Tag: haiku

Calm breeze blows her hair,
Pulls memories out of head.
Filling the fresh air—

Water soaks flowers,
Distills their fragrance slowly.
Diffusing the scents—

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Weekend is studying, doing laundry, cleaning home, and listening to things. Cooking? Not today, I’ll skip the healthful food 🦸🏻‍♀️

listen, don’t believe – then I listened to him and didn’t believe ❣️

Batik Gringsing

Bob, Learning, life, love, Poetic, This Person, Those People

Time travels with you
To where good memories sit,
Waiting to rejoice.

———————————————————-

When I was a girl, I got sick very often. Yet what I remember the most isn’t the pain but is how my family would take care of me. Of course they medically treated me either at home or hospitalised, but there was a unique way I can never forget what my mother, father and siblings did extra.

My father would chant Javanese mantra that would calm me down. My mother would wrap me with a sheet of batik cloth before putting the next thicker blanket. And of course siblings especially sisters would sleep with me the whole night.

What Javanese mantra chanted by father? Oh can’t remember! What batik, I definitely remember it and now own it for the same need; covering myself with batik gringsing when sick.

1.2mx2.3m batik cloth with *gringsing* background pattern of flower bouquets

Gringsing is one of the oldest batik background patterns in Java. It is thousands of tiny square with a dot in the center symbolising “sedulur papat kalima pancer” (literally means 4 siblings and 1 core as the fifth) the cosmic balance of human reality in Javanese wisdom. And through the philosophy it is believed that when a Javanese human is sick, s/he is cosmically imbalanced and needs to be balanced. Physically s/he is medically treated, metaphysically s/he is cured with gringsing the balance symbol.

Gringsing is an acronym of gring or gering (sick, not well, ill) and sing (not); gringsing means not sick anymore. Oh! That simple! Made by hand! Oh! Not that simple!

What a blessed human being!

wrapping body when catching fever doesn’t replace paracetamol, it’s to recall the memory of how my family well treated me when I was sick 🥰

detail of ***gringsing***: a tiny squarish scale with a dot in the center – sedulur 4 ka-5 pancer

Across Rainbow Bridge

Bob, Learning, life, love, Poetic, Those People

Across rainbow bridge,
Wings bring a tiny light up
High to where it glows.

————————————————————-

I’m surrounded by animal lovers and rescuers. Every now and then I see how they struggle with animals in pain or death. It’s not easy each time those friends have to say good bye but at the same time they learn again and again that the best end is by releasing sincerely and being released sincerely.

Happy journey, Dear. Thanks for all the lessons you have taught us.

Alfatihah 💝🙏🏼

Fun Day

Learning, Poetic, This Person

What is a fun day?
Sugar in brioche and milk
In macchiato—

much sugar for today, it was just good to be a bit unruly once in a blue moon 🥰

The Choice To Bloom

Learning, life, love, Poetic

Even though they’re weed,
They’re flower, ready to bloom.
Truly as they are.

———————————————————

Respect each other as all of us have become us with no choice but traveling the paths we’ve agreed to sign up. Early termination doesn’t apply; life is about starting and completing what’s written.

Respect each other. At least….

💝

💞

Words

I know, Beloved,
Those words are leaves falling down,
Decayed before you.

—————————————————————

Jika kita lahir dan tumbuh sebagai kata-kata,
saya akan selalu menggarisbawahi kamu
seperti kata yang saya anggap penting,
meski kamu nanti mencetak miring saya
seperti kata yang tak dikenal dan asing. (part of a poem by Adimas Immanuel)

Happy

Happy, Beloved,
Return to office saying
“Hi!” to real bodies

——————————————————-

My first day working in office after 23 months working from remote workplace felt like my first day joining the company. Excitement and thrill, this time with clarity, calmness and strong ground

Although not many, I met people in real bodies not their avatar.

Thanks for the new day!

frozen in a huge quiet space but happy! 🥰🥰🥰

on my way to the bus stop after work, I met a jungle fowl as happy as me 🥰🥰🥰 – hello, ayam hutan!

Green Tea

Weekend, Beloved,
A bowl of green tea nicely
Served cold and creamy—

———————————————

Give yourself reward for being a brave person sometimes. 😎

For an ordinary person setting a clear boundary is enough a bravery. Sometimes a passive person should tell arrogant people “You can step on my shoulders to reach your goal ‘coz I’ll support anyone dreaming high but you mustn’t step on my head to underestimate a human being ‘coz I have the same right to be respected. Please excuse me this time to be equal and forever be.”

Happy weekend. 🤩

…. and this, all after weekend classes ; God bless the seigaiha pattern composer

Banana Tree

Learning, life, love, Poetic

Live once, no regret,
Said banana trees. They die
After giving fruits.

——————————————————

the boy, the mole, the fox and the horse – them in one

my finding me is like finding a piece of unpolished sapphire, not diamond which is too high value nor gravel which is too low – maybe it’s gonna be unpolished forever but at least I know it’s a sapphire, not diamond not gravel

Data Points

Listen, Beloved,
To Wind, Earth, Water, and Fire.
Metal does clank, too.

———————————————————-

A set of data is powerful only when the owner knows how to use it; it is equivalent to the ability of questioning leads to better result than ability of answering.

A good start is by collecting from different points. The more data points, the more valid and accurate answers will come up. One point will be misleading.

Salaaam….

good to listen to

Alive

Learning, life, Poetic, Those People

Treasure’s treasured, why
In tombs guarded by legends?
It’s secret’s secrets.

——————————————————-/

I’ve often thought that people living in this society is either living right at the bars or above the bars. It’s either we force ourselves to enjoy comfort that gives us uncomfortable consequences OR we comfortably enjoy whatever we have for comfort with just-right consequences. Today I learnt that there might be some super rich living in an area which “normal” millionaires here won’t even think as a good place to live. I read a news about a millionaire who in fact lives under their own bar with his family. Extraordinary!

So?

Ah! Life is just like that! There are choices to make and people make choices which (they think) they deserve.

Nothing is more liberating knowing that life still offers me wonderful news. It has proven me that life can be NOT-WYSIWYG. I would not imagine someone mistook my car as a grab car, while I were a super duper rich girl waiting for my friends to get on my Honda Vezel. 😃

Weekend, weekend! Happy weekend!

The Multi-Millionaire Who’d Rather Live in a Jurong East HDB Flat

finally feeling so liberated and relieved to have found this news! this city is still “alive”!

Aging

Learning, Poetic, This Person

Aging, Beloved,
Counting blessings everyday—
Feeling challenging?

——————————————————————————————————

Sometimes a challenge or deadline is needed like fertiliser sprinkled on to the soil to trigger more chemical, biological, physical reactions from the root dancing in the ground to go deeper and healthier so that the tree grows even stronger and taller.

頑張りましょう！

28-day writing challenge with some friends feels like a squid game 💝 😵‍💫

Don’t Kill Your Dreams

Learning, life, Poetic, Those People

A dream, Beloved,
Is roots absorbing nutrient
In any seasons.

———————————————————-

Teak wood tree will shake all her leaves to fall off in dry season and look like standing death log in order to save her energy in managing her metabolism. It happens until the first rain pours down again. Young leaves will come out. The forest will come alive again. Annually!

That’s what I learn from my childhood living in a district where teak wood forest was rich and well protected.

If I were a tree, I would dance and sing in its root in the spring, summer and autumn before dozing off in the winter.

That’s what I learn about having dreams in life.

Thank you! for everything

🥰

my dream is much simpler than his (I don’t even dream of visiting NY/USA, the only place I’m willing to visit is my office) but he is one of those inspiring me! he is mediocre (he said) just like me (I said) but given so much by life❣️

Change Left Behind?

I’m in, Beloved,
Heart and soul. Give me some time,
I might be behind.

———————————————-—————

Life journey is a bus full of passengers. They are free to choose how to enjoy the ride except to disturb the driver. Some read books. Some sleep. Some look out day dreaming. Some enjoy the running-backwards scenery. Some talk to other passengers. Some try to seduce sexy passengers. Some take chances to steal sleeping people’s valuable belongings. Some complain why it takes so long to reach the destination. Some just look around confused or amazed or stupid or blank. Some do. Some do other things. Some don’t. Many, many and many things are happening in one packed stuffy place, misunderstood as the only whole life.

Which are you, Beloved?

Ah! A decision was made! I’m not in that bus. I got off earlier and am now riding my scooter! I might be left behind but I made a change inside of me! 🤠

Salaam….

Do!

Balance, Beloved
Not about same measurement—
It’s the harmony.

———————————————————

Let’s be fair, dear Self. Are you 1 kg of feathers or 1 kg of gold?

Let’s be honest. Do you prefer 2-week laundry to wash or 2-week laundry to iron?

Challenging choices to be aligned with immediate happiness

🤹🏼‍♀️

Bl—dy he—❣️

https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/massimiliano-sassoli-de-bianchi/what-weighs-more-1-kg-of-iron-or-1-kg-of-feathers/paperback/product-12mzjz9q.html?page=1&pageSize=4

this is a true disaster! the surface of my universe 🦸🏻‍♀️

Taste

The taste, Beloved,
Touches life in every point.
No excuse for her—

————————————————————

Sometimes life is about experiencing spiciness level, low to high level. Sweet is hiding for a while, it will come another day.

That’s some of my conversation with my Sensei in today’s Japanese class.

Hell yeah! ⚡️

About Her

In love, Beloved,
With life witnessed by flowers
That bloom in my heart.

———————————————————

I love but also don’t love myself.

Strong Weakness

Weakness, Beloved
A bamboo bent by the wind,
No crack found. Intact—

——————————————————-

They call it weak, bamboo just sways beautifully. They call it havoc, bamboo just jerks along the storm rigorously.

Bamboo stays strong with its hollow and light life.

Salaam. 💞

bamboo blowing in the wind from davidlondonmd.com

Sacrifice

Is there sacrifice?
Earth lovingly hugs our waste,
Giving all her love.
Committed, sacrifice not—
Yet Mars looks better? Damn you!

————————————————————

I salute those who are ready to migrate to Mars yet curse them for destroying dear Mother Earth through mining and exploiting her to build spacecraft to join the god of war.

Allegedly-visionary people dream of living forever while destroying where they live. Allegedly-ordinary people take care of where they live and be considered underdeveloped.

To Mother Earth, so much love to and for you. Please forgive your children.

🌏💞

he is singing it well ⚡️ thank you

I Trust You

Know not, Beloved
This path about to end when
And where. I trust you.

——————————————————-

Trust is what she’s been holding tight because without it she’s lost the grip against so much magnetic force around that will pull her into a gaping hole, where greediness can consume anyone till no end.

Thanks, Beloved, for giving me a life that’s imperfect but perfectly humbling me in many ways.

I trust You; voluntarily or forcefully.

💞

a song that touches my heart like a tiny leaf falling on a placid lake 💝 thank you

The Director

Her life, Beloved,
Perfectly-directed film
Ready for Oscars—

————————————————

She sometimes forgets that life is a performed script in which she is casted to act out a given role the best she can. She should follow the director’s direction and directive.

What about spectators? She should ignore spectators. Spectators are stars whose job is to see and comment on the film. And they pay for what they see and comment. The payment goes to the stars!

So, dear Star. Fix your moves. Better your expression. Tag your ears with the melody. Live in harmony, with your own self like Javanese Bedhaya performers who are meditatively drowned in the sacred composition.

Oscars are waiting.…

…. Only if you play all out!

Heart and soul dancing through body 💞

Alhamdulillah 🌻

Bedhaya, the epitome of Javanese dance

Beauty

A wreath, Beloved,
A circle packed with beauty,
Arranged true colours—

——————————————————-

Dear Self,

When you’re bored, splash some paints! When you’re angry, splash some paints! When you feel happy, splash some paints! When you feel funny, splash some paints! When you get offended, splash some paints!

As honest as you to you when you’re alone, your colours speak the truth.

Yours truly,

Your own self 💞

Beauty

Wasted it’s never
If blooming or not. Pretty
In its full cycle.

——————————————————

Blessed again with 5 beautiful flower stems, accompanied by other beautiful growing not blooming orchids.

Beauty is not only in the flower. It is in the root, leaves, keiki, pot and their presence everyday.

Salaam.

🐣

Perfect Combination

Love’s yellow on green,
Sprinkling ripeness on freshness.
Pack your smile for me.

—————————————————————

💚💛💚

River

River, Beloved,
Flows. Let things go with the flow
From, in, through, to you.

—————————————————————

Feel the flow: calm, swift, pushing, breaking, splashing, swirling, stuck, moving. No matter what, flow.

Disclosure

Seed deeply buried,
Grown finding the sun slowly— 
It is about time.

——————————————————

Good life was once tiny little secret longing for forgiveness and blessings.

I accept my history, present and future.

May all beings be happy. 💝

Home

Bob, Learning, life, love, Map It!, Poetic, This Person, Those People

A home, Beloved
Not an outlook— it’s the soul
That hugs when inside.

—————————————————————-

I bought my first property at 34, a bit late from the original plan simply because I was broke. It was a small house in Greater Jakarta, that is now called “Rumah Bob” (literally Bob’s home) named after my cat Bob.

It is one tiny house in a small cluster, uniformly designed with minimum freedom to show “me” — the owner can only have it painted different colours, install different window sills, plant different flowers and design different garden, add different carport, or maybe buy different cars.

That has motivated me to have a home that reflects “the me that I want to present”. None of the houses offered to me by brokers or friends hit my core although some were into my taste— of course some were simply too pricy. 😩 I rejected all offers.

Apology – Some people (who helped search property for me) thought I was too much because for some of them a house is simply a place to live in comfort, while I’ve always dreamt to live in a home where I can express the true me and help my guests understand their true selves by visiting the home. A few of them sarcastically said I shouldn’t have searched through them if I didn’t have enough money — ohhhhhh some bloody stings!!! 😂 Yet I did apologise to them for being so difficult.

I decided to buy a small plot of land in a greenery in Yogyakarta (my father’s home town) and build a home from scratch.

Architect – It’s very important to choose the right architect. Not necessarily the most prominent as to me integrity and friendship is the most important thing – luckily my best friend recommended her student to work on my dream. Working with an architect who was artist had blessed me. She understood what was wanted by her clients but she never got satisfied even when the clients said the final draft was excellent. She would get back to me saying “Mbak, I think I find which part should be optimised. I’ll get back to you with a new draft.” Thanks to Mbak Novi.

The Core – My home will never impress random onlookers from the outlook or those who think a good house is a luxurious building; they will simply think it’s a humble abode clean and fresh. It will only impress its guests, family and friends who truly relate with me as human beings with different kinds of engagements or those who know how to appreciate humanity and ordinary.

I wish to be granted health and prosperity to live long enough to enjoy being a sincere host in my true home to those who love life.

A dream come true! Alhamdulillah.

May all beings be happy. 💝

front door, greeting family and friends with all my heart and soul – no fake people are welcome

Cheese!