Innocence lost

It's disquieting, this stew of fondness stirred in regret

The sidelong glance
The shy curves of a smile
The gentle moves of the limbs
The high regard of a trusting heart
The complete yield to a restless brute

Oh the tragedy of innocence lost

Life & Death

I have taken to writing poetry recently. This time I thought I'll do it differently - i.e. I will share the thought process that went into writing this poetry, so that my readers can go along with me and understand why I wrote what I wrote, and why I composed it the way I did - i.e. the choice of words, the punctuations, the order of prose, etc.

This poem has 2 stanzas.

The first stanza has to be read in reverse order; i.e. from bottom up. The bottom is the start point, and the top is the end point. This is because when I first conceptualised this idea, the words in my mind were "life and death" - thus I wrote "life and death" first, and I had to work backwards, a step at a time, to the starting point of a man and woman's relationship.

Notice that each line ends with a full stop. This is to signify the different cycles/phases in a man and woman's relationship which has a beginning and an end.

Notice also the first stanza has only seven lines, and not the usual eight. This is to signify a continuance to the relationship - it does not quite end with these cycles/phases - it goes on to the next stanza (which will be explained accordingly below).

Between life and death.
Between having and losing.
Between appreciating and despising
Between understanding and judging.
Between staying and leaving.
Between loving and rejecting.
Between accepting and refusing.

The relationship first begins with acceptance, then loving, then choosing to stay together, moving on to understanding each other, appreciating each other, recognising the good fortune of having one another and finally, separation by death.

Here, the poem takes a twist. The second stanza is to be read in the usual order; i.e. from top to bottom.

Notice the absence of full stops or commas at the end of each line - this is to signify the eternity of the love relationship between a man and his wife which never ends, not even in death.

Between a man and a wife
The love lives on
Even in death


So now that you have a better understanding of this poem, here's how it should be properly read:

Between life and death.
Between having and losing.
Between understanding and judging.
Between staying and leaving.
Between loving and rejecting.
Between accepting and refusing.

Between a man and a wife
The love lives on
Even in death

Soar, Junior, Soar!

Waters above your head you’re swimming
You can’t feel your feet but you’re trying
Take a moment now you can’t breathe
You keep afloat just so you live

Whatever you can’t keep you can’t throw
Whatever you don’t need you don’t sow
Now you choose to run you must soar
I’m close behind you can do more

Him at work

He sits up straight
his legs on the floor flat

His head cocked
his eyes narrowed

He rests a hand under his chin... pondering
then quickly removes it
as a bright idea strikes

His fingers move as swiftly as his mind
double the speed to catch up

He labours hard at work


-my husband

Tis' not mine

Many a splendid thing - not all are mine to possess
Great a blessing, the little that I have

Many a years between
Many a miles apart
Many a paths crossed
Though none between the two

Many a friends made
Many a joy had
Many an adventure rode
Though none shares the two

Many a beautiful thing - we have been blessed
Our halves our greatest possession, everything that we have

The Plunge

Today, I looked over the edge and leapt.
And when I did, my senses went awry.
I was assaulted by a tirade of apprehension and uncertainty,
but I stood firm on the anchor of hope.
I was tempted again and again,
to steer to the safe waters of the coast,
but resisted the contemplation,
simply because I have already taken the plunge
and I must move forward.

Reminiscence

the sky a blanket of darkness
the air a morning chill so comforting
I step out into the coolness of dawn
noticing the puddles of water on the ground
collected from last night's rainfall
I take in the smell of fresh dew
resting on green leaves, flowers and grass blades

the showers behind, what awaits is a bright day
of hope and renewed dreams

the fast food joint is brightly lit
the music is turned up slightly louder than
what's comfortable for a quaint morning breakfast
where we're all strangers at separate tables and corners
avoiding eye contact as much as possible
comfortable with distance; uncomfortable with connections
in this city of dreams - the lion city

the familiar American songs playing on the speakers
bring jolts and tinges of acute nostalgia
bringing me home to days of youthfulness and recklessness
days of experiential living and innocence lost
I sit here by myself, though am surrounded by strangers -
I sit here, I reminisce and I write
in memory of who I was and
what I'd become

11/04/08

The warfare

In the dead after night
Comes a strange after thought
Creepy, crawly, a sneaky fellow
Bright and bold, not the least mellow
He comes to hurt, bruise and injure
To slash, rob and kill
He is the devil in disguise
He is the devil incarnate
He is born with evil in his heart
I, on the other hand, am calm and mellow
I know his tricks and am deceived not
I lord over him with my head
Right on my shoulders, in tact
My heart, a soft pounding –
Not the least thumping or vigorous
I am a calm wave of control
And by this I triumph him over

To each we belong

There should be inter-connections
There should not be dis-connections
There should be compassion, warmth and joy
There should be smiles to replace scowls
There should be an asking after; not nonchalance
There should be inclusions; not exclusions
We should all belong - each to another, regardless of differences

This Ordinary Night

How times have changed
Have far we have progressed
Such that the modernity of times past
Are now starkly intolerable...

- of MTV's 90s Flashback

He lies down next to me
Pressing his forehead close to my left arm
Snuggled comfortably on bed
Feet tucked underneath the sheets
Fast falling asleep
In the bliss of blessed union.

- of the man

The Leap

My Heart

I stood at the threshold of a breakthrough

The waters flowed freely and I held nothing back

I yielded all I am and will ever be

Knowing that nothing I withhold could bring me forward

The clouds burst, the sky cracked open and the wind beckoned

Confident of what lies ahead, I sealed my mind and

Leapt forward to grace



Ritchell Lim

She stood straight, pure and innocent

She struck her first chord

And my tear well burst

In her I saw the reality of life’s imperfections

Redeemed by the glory of God’s grace

In her I saw what love and family can do

To nurture the beauty of a child

In her I saw what mankind could achieve

When we cast aside worldly cares

And commit to a vision of the gifts within

To find out a little more on Ritchell Lim, pls visit http://www.myspace.com/ritchelllim

Pa

I think of him daily,
Sometimes first thing in the morning
Each thought of him reminds me
Of the failed expectation that I am
I failed to listen, obey and offer filial piety

I want so much to step nearer
Into his paternal embrace
I want so much to touch
His tenderness and grace
I dread the cold tone,
Felt its sting over the line

I could have, would have,
But fear freezes me in

I think of him daily
And wish I’m bigger than my fear

Tunnel

I was new
They taught me to walk
I run along
I trudge slow
I fly high
Then bham!
I rub dirt off my knee
And blood clots off my hands

I run again
That is all I know
Passion fuels me
Indifference slows me
With meaning all things are bearable
I strike a balance

I walk now
Through the tunnel which I’m told
Will end
Been walking a long many months
This tunnel winds endlessly
This battle rages on
I hold my banner high
My hands weaken
My legs tremble
My heart fails
I drop my banner
At the foot of the tree
White

Angel

I miss knocking on your front door
To have you open it ajar
As I stand in the doorway
I see my lil' princess in her cot
Not feeding nor slumbering
But standing firm on both tiny legs
Eyes wide with wonder and amazement
At the new stranger at the doorway
As she stares on intently
Her tiny frame bursts with excitement
"Here comes my new playmate!"
She must have mused in her mind
She breaks into her mischevious wide smile
Displaying her newly grown set of baby teeth
And almost simultaneously she chuckles hilariously
"Come play with me", she seems to say
As she stretches forth her tiny hands
And utters in clear diction
"Pau pau" (Hug hug)

I miss my lil' angel

Britain

Bring me to Britain -

The land of great Williams;
William Wallace - the loyal patriot
William Shakespeare - the dramatic playwriter
William Blake - the artistic poet
William Wordsworth - the romantic poet

The land of great historians & icons -
Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, Princess Diana

The land of starry Sirs -
Cliff Richard, Eric Clapton, Elton John, George Michael

O the land of Kings -
Edward, Harold, William, Henry, Richard, James, George

Hail the land of Queens -
Mary, Elizabeth, Anne, Victoria


Aye the land of the Tudor Courts noblemen -
Duke, Earl, Lord, Marquis, Viscount, Baron

Bring me to Britain -
Land of the Great.

- A.T.

The Tyger

The Tyger

a poem by William Blake

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
in the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, and what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? and what dread feet



What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dead grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaved with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

Ann-ya

Behold the beauty of a new born
The serenity it exudes
The hope & love
Of a tender mother
The pride & joy
Of an adoring father
May the grace of God
cover you richly
May you grow in wisdom & stature
And in favor with God & men.


Baby Ann-ya born on 18.03.06 to CKK & TYL

Israel

Israel - a poem by A.T.




Ask me where my heart is
And I’ll tell you it’s in a faraway land
In the holy land of Israel
Where the mountains peak
The valleys dip
The eagles soar
And cattles rear
The grass green and luscious
The plantations fertile
The men strong
The women beautiful
The culture a rare blend

A priceless treasure

Where in the world is the Promised Land
A land flowing with milk and honey
In the holy land of Israel
Where my heart is

There’s no denying
That my heart’s lost to the Holy land
Each day away from her makes me pine even more
For her beauty, her grace, her peace
When will I set foot on her soil again

Streets Of Jerusalem

Jerusalem - a poem by William Blake





And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?

And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark satanic mills?




Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!

I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.

Winning Edge

hang on tight

even by its edge
for there is no way down -

only up
when pressed down

from every side
pinned fast

against the ground
the only way to look is -

up
down in the pit

on a snowy day
faced with a lion
you have no way out
but to fight and overcome

a leader by choice

a victor thru' battle

Masada, Israel