The personification of death is an idea that captures many writers, but can be quite challenging to write in a believable way. Using just enough detail and without being overly observational, Luis Francia does exactly this, delivering a poem that is both succinct and clever, carefully characterizing Death, and the mortals whose lives he takes, in an amusing yet serious way. Francia’s “Oblivion” was published in our 15th issue, Spring 2012, along with another beautiful poem, “For the Lovers in Fallujah,” both of which were also published in his own book, Tattered Boat.

Luis Francia is a Filipino American poet, journalist, and nonfiction writer. He is the award-winning author of several books including “Eye of the Fish: A Personal Archipelago,” “Flippin’: Filipinos on America,” and “A History of the Philippines: From Indios Bravos to Filipinos.” He was an assistant editor/writer of The Village Voice from 1984–2006 and is a former Op-Ed columnist for the New York Daily News. He is currently a professor of Asian American studies at New York University and Hunter College, and lives in Queens with his wife, Midori. For a full bio, check out his Poetry Foundation page.

Click here to enjoy “Oblivion”

Vintage Anomaly {FKA Drunken Boat} 119: Luis Francia’s “Oblivion,” DB 15 was originally published in Anomaly on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.