It's Gone Now, sort of

4

It’s Gone Now, sort of

The candle that you gave

It’s melted down

But how brightly

how fragrantly

when it burnt

because you gave

it to me.

Sometimes

*Life's Still a Basket of Longans* 

3

Sometimes

Sometimes my heart

is drowned in the rain

is scorched by the sun

is blown to bits by the wind 

These are times

I hold my heart in

And I don’t feel too good

I want my heart to race

I want my heart to sing

I need to look for it

to take wings again.

I Can Still Dance

*Life's Still a Basket of Longans*

2
I Can Still Dance

I can still dance

to the mirror

to my humming

I will dance

Awkward it may be

whilst laughters

down me

rolling

on

the floor.

I will dance

till breathlessness

till creaking joints

take me

into

tiredness

and, ah!

flat-out

sleep!

Second Chances

*Life's Still a Basket of Longans*

1 

Second Chances

What finish line?

Don’t mention it

Say, there are

second chances

Not to race to win

But to walk,

stride, or sashay

to my rhythm

my melody.

"Second Chances and Silly Me"

Hands

I

When there are no more hands 

to hold mine

And the journey is still long

I may be alone, perhaps not

I may forget, sometimes

It will not be about hanging on

It will not be about slipping into

It will be ageing consciously.

II

Path of life runs long

sometimes rough

Walk, sway or swagger

Ageing can walk alone

unafraid, confident

when fears not death

When fancy beckons

Answer it, take it

Sweet butterfly life

Age is bloom

when years age 

with grace.

III

I will learn

Even now, I will learn

as I move on

Day to day

Gratitude and humility

to guide

Too much thinking

Too much care

A living lost

Lone heart

Lone one

Never lone spirit

As far as heart can hold

As far as dream will lead

Let it, freely.

IV

Living the real age

Living the truth

Lies hurt

Truth be told

Truth be bold

Purity of intent

By design I weave

and evolve

in the cycle of life

What’s tear, what’s rust

Gems or dregs

Impressions of age

This is my story

What is yours?

No explanation required.

V

When the journey is still long

I will seek colours

to live well, to live full.

Will there be hands to hold mine

Will there be hands to break

stumbles and falls

I may forget

I may be alone

Who will hold my hand?

I will remember I can reach out first.

What's hidden

What's hidden, 

what's revealed,

Not the way to live.

 

Adornment in age

Adornment in age

of nature, by nature

Graceful.