Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Living the Real Life

 * When I Falter *




10

Living the Real Life



What’s the real life?

It’s living the truth

None can maim the truth

None can change the truth

When you live the truth

You live the real life

And the truth is not a lie

And you do not live a lie.




Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Choice

 * When I Falter *




9

Choice



I

Years that gave so much

and so much taken too

Roads I boldly took

Roads I refused to leave


Ignorance and pride

Lodged in cement

of convictions



II

Time of triumph

when there was no applause

Still I have been proud


Time of mind and passion locked

The only regret

It was all too soon gone


Time of the hearts

The only game played

Only for love and the other


Time of right and wrong

Says everyone, it was wrong

I refused to be wrong


Time of shadows

When I forgot to care

Leaving only tears



III

I plod on

Praying to be right

Praying to be safe


Weighed on, by

Wreaths of woe

Garlands of mirth, too


Rules of life

The only strength

was from within



IV

And so I was then

And so I am now

A choice

A decision.




Sunday, March 30, 2025

Bloom and Floom

 * When I Falter *




8

Bloom and Floom



Blooms of chrysanthemum

Bound one to the other

Fresh or sun-dried

Breathing fragrance

Scent to a quiet heart

Faint to a bitter heart.




Friday, March 28, 2025

Only Amusing, Now

 * When I Falter *




7

Only Amusing, Now


With a bold tug

She pulls him through the gate


Whispering bamboos

Keng Hua bloom

Scent of Angel’s Trumpets


The night is only stars

Giggles and chuckles

Scented skin and soft breathing


A brush, and a smack

Good God, mosquitoes!

Breathless no more!




Thursday, March 27, 2025

Nightmare and Dream

 * When I Falter *




6

Nightmare and Dream



Brew, brew, brew

Cat’s Tails and Lobster’s Claw

Tapak Kuda and Mata Lembu

Brew the floral potion

Cocktail to titillate and amuse

Could fragrance so fair

bear such raw and foul names!




Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Be Like The Dolphin

 * When I Falter *




5

Be Like The Dolphin



Like the dolphin

Always with a smile

and a curl


Have a splash

and a smash


Happy together

Happy alone.




Be Like The Chameleon

 * When I Falter *




4

Be Like The Chameleon



Like the chameleon

Red, yellow, green,

pink, blue

or black, brown, grey


Have fun

Colour its steps

Colour its moves

Display

Unabashed.