weak in a miserable state
Where even water was denied to them by evil occupants
Bringing violence to a once peaceful birth land.

These walls built, witness to a thousand screams of protest and suffering,
From the hands of strangers who stripped them of their dignity
Prisoners captive in their own land, oppressed and enslaved by hunger,
With even the dry river beds they expressed no mercy.

“Give back Palestine to its people”, I can hear their pleas,
The Holy Land where many men walked and communed
Let them marvel again at its holy mountains and miraculous valleys,
Until freedom breathes calmness to their restless spirits.

Setu, September 2018

Poetry Collaboration: Elizabeth Castillo & Jonathan Aquino

Elizabeth Castillo

Metamor-Phoenix

Elizabeth:

An enchanting, mysterious metamorphosis
Sets the cocoon to become a beauteous butterfly,
For its spirit to rise from the ashes
And soar high into the sky.

Jonathan:
All your life you yearned to reach the top,
And one day you’re on the summit, finally,
And you seek the prize, but all you can see
Is another mountain to climb, so you climb
Because life can be funny sometimes.
Elizabeth:

Jonathan Aquino

This winding road which leads me to my destination,
Showed me mazes, down hills and upturns
But I won’t readily succumb to every trial,
For I can see behind the labyrinth, the end to my journey.

Jonathan:
And then we look back the way we came,
And, we see, in pristine glory, the valley,
The hills and forests and rivers,
And, we missed it all, most of all the flowers.

Elizabeth:
I have known joy and had my share of life’s inevitable sorrows,
But each time I was tempted to quit, my angel appears
I know that my path is what Destiny has in store for me
And that each struggle is bound to change me for the better.

Jonathan:
So, we stopped and thought awhile, and we see,
That, the road never ends even when the road ends
And, we go on, wiser, knowing that life is a journey,
A small thought, but it makes all the difference.
Elizabeth:

I have battled my inner demons and even defeated my own self
To save my soul and let the phoenix in me arise,
That moment shining through my door like a thief in the night
The magical catalyst in discovering my true self and my Divine Purpose.

Setu, April 2018

Poem: Sacred Ones

Elizabeth Castillo

By Elizabeth Castillo

The sands of time gently pulls me in your direction,
We are swirling among the infinite stars above
An invisible thread connects my soul to yours,
We often meet at the crossroads of our many lifetimes
Beyond time and space, serendipity weaves magic
Crafts a miraculous story to let our hearts unite again.
A hidden connection which is more powerful than an obvious one
We may be strangers centuries ago, star-crossed lovers in a forgotten era,
Reunited by the angels singing hymns of pure love and peace
Sacred ones with souls meant to be one, etched in the hands of the Universe,
I see your shadow in my dreams created by fragments of memories.
The Mystic Knight enveloped in white aura illuminating the night sky
A legion of cherubims and seraphims guides your every step,
As you enter the frontier of an oasis prepared for us by Eternity
Sacred ones destined to be together to be joined as one spark in our mystic flight,
Pure Divine Love transcends time and space and even defies death
To fulfill the Divine Reunion weaved by Destiny itself.

Setu, April 2018

Eve

Elizabeth Castillo

By Elizabeth Esguerra Castillo

She is more than meets the eye,
Earned her place in the Garden of Eden
A lily in the pond with innate beauty and mystery,
A rosebud which bloomed with hues capturing hearts
The origin of humanity nestled in her womb,
Seduced by the serpent preying around the Tree of Life.

Eve, you are more than a beauty seen on the surface,
A diamond placed in a pedestal, worshipped by your eager subjects
The Queen of the night sky, illuminating dark paths
A maiden in Herculean dreams with the moon as your eternal twin,
Daughter of Venus, Goddess of Love, Twin Flame of Adam
Eve, your mere existence casts magic spells across the cosmos.

Gift of intuition bestowed on you, sensing beautiful serendipity,
Eve, you are the strength of every weary soul needing love
A calming grace you offer to every new born baby’s woes,
Sending a soothing peace, putting them to a deep slumber
Eve, you lay your life for a new creation to witness the earth’s wonder
Eve, to you we give our gratitude for an Eternal Love you offer.

Setu, March 2018

The Sabean Queen’s Immortal Love

Elizabeth Castillo

By Elizabeth Esguerra Castillo

Arabian Bilqis, Queen of Sheba,
You were gifted with all worldly luxuries
As you sit on your royal throne, the Sabean Queendom
The Temple of Awwan stands majestic with its eight pillars,
Signifying your strength which cannot easily be trampled.

Sabean queen who’s name no one really knows
Treated as a royalty possessing great glory,
One fateful day, destiny unfolds as King Solomon
Learned about Saba and eventually crossed paths with you,
Behold, A Queen in great glory and a King, the wisest of them all,
Defying laws and beliefs in the name of love
The ancient immortal sweethearts, star-crossed lovers no more.

Setu, February 2018

Poetry: Elizabeth Castillo

Elizabeth Castillo

Rage Against the Bloodhound
By Elizabeth Esguerra Castillo
While the moonlight chaser serenades his ladylove,
The bloodhound reigns with evil desires
And spreads terror once darkness sets in
Preying for innocent lives, lusting for power and greed
These men in black roam around alleys
Satisfying their cravings for young souls,
Leaving no one behind, offering sacrifices to their demigod
With his hungry devil fangs shattering dreams.

Mothers weep in utter sorrow seeing lifeless remains of their children
A modern depiction of Pieta carrying the stigma of injustice
Reminiscent of Mary crying over the dead body of Christ,
Innocent lives lost in the blink of an eye
The Light is dying, rage is forthcoming
In behalf of these miserable souls damned by blood lust.

Rage against the flickering Light,
The once vivid path which continues to be out of sight
Rage against the dying freedom of the Land,
Killings day by day getting out of hand
Rage against the bloodhound desiring for peace,
But only left blood stains, innocent ones chastised
Their kins screaming and praying for ultimate justice.

Setu, October 2017

Elizabeth Castillo

Elizabeth Esguerra Castillo is a widely-published and multi-awarded international author/poet from the Philippines. She has 2 published books: “Seasons of Emotions” (UK) and “Inner Reflections of the Muse” (USA) and a co-author to more than 70 international anthologies in the USA, Canada, UK, Romania, India, and Africa. Elizabeth is a member of PEN International, American Authors Association (AAA), and Asia Pacific Writers and Translators (APWT).

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