Tag: poem

Veggies on the plate
Tease eyes and brain to gobble
Quickly silently.

—-

Selamat Berbuka Puasa 💝

I should have eaten more slowly and experienced each and every taste with my palate. There should have been no sensation missed: sweet, bitter, salty, sour, gurih (umami). Don’t forget hot and cold.

Alhamdulillah.

Salaam.

yesterday’s Ramadhan breakfast (ifthar): boiled veggies, spicy tuna, boiled egg

today’s: nasi bakar (grilled rice with squid and stinky beans wrapped in banana leaf), boiled veggies, left-over of spicy tuna, grated mango and bangkuang rujak*

Rujak — Rujak (Indonesian spelling) or Rojak (Malay spelling) is a salad dish of Javanese origin, commonly found in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The most popular variant in all three countries is a salad composed of a mixture of sliced or grated fruit and vegetables served with a spicy palm sugar dressing. It is often described as tangy and spicy fruit salad due to its sweet, hot and spicy dressing made from ground chilli, palm sugar and peanuts.

Bengkoang (Indonesian spelling) or Bangkuang (Malay spelling) is jicama turnip.

My version of rujak: chilli, palm sugar, tamarind and a pinch of salt

A Gift

What gift is not wrapped?
Blooming flowers in April.
Warm and colourful—

—-

she is sitting next to the shower so she is generously bathed twice a day

balcony gang 💝 watered once in three days plus some blessings from the rain

at the corner of the shower room, behind the glass door so she doesn’t bath too often 😎 but still blooming 💝

Perfect Imperfection

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 💝

Interaction

Where is sun when sets?
Where is moon in the day light?
They share love through time.

—

Interaction is about reciprocity; even when we are alone, we are interacting with some tool of life or with the deep self within.

When it is not reciprocated, interaction is not genuinely true.

Salaam.

a grandma with her grandson

a mother with her son

family gathering

feeding two grandsons

let’s climb!

hi, dove! said the little boy

what’s in the water? said he

bubbles!!!

what is that over there? ahh hope! ☺️

am i your headache? no, you are my universe 😂

don’t move, just smile! someone is taking our picture ☺️

she is asking her cam to see what she sees 🙏🏼

our daughter is playing, i am sitting near her

hey! clear up! i am gonna land!

electrocution my a**! 😁

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)

Choice

Learning, Poetic, Those People

—

Choice’s falling star
Brightened in a quiet dark night,
Orbited to earth.

respecting this family for their choice of happiness, knowing that i will never be able to do so

inspiring me to at least enjoy simpler life and to accept all blessings more happily

Balance

Is it tug of war
Or pendulum played within?
Two polar extremes—

—-

decision making is about choosing

winning one interest…

….and letting the other conform

there shall be a stop at one balanced point at which the momentum reaches its maturity or its exhaustion 💝

Bubble

A bubble’s bursting,
United with the free air.
Would you please join me?

—

Although Kyoto has a lot of impressive shrines, my favourite is not there. Mine is Izumo Taisha in Shimane prefecture about 343 km from Kyoto.

When visiting other shrines in Japan, I was so aware of being in Japan. In Izumo Taisha I got home: sunny, green, serene and unexplainably blissful. There were many visitors but my senses didn’t absorb their presence as if the hot air and bright light muffled their noise and wrapped me in a safe bubble bursting when my last step left the shrine front gate.

Romantic!

a long walk from the gate to the shrine — i remember it was a scorching hot day in August 2018 and i was humming while walking 😇

ablution, my daily ritual that i find also so soothing in Japan shrine especially in Izumo Taisha

torii 💝 a gate to the shrine yard

this is Izumo Taisha! 💝

shimenawa (sacred straw rope)

i only go to this coffee shop with my colleagues, but i wholeheartedly believed drinking Starbucks coffee was a nice thing; only in Izumo! right outside the shrine complex

Izumo Taisha, Shimane

Castle

Castles small or big
Stand on a hill among trees
Wave to the white clouds.

—

Matsue Castle, from afar (2018)

Matsue Castle, closer view (2018)

there is no reason to not thank life for making me me; with all the ups and downs, zig-zagging, winding roads, flood and quake, fake and genuine people around; i survive and become more and more relaxed — like Matsue Castle, my life is small, humble but strong enough and sweetly suitable for me 💝

Matsue Castle, Shimane

Castle

She builds a castle
Protecting and comforting.
Illuminated—

—-

Nagoya Castle under the moonlight (2014)

Nagoya Castle under the sunlight (2014)

wishing to explore another castle soon 💝

Nagoya Castle

White Is Enough

Last night
I dreamt
All white.
Today the dreams
Come true.

White is paper
On which I write,
With which I hope,
Through which I walk,
By which I am guided.

White is that
I trust,
Love,
Respect,
Witness.

I will be white
Even if it is broken.
Broken white—
That is more
Than just enough.

—-

Wear white and you’ll feel good!

💝

in outer from Hanoi; white is good even in the dark

in a white short-sleeve kebaya from Uluwatu Handmade Balinese Lace

parang in white from Batik Baronggung, Tulungagung, my mother’s town 💝

white linen is a simple comfort

white apparel makes me feel good 🥰 the white hair does too 🤩

feel good as good as white dreams flying to find their home 💝

Sun, Day

Hello, Sun
Today is your day.
Be bright.
Be warm.
Be nice to whomever is home.
Taste delicious.
Taste good.
Taste homy to whomever is lost.

—-

weekend is about waking up late with selfie 🥱

cooking whatever i want 😍

(re)watching movies while cooking — iPad is forced to perch on the plate rack 😁

Being Human

I thought I am kind
But no,
Dogs are kinder.
I thought I am strong
But no,
Dogs rock my heart.
I thought I am me
But not
Yet.
Dogs know who they are,
They live as dogs
As they are.
I live as what I want to be,
Even
When being inhumane human
Is what gives me benefits.

—-

watched this movie in today’s flight and cried — how dogs’ life is more genuine than mine🙏🏼

Haw! 💝

Butterfly

They’re flying
Around colours and shapes
In a garden
Where the gliding fragrance
And dripping nectars
Invite them
To celebrate
One phase
Before the next.

—

in Subak, Ubud wearing new clothes from Sukawati market (only for SGD30) and butterflies in my tummy 😁

Be Alive!

There are two children
Living in one life, playing,
Generating joy.

—-

never want to lose the child within — they’re the source of joy! 💝

Stationary

There’s a place in heart
Where things won’t be moved— stay still.
Hidden eyes know where.

—

a borrowed workstation today — oh, sambal super pedas! 🤩

a (rather) messy work station tonight before slumberland— oh! cable everywhere! 😇

Deeper and Deeper

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

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

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 😂

Angel Number

Angel talks through signals
Differently read through places.
Some codes break others.

—

in Chinese number 4 sounds like death; but in another numerology version it is a symbol of solidity, stability and confidence

across the aisle is a marching 3 which is a powerful number, it symbolises communication, optimism and quest 😎

angel numbers are constantly around me so i never deny when they say to me “you’re always lucky!”

Climated

Wind is welcomed
Some with jackets,
Some with shawls,
Some with sleeveless shirts,
Some naked like plants.
I am amazed by the fact
That they all survive.

Lend me socks and gloves,
I said to a snow bear.
It gave me thick fur
That was hung in a tree.
Wear my spare fur,
Just don’t be me,
It said. I nodded.

—

tulips among lucky bamboos, cordylines and bromeliad? — all are pretty!

Dream Weekend

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 💝

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

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” 💝

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)

Bali, A Space In A Place

I don’t need a place.
They can build a palace
To place me.
I’m not a queen,
Please gift it to someone more beautiful and loving luxury.

I deserve just a space.
It can be a table for two
To chat with me.
I’m a traveler,
Please go on a quest with me through joy and challenges to be.

Let me clean my place
For a little space.
Now and here
With or without
You—

—-

i went ***melukat*** with one of my best friends in Pura Pacampuhan Sala on Saturday to welcome Seclusion Day and Ramadhan month — it was such a blessing for both of us

About MELUKAT

Linguistically melukat is derived from the old Javanese word “lukat” which means to “cleanse” or “purify”.

Melukat itself is understood as bathing or cleansing with water that aims to cleanse both body and mind, to refresh the spirit and dissolve away any negative influences. It is also believed to cure non medical diseases and sickness of the spirit and whether it does or not, a session bathing in holy waters will certainly make you feel good.

It is a symbol of letting go or releasing something burdening within us. It is a ritual that can be performed many times, in fact the more, the merrier as it can only lead to good things. It is also a kind of self purification that is very common by Indonesians of Hindu and Javanese Muslim in different ways as ritual.

Hindu in Bali will do it as frequent ritual, even for tourist attraction in some way.

Muslim have daily ablution (washing face/nostrils/earlobes/hands/feet) and mandatory bathing for women after menses or married couples after sexual intercourse. They also have another self purification affected by original Javanese tradition called “Adus Suran” or “taking a bath in Assyura/Suro month” in which they will do bathing in Javanese New Year’s Eve called “1st night of Suro”. Muslims are also suggested to do cleansing ritual (normal bathing with strong intension) before Ramadhan.

While in Bali why not I committed myself to self-purify? My best friend did it for Seclusion Day. I did for Ramadhan. Both of us did it for health, happiness and joy. 💝

Salaam.

walking along Sok Wayah’s rice field the whole morning on Sunday

after a long walk, Pukako’s drink and sweet potato is the best choice 😎

Love

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 💝

Bed of Tulips

Bed of tulips bloom
Under April’s sun. They smile
Through linen canvas.

—

Hope

Learning, love, Poetic

The sun rises, sets
At two ends to tell the time
To the open eyes.

—

I always become guilty when my nieces say they want to be like me after breaking up romantically. They might think being single is the best choice in that situation, which is true yet nothing is permanent. Don’t be too sure about what you think, that’s what I always tell those young ladies.

The wedding of my niece recently was truly one miracle to witness after so long she thought she would not trust marriage institution. She finally trusts a man, a lucky one as much as my niece is lucky to be married by that funny guy! 💝

Behind the wedding scene one of my nieces approached me and asked me questions and here is the interestingly funny abridged conversation.

N: Auntie, you still hope to get married?

Me: You?

N: You know what happened. I believe mother told you. She said to me you disagreed with my decision.

Me: Of course. You are young. No reason to not getting married.

N: You? Tell me.

Me: I am slightly different.

N: Old?

Me: Yes.

N: Are you abnormal?

Me: Like what?

N: Homosexual.

Me: No.

N: You hate men?

Me: No

N: You are afraid of being poor?

Me: I am not. But I won’t want to be poor.

N: So what makes you single for so long?

Me: The same as you.

N: Trust?

Me: Yes.

N: Do you think I can get my trust back faster than you?

Me: Yes. Look at Dan. It took her only some years to finally getting married.

N: I hope I can.

Me: When you still talk about hope, it means you will get it.

N: But I hope you get married first before I do. Please…

Me: I hope….

N: (she smiled and went to fetch some snack)

Sometimes you’ve gotta show your beloved how much hope you have to make them keep hoping for the best. To me although I have to pretend…. 😝

N: (she got back with some snack on a plate) Do you really hope? It’s been 16 years!

Me: 😂

—

never give up, dear kids — everyone has love to share

Dream Catchers

Learning, love, Poetic

Catch my dreams, my love
The ones I could not.
Share the joy, my love
The one I would enjoy.
Let’s smile together
At the road we’ve taken.

You might have missed some dreams
Caught by your beloved around.
We’re dream catchers
Catching the ones
Delivered by the brightest fireflies.

Happy for good
Joyful forever.

—

i’d always wanted to be a journalist, i can’t for some reason — but she’s the one reaching my dream even much better 💝 god bless you, Dan! 😘

By That I’ve Been Taught

Tuhan, Aku Berguru Kepadamu

a poem in a song

Tuhan,
aku berguru kepadaMu,
ajarilah bagaimana mendengarkan batu,
membaca suara,
menggenggam angin yang bisu.

Tuhan,
kedunguan memberiku pengertian,
buta mata menganugerahi penglihatan,
kelemahan menyimpan berlimpah kekuatan.

jika aku tahu
terasa betapa tak tahu,
waktu melihat
betapa penuh rahasia gelap
yang dikandung cahaya

Tuhan, aku berguru kepadaMu,
tak tidur di kereta waktu,
lebur dalam ruang,
karena setiap satu mengandung seribu
berguru kepadaMu.

Tuhan,
kuragukan setiap yang kutemu,
kutimba ilmu dari yang paling dungu.


Tuhan,
aku berguru kepadaMu,
gelap dan terang saling menegaskan,
garis batasnya memusnahkan jaraknya,
pada pertentangannya memancarkan kesatuannya.

[Emha Ainun Nadjib, dari majalah Horison edisi Desember 2007]

Hold My (ranting)