Tag: free verse

The Guardian of The White Mugs

Learning, Map It!, Poetic, Those People
She cleans the mugs
From which we drink,
She swipe the stains
Of tea and coffee.

She moves the mugs
To humming machine,
She unloads them out,
In to drying machine.

She smiles to us
We smile to her,
She says hello
We say thank you.

She asks me why
I drink so much,
She guesses I’m thirsty
Or the aircon is cold.

She’s a guardian
Of the white mugs.
How life is hilarious!
Among those who are serious!

—-

i like talking with certain cleaning ladies assigned in the pantries near my section and the gym, and seems that they love doing it, too. there is one particular loving it the most, a (probably) 25-yo lady with a syndrome making her not talking clearly and processing messages rather slowly yet she is the friendliest. today she told me how many mugs she has to wash (helped by machines) everyday and why there are many more on Tue to Thu. she said many employees like to use more than one mug (each mug for one tea flavour) and she’s wondering why. when i said “i use one mug for one tea flavour because i don’t want to mix the taste, i am sorry”, she said “no, no, then it is ok lah” 🥹 what a blessing to talk to a humble human being — not so much thought processed and so much fun enjoyed 🥰

thanks for taking good care of our white mugs! 🙏🏼

As Long As You Are Happy

Learning, Poetic, This Person
Life is light
When she dances
And sings.
As long as you are happy,
She says.

—

smile, dance and sing! 😀 unbeatable when she takes good care of the child within 💝

Love & Work

Learning, love
I’ll love
No matter what
I’ll be over anyways.
I’ll work
No matter what
I’ll be over anyways.
There is me
Or not, 
It might be the same.
Yet as long as there is me,
I’ll do what I can
To add more
Meanings
And
Utility
To my life.
I’ll love
No matter what
In life.
Life is good,
I won’t skip
A thank
And
Or
Cheers.

—

listen to love; it is everywhere 💕

Good Morning from Ubud

Learning, Poetic
It is a good morning
Maybe afternoon for you.
This morning I still breathe blessings
Wrapped by songs from the bird,
Back home by hum of machines.
Both are good
In a blessed morning.
Know, beloved
That I remember you
Who might enjoy the day
And ready to welcome a weekend.
Everything is good when in Ubud,
I know everything is good
Everywhere
If we let blessings contaminate the air.

—-

when i breath fresh air, i feel more me

good morning from Puri Saraswati

not a water person but love seeing water, quiet morning in front of the pool with birds singing and voice of sweep stick raking the ground

good morning to a lazy snail

another one

good morning to the unknown neighbour that might be still sleeping

Almost Birthday

Learning, Poetic, Those People
It almost arrives.
A blessed day,
The one when
A generation is born
To share what may
And
To bear what shall.

Happy birthday!

—-

a prayer is recited — health and happiness with the loved ones 💝

Quiet Noise

Learning, Poetic
Quiet and noise
Are both luxury
Which cross clarify
And cross verify.
Both cost so high
In each phase.
At times each is a spy
To bug each other
To find when the best time
To be quiet
Or
To be noisy.

—

I am doing a sacred silence retreat next week. Called Tapa Brata, this retreat is where we will meditate most of the time in a day. Pak Merta is a devoted Buddhist who has been opening this meditation center for years to promote self health and at certain level herbal medication teaching. I am not a Buddhist but I feel that this retreat has helped me a lot to calm my mind.

There won’t be any interaction with others directly during the retreat. No talking. No reading. No writing. No listening except to the meditation guidance and sound of nature in Forest Island. All gadgets will be safe-kept by the organiser so we will be totally offline human beings.

It is about communicating with one’s self.

The interaction is primarily within. I remember how hard it was for me in my first Tapa Brata in 2018 just to not say good morning and good night to my roommates on the first day. Hope this one is easier for me.

💝

that joglo (the building with terracotta roof) is the meditation hall, two jinengs (Balinese rice storage) are sleeping quarters (only for male), 9 bungalows are located behind the joglo for meditators to sleep, the dog is in front of the dining joglo

the dog? he was with whom everyone wanted to talk after lunch in silence — he would just stare at us and yawn and sleep seeing us talking without saying things, he probably understood 😃 hope to see him again

Simple Joy

Learning
Is there a space
For happiness in an angry man’s belly?


Simple joy can cure hunger.
It draws smiles.
It brews laughter.
It dampens dry heart.
It cheers up weary soul.

Is there a space
For unhappiness in an angry man’s belly?

If he knows joy is as simple as
A pattern on matcha latte,
He should say “Sorry for breaking your heart,
But loving myself is a priority”.

Simple joy is not that simple
For those knowing no simplicity.

—

we asked the barista in our office to draw flower on on the matcha latte but he said it was too difficult “this time this lah, flower needs more training haha…. sorry ya” 😁 thank you, that is pretty, too

Harvested

Learning, life, Poetic
Not only fruits,
It might be flowers, seeds and seedlings.
It might be leaves, woods or saps.
It might be barks, husks or roots.
It might be more.
Whatever beneficial—

What is this tree harvested for?
None—
No. Either
One:
Good deed or good time.

Harvest from life, Beloved.
Remember to sow before the next reap.


Her heart and soul is her best seeds,
And she is the farmer and the crop.

biggest lessons taken from this — not so much relatable yet good lessons indeed

a bit of hilariously heroic – good to build good mood 😃

enigmatic and dark

Time & Life

Learning
Time knocks on a door of life saying
“Would you travel with me?”
And a journey begins.
Time hugs its travel buddy knowing
That she might be off of the track.
Time talks to her hoping
That she is aware of the walk.
Time prances with her knowing
That she is on to where it heads.

—-

dark and bright in one frame ♥️ time is a mystery

My Heart Is Leaping

Learning, Map It!, Poetic
My heart is leaping.
It opens its windows, breathes the joy.
It celebrates parties,
As invited by beauty that pops out out of life.
It claps hands.
It taps feet.
It dances love songs.
It sings “Ode to Joy”.

My heart is leaping.
It turns my sadness
To joyous moments,
Leaving tiny gap to
Contemplation and regret.

—-

do you see that breathing the pink fragrance 👁

camellia ~ symmetrical layers

sakura near castle boulders

pink sakura ~ hanging blessings

sakura tree ~ almost end of cherry blossoms

Busy

Learning, This Person, Those People
Busy explaining
Busy pretending
Busy threatening
Busy flexing
Busy building what’s hiding
Forgetting what’s to be true.

Ah!
That’s normal
As I’m a human being.

Time has come to being human
Maybe one more week
Or one twilight
Or months
Time can be so biased
For me who is
Busy being someone else.

—-

Rike, try this one! you’re too busy with the deep fried, this one is healthier and there’s egg your fave 🥢

Best

Learning, Poetic
All is best
Like all is well
In someone’s hands
At give time.
Don’t waste any second.
If you have slight time,
Smile like seeing heaven.
It is best
Always.

—-

my best smile this sleepy morning 🥰

other than the precision manufacturing, this is one of best products of Japan! never disappointed with one 😘

Perfect Imperfection

Learning, Poetic, This Person
Is life abundant?
She asked.
They said,
When you have everything.
She walked away,
There was never everything
In imperfection.

She says.
Life is generous.
They say,
Because you have everything.
She walks away,
There is never perfection
In everything.

Life is abundant,
She agrees.
They ask,
Do you have everything? You are not perfect.
She walks away,
There is always perfection
In anything imperfect.

—-

anger has long gone but sadness is still lingering like a hungry fox hunting a chicken 🙃 yet life is so generous to me offering sweet imperfection and simplest perfection that might be just a dream for those perfect perfection — so thank you as always! 💝

giving myself time and space to live again 💝

Weekend Full of Heart

Learning, love, Poetic
Every weekend
This heart multiplies.
They wander 
Everywhere
Through music, pictures, poems and prayers
Sending peace
And love
That might not be
Returned.
What a sweet weekend!

—-

although you’ve targeted me with uncertainty, (pic: Banksy’s)

although you prefer war (pic: Banksy’s)

although you ignorantly hijack the love, (pic: Banksy’s)

sweet heart is still what you deserve,

no missile but beautiful heart should be sent to you (pic: Banksy’s)

freshened and showered with warm heart is your right

at the end a bunch of flowers will be thrown to you (pic: Banksy’s)

hahahaha…. i am always laughed by my best friends for constantly being “love sick” (pic: Banksy’s)

Deeper and Deeper

Learning
I thought
I saw you
At the gate
But not.

I walked,
Am still walking
Deeper in
To a forest.

I thought
I would meet you
Somewhere
But not.

I saw you
Waving hand
To me
But not.

I run
To you,
You vanish
With a shadow.

I saw
Numbers around,
The shadow owns you
And brings you away.

I want to go back
To where I started;
But I am deeply lost
In a forest of you.

I stopped and saw a light.
I don’t chase anymore.
Too much hide and seek.
Too many games.

I look up,
I look in,
I look forward
To a love within.

—

i just want to sit down through this Ramadhan and find a string to tidy up all these scattered beads

About Time

Learning, Poetic
Time is
Lightning striking
And that’s it.
A patch
Of burnt earth is
A trace
Of surprise.

When we meet
Someday,
Ignore the time.
Let’s count it
With heart beats
And senses 
That touch.

Let me fall
In love with
You
Over and over again
As long as
Time
Can be defined.

—

is one chasing the other or the kite? it is love that makes both run and laugh, a kite that keeps the child within alive

picture from Pinterest

Blue

Learning, Poetic
Blue is
Sky.
Blue is
Sea.
Blue is
You,
When smiling at me.

Blue is
Peaceful.
Blue is
Deep.
Blue is
Bruised by
You ignoring me.

Blue is
Seen.
Blue is
Felt.
Blue is
Angel you sent to me.

—

peaceful sky that lullabies — i slept almost the whole flight

i thought of changing to 44A but decided to keep 47A…

…. only to find that my seat number is the number of gate we disembarked 🪶

i am superstitious 😂

Dream Weekend

Learning, Map It!, Poetic
What is dream weekend?
Mine is
A walk in the green,
Smiles under the blue,
Jokes with warm sun,
Chats with cool breeze,
Glanced by rice herons,
Chased by crazy ducks,
Followed by spoiled dog,
Side by side with good friends,
Wrapped up with 5-cent luxury in banana leaf
And huge thanks to
Whomever-whomever.

—

i rented a room in a Balinese banjar belonging to a family — it is living as a Balinese in Central Ubud 💝 hey, Pongky! let’s go to the rice field, buddy!
Mount Agung and Mount Batur from distance 💝
ducks are herded in rice field here – beautiful scenery 💝
how beautiful you are! 💝
a farmer burning the dried rice stalk to sterilize the land — don’t say what you don’t know like carbon footprint, what he does is a natural process and nothing compared to what all the industries have done to Mother Earth
turn left
turn right
go straight
follow the flow within, dear self
hi, rice herons! i was blessed to see you 💝
my best friend said “that’s your dream island in the middle of rice field!” 😝
she also said “are you sure not moving to Ubud someday?” i said “i love the rice field of Ubud but when i retire i guess it is gone, so let me enjoy my tiny greenery in Yogyakarta, we can always give friendly visit to each other” 💝
water hyacinths
pisang kipas (Ravenala madagascariensis)
big brands building their hotels in the valley – greenery, please survive 🙏🏼 or you might be gone when i retire
my breakfast was for 5 cent! 💝 nasi jinggo ubi (rice with some yellow sweet yam — clean, tasty and cheap: that’s food in Bali and Jogja 😍
also 5 cents! 💝 nasi jinggo kuning (turmeric yellow jinggo rice)

Love

Learning, Poetic
I found love
In your eyes
Only to find it none of yours.
It was mine 
Reflected by mirror
Standing facing me.

This love is light
Shining incandescently 
Within a glass,
It does stay
Yet radiates
To all directions.

Never so much
Simply bright—

—

walking around only to find love 💝

Par

Learning, Poetic
This tongue says
What belly doesn’t.
Under par, Tongue shouts
Then never stops complaining.
Above par, Belly says
Then waits until the next par.
Is it fondness or fullness
The ruler?
Up to you,
Said the Tongue
Who whines about the taste.

Beloved,
You’ve raised a double agent.

Ha!

—

what an excessively oily aglio olio, said I — but I was sooo happy that I slept earlier 💝

Choice of Face

Learning, Poetic
An artist opens her closet.
There are masks piling,
Waiting for the tasks.
One mask, one face
To make a day.

She stares and thinks
One face today
A genuine
A bright
A true
A nice—

A good day.

—

my watch face is Minnie Mouse almost everyday because she makes me a sweet cheerful cartoon! 💝

Sweet Surprises

Learning, Poetic
Sweet surprises march
Silently following a season
Bringing colours to the sight.
Don’t hold breath,
They stay quite long
To give more space
For wow! and whoa!

—

I think I don’t give my orchids enough attention that I always see the bud rather late— only when they are long enough to stand out.

Sorry….

And thanks much! for giving me surprises after several years not blooming.

Salaam.

i guess she is pink
i guess she is yellow
i guess she is purplish white

Music

Learning, Poetic
Close your eyes tight
If you hate to see me.
You will fall asleep
Peacefully.

Unlucky you,
Beloved.

You cannot block your ears
If you hate my music.
Your earbuds will amplify it
Loudly.

You will get used to it
And die while joyfully humming it.

My music,
My breathing
Will become your music,
Your breathing.

A
Heart
Beats—

—

inspired by QS 15:29

not everyone though

The Mist That Is Erased

Learning
The green of beauty was there 
Until the mist slithers around
And hides what was seen.

Nature is a mystery
Unrolls its scroll slowly
As if not wanting to hurt
The hands with which it is held.

The mist though will be beautiful
Before it is kissed by warm air
That whispers a song singing
“Melt away. Morning thanks you. Day, noon, after and night truly love you.
If space unvoiced between trees scripting can’t connect the dots, only light can do.”

In no time the sun is rising,
Then the mist is missed.

That is how the story begins.

—-

Thanks, Michael for allowing me to repost this picture to illustrate my verses. God bless you.

A Journey into Mist 4

Primary Patience

Learning, Poetic
Prime time must be secured,
Said they.
Wait! In what definition?
Time to get mature?
Time to board the flight?
Time to earn TV ads?

Time to be patient.

It’s this time
Yet
No time primarily.

—

At young age I was told that there were 3 types of need: primary, secondary and tertiary in which primary included shelter, clothing and food. Now my primary need increases to 4 with internet connection added. On the same floor of my apartment there are at least 17 wifi links connectible or locked including mine. My mother’s house has been installed with wifi so she can enjoy more information and entertainment, her grandchildren can play games freely when staying overnight, her daughter (me) can work with ease when visiting and (i guess knowing my mother’s (over)generosity) so some next door neighbours’ children can sneak the wifi to browse around from their homes.

While GOOD internet connection is a primary need in some places, it is still secondary in some others. Outside Singapore (even when traveling to Japan) I feel “tortured” by the low speed. In Indonesia (oh people will all have patience as their super power after dealing with the internet connection outside prominent cities) and other South East Asia countries (please, Singapore might be a European country lost among us) good internet connection might be secondary or even tertiary.

Uh and oh are my normal expressions when I spend my holiday or long weekends in my mother’s house. My nephews and nieces who visited me in Singapore has claimed “There is no word “loading” in your home. In here you have to wait for a while because loading is a must process. Be patient. Be patient. Be patient, dear. Hahaha….” 😁

And yes, some work cannot wait but have to wait until I arrive home because internet connection is not yet a primary service every time everywhere.

Salaam….

i told my nephews and nieces to be patient in some situations; yet when dealing with internet connection for work, everything nice about being patient is just a meme to me 😝

Hot Party

Learning, Poetic
Met
In a circle
Glowing
In their own lights.
No disco ball,
No loud music,
No expensive wine,
No trendy bar,
No dancing floor,
No smoke,
No things fancy,
No luxury,
None—
Oh!
They are not that innocent.
They gossip those funny facts,
They laugh at each others
And at others,
They munch baskets of food,
They drink gallons of water,
They sip wine to tipsy,
They speak loud and lots,
They enjoy some music,
They gather humbly.
They oopsy WE do it worse
Just differently from other decent parties.
Ordinary we—

—

recent hot party with good friends; thank you, dear humble life 💝

Beginner

Learning
Once upon a time
It began with
A mess,
Completed with
An expertise.

And it’s been tested 
through space and time.

—

imperfect look of gyoza but perfect taste, messy plate — next time better! 💝
the very first batch 😄
it took a focus and some uh and oh! 😘

Mirror in Us

Learning, love, Poetic
It might not be clear
As the mirror is not clean.
Reflection of
You on me
Is as clear as the song sung by the breeze,
Whistling softly
On to these eardrums.

Swoosh!
You whisper,
I could hear,
We both share unvoiced laughter.
Is that our smiles
Or grins
That we both share from miles away?

You
Are playing so well,
I
Stay hugging this heart
That shrinks with 
Your coldness, 
That shines with
Your old shadow.

Dear, heart.
Stay flawless mirror.
With you I see 
Beloved.
Be it beast or beauty,
My love is worth reflecting clearly.

—

love reflects to a mirror called heart, the clarity depends on the clearness not the size 💕

Melody

Learning, love, Poetic
Melody of my soul
That I wish to connect to
You
Has flown away.
I see
You
Sing another melody
Not even of my tunes.

Love is unforceable.

Sweetly I can smile.
Amazingly I can pray.
These steps are farther and farther
Pushed away by
Your icy melody to me.

—

my favourite melody since I didn’t know what the lyrics were about 😁 thanks to my beloved sister for introducing me to Queen
another melody i love! ice, ice baby! 🥰 thanks to my beloved sister for introducing me to Vanilla Ice!