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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

Be Like The Bird

 * When I Falter *

3

Be Like The Bird

Like a bird

Sing where it perches

Sing even if it’s to itself

Letting go

even as it fulfils

its duty

Taking for

just enough.

Be Like The Ant

* When I Falter *

 

2

Be Like The Ant

Like the ant

Gregarious

Unwavering

Seeking untiringly

Setting its rhythm

Setting its pace

Claiming its space.

Faithfully.

When I Falter

 * When I Falter *

1

When I Falter

When I falter

I look at my cat

Yawning and scratching

Shamelessly

When I falter

I look at my dog

Licking and pawing

Shamelessly

I want

to be like the cat

I want

to be like the dog.

End of Life

 * Tears Allowed *

18

End of Life

You are whole again

as you no longer need nor want

At the end of life

I will be whole again

when I no longer need nor want

At the end of life

There are no second chances now

You are there

I am here

What’s left

till end of life

for the living

Second chances

Moving on

will be deliberate

There are

second chances

for the living.

*21032021

When

 * Tears Allowed *

17

When

When tears still flow freely

When feelings of the day you left

are just as raw today

When the songs we shared

play to my tears

When the warmth of your cheek

still remains on my palm

When tears still flow freely

When will I be able

to not care.