Friday, November 30, 2012

Moment in Time

                                                                       Portrait by J.B.Yeats
Image: A youthful W.B Yeats drawn by his father JB
Sourced through Wikimedia Commons (here)

The thoughts drifted I had my share
To times long past to times laid bare
I had the wisdom I had her praised
Her image so clear I was amazed

And yet for all that I had felt so right
Believing every word that I had said,
I praised her that made her eyes grow bright
Basking in that special moment's limelight

We sat silent she'd not said a word,

Were it not for the ridiculous crowds that meet
A heart that laughter had made so sweet
Would not know until we walked the very street
Whereon a thing once walked, for one to greet

We walked silently without a word

Suspicious darting eyes of sorts
Friendly folks but we let them be
Slowly and surely without a nod
We passed them by in all dignity

Hand in hand in a world of our own
Two souls but with one heart all alone

Note: I had based the above from the poem below,

A Memory Of Youth
(by William Butler Yeats)

THE moments passed as at a play;
I had the wisdom love brings forth;
I had my share of mother-wit,
And yet for all that I could say,
And though I had her praise for it,
A cloud blown from the cut-throat North
Suddenly hid Love's moon away.
Believing every word I said,
I praised her body and her mind
Till pride had made her eyes grow bright,
And pleasure made her cheeks grow red,
And vanity her footfall light,
Yet we, for all that praise, could find
Nothing but darkness overhead.
We sat as silent as a stone,
We knew, though she'd not said a word,
That even the best of love must die,
And had been savagely undone
Were it not that Love upon the cry
Of a most ridiculous little bird
Tore from the clouds his marvellous moon.
ALTHOUGH crowds gathered once if she but showed her face,
And even old men's eyes grew dim, this hand alone,
Like some last courtier at a gypsy camping-place
Babbling of fallen majesty, records what's gone.
These lineaments, a heart that laughter has made sweet,
These, these remain, but I record what-s gone. A crowd
Will gather, and not know it walks the very street
Whereon a thing once walked that seemed a burning cloud

Written for Anna at d' Verse with Meeting the Bar - Erasure poetry

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Rich and Poor

                                                                          Picture by Jamie Davies
Image: Banner 'Capitalism Plunders' at G20 Meltdown Protest, London 2009
Sourced through Wikimedia Commons (here)

Haves and the haves-not
Social conflicts besetting
deemed rich and real poor

Bridging the wide gap
To right the social fabric
Fairness to the fore

Capitalism
as against socialism
keeps grinding the wheels

Given the present,
Capitalism leads the
way, widening still!

Written for Ella's at Poets United's Wonder Wednesday #11 with prompt -bridge-

Monday, November 26, 2012

A Lone Survivor

                                                                            Picture: Red Chair (source here)
Image: Courtesy of Tess' Mag

Life's tragedy of a sad reminder sadly
Wherein the aim staying at its prime
With expectations of rehabilitation
Patiently waiting, they came and went

All of them, they had all gone
They took all one by one
The furniture, furnishings, everything
In the name of development and progress
Except the red chair no less

Made to wait to know its fate
For what reasons no one knows
perhaps,

The upholsterer would have got it freed
or,
The wrecking crew, a casualty of the developer's greed

Written for Tess' Magpie 145

Friday, November 23, 2012

Appreciation

                                                                            Picture by Bohringer Friedrich .
Image: Large flowering head of a matured sunflower
Sourced  through Wikimedia Commons (here)

Given to niceties
When growing up through the  years
Life had been forgiving

Now more towards
challenging times
Opening up to old age

Health-wise afflictions
slowly creep in,on the quiet
but progressively

Testing times on hold
or arrested wholly, lucky me
Work or at play one takes
the middle road

Thankful for the morrow
That offers so much for those
who strive at their own pace

Written for Sam's Forms for All at d'Verse with theme 'Giving Thanks'

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Beach


 Image:1 Hank at the beach in Bali. The hotel conveniently fronts the beach

 Image: Azhar my youngest having the time of his life

Image:3 Shadah with Azhar (some Aussies in the background)

Sea breeze nodding by
Rapport with the light waves to
quiet slow ripples

Hitting the beach to
countless holiday-makers
enjoying the sun

Ravenous tsunami
Not part of the equation
On with it, people!

Written for Chev's CARPE DIEM #51 with prompt -beach-

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Wrestling

                                                                  Picture by Staff Sgt Jason Carter USMC
Image: Capt F Workman USMC competing in a Greco-Roman bout
Sourced through Wikimedia Commons (here)

Physical combat
sport. Grappling opponents with
locks, holds and take downs

Greco-Roman style
No tripping but to pin down
to register wins

Freestyle allows more
use of  legs by both, thrilling
variety of moves

Written for Jenn's Sensational Haiku Wednesday #178 with theme, freestyle and Brian's hosting at d'Verse OpenLinkNights week 71

Monday, November 19, 2012

Rose

                                                                      Attribution to Fir0002/Flagstaffotos
Image: A Wild Rose
Sourced through Wikimedia Commons (here)

Regal dominance
Rose,by any other name
Gracious in beauty

Thorny but perfumed
Nature's benevolence, a
protective stance

Myriads of colors
Radiant, undeterred by
vagaries of weather

Written for Chev's CARPE DIEM #49, with prompt, Rose

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Warehouse


                                                                               Squall 1986 by Andrew Wyeth
Image: Courtesy of Tess' Mag

Trees kept wondering
Saplings outside the warehouse
Full grown since stood tall

Crowds streamed endlessly
in but emptiness at dusk
Misty in the dark

Accentuating
suspicions were crates moved in
in stealth of late nights

Note: Was on the road. This was meant for the preceding Haiku Heights ( trees) and d'Verse ( photos) Had it adjusted for these later submissions.Will catch up with comments of those on my recent postings shortly. (apologies!)

Written for Tess' Magpie 144, Chev' CARPE DIEM #48 with prompt Mist and Poet's United Poetry Pantry #124

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Mona Lisa


                                                                                          Picture by Edal Anton Lefterov                                                         
Image: Visitors of the Louvre in front of the Mona Lisa
Image sourced through Wikimedia Commons (here)

The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci,has been acclaimed as "the best known, the most visited, the most written about, the most sung about, the most parodied work of art in the world" - Wiki

Adorned at a section of the Louvre
A permanent display on  view

Who was she of mysterious identity
Was it a portrait of Lisa Gherardini
None could  claim with all certainty
But it created an aura that captivated many
Fascination with the smile over many a century
Had subjected it to numerous cases  of study

But sadly
Being acclaimed had created envy
In minds of those wrought with insanity
To cause mischief with impunity

Peruggia a Louvre employee
Had it stolen to return it to Italy
Vandalized  with quite a variety
A rock, a mug, red paint, and acid damaged it severely
But restoration effected with all ingenuity

In a  bulletproof glass case for safety
The enigmatic smile accorded immunity
Now preserved for posterity

Written for Victoria, hosting at d'Verse with prompt Meeting the Bar - Literary Allusion 

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Target Practice


Image: An old picture taken after weapons training lessons. Two LMG's seen in the foreground.
From Left: Squatting - Rahman Torch, M.Sham ( Datuk) Aji ( Datuk, Dr) Standing: Hooi, Razali Bai, Daniel Chan (deceased) and Hank

‘Fire’!, familiar call
Saturday’s weapons training
Self Loading Rifles

For target practice
Outer, Inner, Magpie,Bull
Butt Party’s  response

Live bullets were used
Fun, but just as dangerous
A teenager’s dream

Process Notes:  Hank had his secondary education  ( equivalent to High School years ) at the Royal Military College.  Military Training, comprising, Parades, Weapons Training and Map-Reading were on every Saturday mornings. Target Practice was just one aspect of weapons training.  It was at the 100-meter Shooting Range using Self Loading Rifles ( SLR ) or Light Machine Guns ( LMG) with .303 live ammo. The Butt Party at the far end would indicate after each shot  the outcome.  It could be  a Bull’s- Eye,  Magpie, Inner , Outer  or off target. It was fun!

Written for Joe's hosting at d”Verse’s OpenLinkNights week 70 and Chev’s  CARPE DIEM # 45 with prompt - fire-

Monday, November 12, 2012

School Holidays

Image:1 The neighborhood kids. Kimie got them all rounded up. From left: Abu, Daniel (of Portuguese/French parentage) Norman (foreground) and Kimie (at the background) both my grandchildren, Dickson (Chinese) and Imran ( of Malay/Chinese parentage )

Image:2 They came for a tame birthday do. It was Kimie's. He turned 10 on Nov 09! Among themselves they are a neat group. Last night both Norman and Kimie were at a sleep-over at Daniel's house! Daniel's family will be leaving for home ( in France) in Dec. They're making the most of each other now!

The school holidays are here again!  It’s practically mid-November through early January!  Those younger ones are already at it. It’s the carefree days for them beginning this week. Those older ones are mentally sweating it out. They are in the midst of major exams that will eventually determine directions for their future. As for the minders  (I for one) we have to think of ways to ease off the boredom. It’s a pretty long stretch and activities must have variety to make it interesting for them.
The choice is an open book.Trips overseas (not many can afford that) Trips inland, excursions that cost less, entertainment centers at the Mall, private clubs ( here ) or just freebies at the beach or libraries. Whatever it might be, it'll be thrilling time! Childhood days are never forgotten!

School is over, great!
The neighborhood kids are here
They do their own thing

Minders are busy
thinking ahead on how to
fill up their free time

It is a challenge
Must be interesting but
cost is a factor 

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Verdun


                                                                             Verdun 1917 by Felix Vallotton 
Image: Courtesy of Tess' Magpie

Man against man
A common cause
of human conflict

A flare up of fire power
A common course
of conflict resolution

A test of strength
A show of strength

The Battle of Verdun
Soldiers against soldiers
Reportedly the longest
For the whole of ten months
One of the most devastating
In World War One
A war to end all wars
So it was known

But human conflicts persist
To this day battles rage
Now soldiers against civilians
with added precision

A crying shame
Excuses so lame
Women and children are game
Collateral damage is the name
A description given
without conscience

Written for Tess' Magpie Tales #143

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Anti-War


Image: War Veterans Marching in Boston
Image Source: Through Wikimedia Commons (here)

A gun in his hand
Folks all around him
Fallen unlucky ones
Others looking grim

Where does it all end
Months here without relief
Tour of duty a second time
Something’s got to give

Came by in the night
All on his own, alone
His gun viciously sprayed
Dead more than a dozen

Back home he is on trial
‘Revenge killing’ so it seems
All alone facing the rap
But is it fair only him?

Those that he didn’t trust
Sent him there for what reason
Others showed their disgust
Jon Michael Turner for one (here)

Written for Karin's Poetics - Making Peace at d'Verse

Thursday, November 8, 2012

The Blue Nile


                                                                                  Picture by Dr Peter Jeschofnig
Image: The Blue Nile C Falls
Image sourced through Wikimedia Commons under licence (here)

The Blue Nile is a river of Ethiopia, one of the two main tributaries of the Nile, the other being the White Nile.

I am done with you
Blue, does it occur to you
you are depressing

Funny enough, blue
is peaceful,  a color of
love, so well defined

Blue of a sky and
accompanied with sunshine
is one so refined

Blameless of umbrage
misunderstood for long and
unfairly treated

Why then treat you with
disdain, not wanting to get
acquainted for what?

Written for Chev's CARPE DIEM #39 a haiku set with prompt -blue-

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Hibiscus


Image: Hank snapped this lovely hibiscus this morning. I was elated this being the first bloom of a cutting Shadah had planted some time earlier in the year.

Want to share a secret?
(click here, it's no regret)
It’s the rhyming genius
Spiced with great images
Few had signed the forms
To perform at an audition
That is Pat’s rhyming show
And what do you know!
Hank is featured FIRST!
Pardon this outburst

This is plain happiness
But, this is not the secret
Happiness happened earlier
An episode quite familiar
Shadah’s cutting bloomed a first
Of a lovely red hibiscus

Still the secret this is not
But it’s the hibiscus rather
It's our national flower! 

Note: The hibiscus is the national flower of Malaysia

Written for OpenLinkNight at d'Verse week 69

Monday, November 5, 2012

I Am A Lady


                                         Charis, Lake Ediza, California, 1937 by Edward Weston
Image: Courtesy of Tess' Mag

I am staying put
I am not moving

Where is the chivalry
That I long for
that you are so sure of having
that makes you a man

I am a lady treat me like one
I may be garbed in army fatigues
But I can still be lady-like

I may sit in this unorthodox fashion
But I’m just as sexy

Who is there to tell me otherwise
The fact that I’m in fatigues
Allowed me the leeway

Written for Tess' Magpie Tales  #142 and Open Link Mondays at Real Toads

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Micro Fiction - cynical

Image: Courtesy of Grandma's

Believe me. I'm not
being cynical nor
sarcastic. I'm always open
with you.
I admire your sincerity.
It's just that I'm not 
ready just yet!

(140 characters)
counted through Design215 (here)

Grandma's Goulash challenged us to write a Micro Fiction of not exceeding 140
characters using the picture provided above and the word 'cynical'

Grandma's Succinctly Yours new week #85 and Poets United's Poetry Pantry #122

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Rear Window


                                                          Digital Art by SueAnn (Used with permission)
Image:1 Courtesy of d'Verse. More paintings and photos by the talented SueAnn (here)

Image:2 James in 'The Rear Window'
Sourced through Wikimedia Commons under licence (here)

Image:3 His co-star the ever beautiful Grace Kelly
Sourced through Wikimedia Commons under licence (here)

Relaxed of an innocent charade
Peering out to the outside world
Through dusty glass panes 
As often experienced of dwellers
Perched up in low rise buildings
Of goings on of least significance
At their rear windows

Some weirdos with time in their hands
Armed with a powerful pair of binoculars
Brazenly raiding the nest of others
Violating the guarded privacy
Spying on their neighbors
At their rear windows

Alfred Hitchcock however,brought a semblance
of respectability to such voyeur tendencies
which bagged 4 Academy Award nominations
considered by many as one of his best and was
even added to the US National Film Registry
in 1977 as an acclaimed production
the Rear Window

Written for Brian's hosting of Poetics: Through the Artist's Lens at d'Verse

Friday, November 2, 2012

Rainbow Two

Kris in CARPE DIEM suggested a reprise to the prompt 'rainbow'. This time instead of emphasizing on colors I chose to highlight a few items of rainbow. My earlier 'Rainbow' post can be found (here) (Kris, thanks for the special mention)


                                                                                  Photo by Gussisaurio
The Rainbow Bridge at night. A Tokyo spectacular from Odaiba island.
Sourced through Wikimedia Commons (here)

Spanning Tokyo Bay
Odaiba leisure island
The destination

                                                                 Photo donated by Steven G Johnson                        
A yellow lobster in an aquarium
Sourced through Wikimedia Commons (here)

Scientists are baffled by the many reports of rare-colored lobsters lately
Amazing lobsters
Make frequent appearances
In multi-colors.

Written for Kris aka Chev’s CARPE DIEM rainbow reprise #34

Recuperating

Image: Shadah resting after surgery
Anna hosting at d’Verse had suggested writing on a high and low of poetic art and culture. Not strictly to the prompt here but I'm really on a high and low.

On extreme high now,
To Providence, extremely
thankful and grateful

On low last week, slow
on comments and response, to
seek apologies

My loving wife Shadah had a minor surgery done on Nov. 1st.  It was scheduled earlier on 23rd Oct but brought back to the later date. When I enquired last week how risky it would be, I was given the classic answer, ‘any surgery is risky’ ( it left a lump in my throat )

The procedure took about 2 hrs and everything’s just fine now!  We wish to thank God the AlMighty and most Merciful for having protected us in our moments of concern and moments of need  And Datuk Dr R and his team did a splendid job. We are extremely grateful.  Shadah was discharged today. We are back home now!

Written for Anna’s Meeting the Bar at d”Verse