If Only

 * Tears Allowed *

11

If Only

Hoarse and stumbling

You spoke on the phone

I tried to offer comfort

My tongue grew heavy

Expressions

were not our language of love

The language you had me learn

The tongue I’m comfortable with now

has alienated us more.

Once Upon A Time

 * Tears Allowed *

10

Once Upon a Time

Echoes in an empty hall

Eyes clouded in tears

The dust writes

Of many voices, many laughters

That once upon a time

blew the ceiling high

and now, like the little one

peeking through the paper hole

seeing only what she wants to see.

Woman, Where were You Lost?

 * Tears Allowed *

9

Woman, Where were You Lost?

Child who sees bubble in a moon

Child who traces hills on grandma’s frowns

Child who feeds the ants, they work so hard

Child who sails the world in the bath tub

Woman with plastic face

Woman with diamond eyes

Woman in hood and cloak

Woman with tongue in the womb

Woman, where were you lost?

Not Too Late

 * Tears Allowed *

8

Not Too Late

When wings of life take off 

And words not spoken

can no longer be spoken

And a last breath

taken alone

Perhaps not too late

when no more

need to be said.

January 2016

* Tears Allowed *

 

7

January 2016

Much suddenly

But when suddenly came

It was goodbye

It was celebration too

Of your elegance

Of your counsel

Of your simple presence

We, left behind,

blessed with

your quiet dignity

till the end.

March 1993

 * Tears Allowed *

6

March 1993

As dawn hovered

Quietly you left

As you have moved

Quietly in our lives

It was as you have wished it

The song of life

was sung

A celebration

of what was

Memories

have not let you go

A something

left behind

still swims in tears.

Our Raindrop

 * Tears Allowed *

5

Our Raindrop

You hold a drop of rain

in your palm,

You say you will hold it there

forever, for me.

Colours of rain

dance to me

Warmth of promises

cradles my sleep

I cup your palm

Our warmth

hold the drop of pearl

even as the rain is no more.

It's Over

 * Tears Allowed *

4

It’s Over

I walk the walk

I talk the talk

I follow and I obey

As day into night

And night into day

Yet you do not stay.

I fling the walk

I fling the talk

Now you say you want to stay.

A Song for Me

 * Tears Allowed *

3

A Song for Me

Give me a song

A song to keep

Sung high when I’m high

Sung low when I’m low

Give me a song

A song to call my own

when shadows fall

when daylight breaks

A song for every bone in me.

Echoes

 * Tears Allowed *

2

Echoes

Echoes in the mind

Echoes in the heart

Echoes through the body

I can’t forget

I can’t shut off echoes

of memories sweet

of memories sharp

Allow me

a tear and a pain

even as I celebrate 

echoes of you.

Saying Goodbye

 * Tears Allowed *

1

Saying Goodbye

The earth embraces you

The fallen leaves blanket you

The elements repose

in harmony at last.

Sleep, sleep

Softly sleep

in the light of the day

in the darkness of the night.

The cup will not runneth over

with tears

But with twinkles and laughters

of yesteryears.

Just Love Being Out

* Just Another Day *

 

15
Just Love Being Out

The afternoon dredges on
Like a schoolboy waiting
For the last bell to ring
And I sit
beneath the sprawling leaves
A stray breeze
lulls the drooping lids
Human forms dissolve
and I'm lost in a cool no-who haze.

What the Mynas Taught Me

 * Just Another Day *

14

What the Mynas Taught Me

The pair squabble

and squawk

And fly away together

Then they are back

Like nothing has happened

And then they’re at it again

And return

Perch side by side

Like nothing has happened

I touch my burning heart

Perhaps his heart is burning too

I go towards him

Like nothing has happened

The day turns 

bright and sunny.

Not Out

* Just Another Day *

 

13

Not Out

The rain comes early

And we coop up

in the house

And that’s not a bad thing

And we look out

And we say

Lucky us!

Not caught out in the rain!

But are we?