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.

Will I Wish Upon A Passing Cloud?

 * Tears Allowed *

16

Will I Wish Upon A Passing Cloud?

If I wish upon a passing cloud

Will I see you

Passing by

No, I don’t want to wish upon a star

Because I know

It will not bring you by

What will it do anyway

To wish upon a passing cloud

Just to see you passing by.

The Truth

 * Tears Allowed *

15

The Truth

Believe as you are told

Love the way you are loved

What is the truth

in loving

Will knowing the truth release

Will not knowing the truth deny.

I Thought I Knew

 * Tears Allowed *

14

I Thought I Knew

I thought I knew

better then

But today

I wish, just a little,

I had tried, a little more,

(to do things differently)

Today the house

would remember laughter

of a complete nest

The luggage

would have scratches

of paths travelled

on roads less known.

Hide Away

 * Tears Allowed *

13

Hide Away

Welcome the night

Repose the day fights

Shedding the day

Of wild and ugly says

Darkness is a shell

Away, free to laugh and cry

Night turns to day

Shadows into rays 

It’s once again a fight

to stay right in the light.