Poetry from Lilian Dipasupil Kunimasa

Light skinned Filipina woman with reddish hair, a green and yellow necklace, and a floral pink and yellow and green blouse.
Lilian Dipasupil Kunimasa

A Baby

A baby knows no race

A baby knows no scent

A baby knows no cloth

A baby knows no ideas

A baby knows a warm lap

A baby knows warm embrace

A baby knows a gentle hum

A baby knows what love is

A baby knows any language

A baby knows contentment

A baby knows peaceful sleep

A baby knows beautiful dream

A baby knows a heart that’s true

When have we stopped being a baby,

Stopped knowing what matters?

When have we stopped feeling,

Stopped having a baby’s wisdom?

Don’t Be Afraid

Summer nights, cool breeze flows to caress

Moon and stars hidden above the trees

Darkness hid the shadows of life

Eyes blindfolded not by silky scarf

Don’t be afraid of the absence of the sun

Summer nights when stars are hidden above

Where is North, where is the Perseus god?

No torch to guide one’s stumbling on a path

No flames of bonfire crackling to give one warmth

Don’t be afraid with the feeling of being lost

Summer nights stranger alone and young

A child scared of the unknown night sounds

Yet twinkling lights were seen flying near and free

Fireflies are so gentle to keep you company

Don’t be afraid, you’re never alone even in the dark

Don’t be afraid though your eyes seem blind

Don’t be afraid though you feel lost and cold

Don’t be afraid of being alone in the dark

You are never alone, just wait and believe

Don’t be afraid, you are protected. Don’t you see?

Lilian Dipasupil Kunimasa was born January 14, 1965, in Manila, Philippines. She has worked as a retired Language Instructor, interpreter, caregiver, secretary, product promotion employee, and private therapeutic masseur. Her works have been published as poems and short story anthologies in several language translations for e-magazines, monthly magazines, and books; poems for cause anthologies in a Zimbabwean newspaper; a feature article in a Philippine newspaper; and had her works posted on different poetry web and blog sites. She has been writing poems since childhood but started on Facebook only in 2014. For her, Poetry is life and life is poetry.

Lilian Kunimasa considers herself a student/teacher with the duty to learn, inspire, guide, and motivate others to contribute to changing what is seen as normal into a better world than when she steps into it. She has always considered life as an endless journey, searching for new goals, and challenges and how she can in small ways make a difference in every path she takes. She sees humanity as one family where each one must support the other and considers poets as a voice for truth in pursuit of equality and proper stewardship of nature despite the hindrances of distorted information and traditions.