AIR

CASTLES
BY: JUAN F. SALAZAR
 ABOUT THE
AUTHOR
Prior to the coming of the Americans to the Philippines,
Filipino writers generally penned their works in Spanish and in
the regional languages.
Juan Salazar was part of the first batch of Filipino writers who
used the English language in their writing.
 ABOUT THE
AUTHOR
Juan F. Salazar and his contemporaries crafted poems and
stories modeled after American writers. This is why early
Philippine literature in English is called the “period of
imitation”.
“Air Castles” demonstrates the Filipino writer’s early attempts
in experimenting with the English language.
 AIR CASTLES
1 2
Deep in my heart Ambition dwells
My life's tomorrow beckons me
From distant mountains high and low He cheers me up the highland way
And guides me through the hills and dells
My future seems a boundless sea
Wherein i pass the busy day.
When moving passions come and go.

3 4
I cannot write with Shakespeare's pen I do not care for fame as he
But i can write with Shakespeare's heart Enthroned was he, like unto a God
I love his skill, his craft of men the depth he reached are dark to me
His mastery of poet's art. But i will grope the ways he trod.
 AIR CASTLES
5 6
I wear achievement's coronet. If i be met by adverse fate
For blest are they who see things done And all my dreams be but in vain
and all my cares i soon forget then i will work harder yet
When i have wrought my work alone. with high resolve to try again.
 QUESTIONS
1. What do you think the title “Air Castles” refers
to? Explain using examples in the poem.
2. What does the speaker in the poem think of the
future?
3. What figures of speech can you identify in the
poem? Give some examples and explain the
meaning of each.
4. How does the speaker feel about Shakespeare?
Do you also admire a particular literary writer?
Who is he or she?
 QUESTIONS
5. What is the speaker’s attitude towards work?
6. In one sentence, summarize the meaning of the
last stanza.
7. Which of the speaker’s ideas do you agree
with? How do you think this poem relates to a
student like you?
 About the
“Air Castles”, which was published in 1909 in the
Renacimiento, a Filipino newspaper. The poem is about the

Poem
author’s dreams and aspirations, and how he uses his imagination
to overcome the challenges and hardships of life. The poem is
written in a soliloquy form, where the speaker addresses himself
and reveals his inner thoughts and feelings
 About the
The poem has a positive and inspirational tone, as it encourages the

Poem
readers to pursue their dreams and not give up on them. The poem
also uses various literary devices, such as metaphors,
personification, imagery, and rhyme, to create a vivid and
expressive picture of the speaker’s vision and emotions.
Moral Lessons
• It teaches us to never stop dreaming and to keep
pursuing our goals despite the obstacles we may
face.
• It also reminds us that our imagination is a
powerful tool that can help us overcome the
challenges of life.
• The poem encourages us to be optimistic and to
believe in ourselves, even when things seem
impossible.
THANK
YOU!