The path lay beaten before the road
by the footsteps of men before me trod,
that the compass of dreams had pointed me so
the path unwalked by all save God.
The Compass of dreams shall point the way;
yet the arrow is fooled by magnets by
Distractions that seek to lead astray
Our hearts and minds from paths we try.
Wisdom is needed, foolishness too
To walk the path no man has done,
The Compass will point us to the way
Shall we follow or shall we run?
A Compass can point us through a rock
Over a mountain, under a stream
Do we still follow, like blinded sheep,
Chasing forever, after our dream?
Sometimes we take the path forked right
in order to walk the path forked left,
Sometimes we need to use our sight
And listen to voices, yet ears are deaf
To good advice, so intent we are
Chasing the arrow, wishing the star;
The foolish man runs without a path
the foolish child just sits and stares
at the marks our dreams do make our lives,
of which without our burdens
become far too much
for us to simply bear.
------------------------------------------
Wrote this in response to another friend's blog.
I don't know him personally, but his stories and ideas I find are very matured and realistic in thought.
Depressing though.
Realism is all good and all, but sometimes you just need to take a break.
IMO (and his too, I think);
Chase your dreams and don't give up.
Perhaps the foolish child is still in me.
Perhaps its time to let her out.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Poems
I sowed a seed in fields of clay
Where comrades felled in silence lay,
Bound by blood, tendered by pain
Watered with sweet-tears mixed with rain;
Of broken hearts and broken bones
Of silent prayers and midnight-groans,
In Darkness we grew, with hope our Light
And Words the feathers that gave us flight;
Soared we did, in calm and joy
Dove we did, in shock and spoil,
Returned to fields still lit in gloom
And there I saw my flower bloom.
Where comrades felled in silence lay,
Bound by blood, tendered by pain
Watered with sweet-tears mixed with rain;
Of broken hearts and broken bones
Of silent prayers and midnight-groans,
In Darkness we grew, with hope our Light
And Words the feathers that gave us flight;
Soared we did, in calm and joy
Dove we did, in shock and spoil,
Returned to fields still lit in gloom
And there I saw my flower bloom.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Inspiration
She flits around, fickle and quick
Like bees among flowers, like butterflies;
Hopping from petal, from each she picks
The sweetest of honey from open minds.
I saw a flower touched by her hand
bear the ripest of fruits from its bud,
Who would have though such sweet a fruit
could grow with me from equal mud?
Her magic touch that flits about,
that makes the writer jump with joy;
that makes depression sit and pout,
that sends the artist into endless toil.
Someday she'll see me, my outstretched door
Open to her to rest her touch;
And strike me then with blessings much
Just like the flower that I saw.
I contend with the wind now, slow it may
To make the fruits of ideas past,
Until she comes, that final day
For me to have my song at last.
------------------------------------------------
Dedicated to Johnny and his awesome story.
Thanks to people like him, Singapore's literature has a hope.
Keep going Johnny ^^
Like bees among flowers, like butterflies;
Hopping from petal, from each she picks
The sweetest of honey from open minds.
I saw a flower touched by her hand
bear the ripest of fruits from its bud,
Who would have though such sweet a fruit
could grow with me from equal mud?
Her magic touch that flits about,
that makes the writer jump with joy;
that makes depression sit and pout,
that sends the artist into endless toil.
Someday she'll see me, my outstretched door
Open to her to rest her touch;
And strike me then with blessings much
Just like the flower that I saw.
I contend with the wind now, slow it may
To make the fruits of ideas past,
Until she comes, that final day
For me to have my song at last.
------------------------------------------------
Dedicated to Johnny and his awesome story.
Thanks to people like him, Singapore's literature has a hope.
Keep going Johnny ^^
Imagine
Fine Beast isn't she? Yes, I see
the way your eyes gleam. You have
A good eye Sir! Fitting for thee;
Just look at her tiny fangs
tipped with poison;
One bite is enough
to forever immobilise
her prey.
Yes Sir, her prey!
Which she hunts so dear,
which never fights back
until regrets and guilt combined
force it at last
to find again the lost time
Spent while running with her
on these feet, strong and quick
chasing after Dreams, those butterflies
that elude us each time.
Ah! I see you asking
why her eyes lie so closed
She needs them not, good Sir
to see the bugs of Reality
creeping in.
Her claws are but enough
to twist the truth from limb to limb
and carry Reason away;
Stolen each time from her prey
At moments and at whim.
Just food for the Beast, these bugs,
Food from which she weaves
Webs and nets while we lie asleep
To catch those Butterflies, to catch them;
Tiny fireflies, each a lightbulb
around our heads, while we sleep
Unknowing, uncaring, till the dogs of day
reach us once again.
Fine Beast isn't she? Just for you--
Oh I see, I'm sorry sir
I see you have one too.
the way your eyes gleam. You have
A good eye Sir! Fitting for thee;
Just look at her tiny fangs
tipped with poison;
One bite is enough
to forever immobilise
her prey.
Yes Sir, her prey!
Which she hunts so dear,
which never fights back
until regrets and guilt combined
force it at last
to find again the lost time
Spent while running with her
on these feet, strong and quick
chasing after Dreams, those butterflies
that elude us each time.
Ah! I see you asking
why her eyes lie so closed
She needs them not, good Sir
to see the bugs of Reality
creeping in.
Her claws are but enough
to twist the truth from limb to limb
and carry Reason away;
Stolen each time from her prey
At moments and at whim.
Just food for the Beast, these bugs,
Food from which she weaves
Webs and nets while we lie asleep
To catch those Butterflies, to catch them;
Tiny fireflies, each a lightbulb
around our heads, while we sleep
Unknowing, uncaring, till the dogs of day
reach us once again.
Fine Beast isn't she? Just for you--
Oh I see, I'm sorry sir
I see you have one too.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Life is like a Game...
The wizard stood silently, grasping his staff. There was not much time left; he had to do it.
Now he looked at the party before him, its members scattered, their weapons lost. Slain? Perhaps, He wasn't sure. Did one of their eyes just move? Did that hand just twitch? Perhaps, but Hope was useless now.
It didn't make a difference anyway.
------------------------------------------------------------------
"It...was a good battle, huh?" No response. Not that he expected one anyway, but still, it was nice to ask. There wasn't any time for questions later.
"...I mean, we did good right? It was a loss from the start I guess...but still, at least we tried, right?" No response.
"My fault? Perhaps...I'm not too sure. What could I have done? I wasn't fast like you, or strong like you, or smart like you. I just did what I could to fill in the gaps..."
The eyes were shut, but the face seemed to be looking at him...
"I don't know, maybe I should have focused on you guys more. It certainly seems that way now. But there was just so much to do..." Laughter? A smile?
"Haha, very funny. But its true, isn't it? Perhaps if I wasn't so focused all the time, I might have seen this coming...I might have done something..."
The memories were back now, filling his mind. A scene of five people atop a rock, laughing, drinking, the spoils of battle around them.
"But its too late now, isn't it? I think you're right. I should have just gone all the way, not bothered with the other stuff. Perhaps...perhaps I could have been strong enough."
Another memory. A figure in the corner, in the shade. Watching the rest with a slight smile, a half-daze. Snatches of their conversation float past...
"Or perhaps...I should have spent less time with it and more time with the party. With you guys. At this point, I don't think it really matters anymore." With a sigh, the slideshow ended. Silence refilled the world.
Still no response.
"Yeah, I think so too. If we had more time perhaps. Maybe, just maybe...no. This is the only way. I guess...I'm sorry. " The staff was getting heavy now; There wasn't much time.
"See you guys then. Maybe we'll meet, Maybe we won't."
"Goodbye"
---------------------------------------------------------------
A Brillant Flash, as bright as day, filled the room. It grew and flowed over the bodies, poured over the ground. The light grew brighter and brighter, until the glow reached beyond the room, outside the dungeon, into the skies, where it disappeared forever.
Silence.
The bodies twitched. A finger moved. Slowly the party members groaned in pain. Slowly they got up, and surveyed the scene. Slowly, as one, they recalled the words of their last member;
A single tear.
And then they were gone.
Now he looked at the party before him, its members scattered, their weapons lost. Slain? Perhaps, He wasn't sure. Did one of their eyes just move? Did that hand just twitch? Perhaps, but Hope was useless now.
It didn't make a difference anyway.
------------------------------------------------------------------
"It...was a good battle, huh?" No response. Not that he expected one anyway, but still, it was nice to ask. There wasn't any time for questions later.
"...I mean, we did good right? It was a loss from the start I guess...but still, at least we tried, right?" No response.
"My fault? Perhaps...I'm not too sure. What could I have done? I wasn't fast like you, or strong like you, or smart like you. I just did what I could to fill in the gaps..."
The eyes were shut, but the face seemed to be looking at him...
"I don't know, maybe I should have focused on you guys more. It certainly seems that way now. But there was just so much to do..." Laughter? A smile?
"Haha, very funny. But its true, isn't it? Perhaps if I wasn't so focused all the time, I might have seen this coming...I might have done something..."
The memories were back now, filling his mind. A scene of five people atop a rock, laughing, drinking, the spoils of battle around them.
"But its too late now, isn't it? I think you're right. I should have just gone all the way, not bothered with the other stuff. Perhaps...perhaps I could have been strong enough."
Another memory. A figure in the corner, in the shade. Watching the rest with a slight smile, a half-daze. Snatches of their conversation float past...
"Or perhaps...I should have spent less time with it and more time with the party. With you guys. At this point, I don't think it really matters anymore." With a sigh, the slideshow ended. Silence refilled the world.
Still no response.
"Yeah, I think so too. If we had more time perhaps. Maybe, just maybe...no. This is the only way. I guess...I'm sorry. " The staff was getting heavy now; There wasn't much time.
"See you guys then. Maybe we'll meet, Maybe we won't."
"Goodbye"
---------------------------------------------------------------
A Brillant Flash, as bright as day, filled the room. It grew and flowed over the bodies, poured over the ground. The light grew brighter and brighter, until the glow reached beyond the room, outside the dungeon, into the skies, where it disappeared forever.
Silence.
The bodies twitched. A finger moved. Slowly the party members groaned in pain. Slowly they got up, and surveyed the scene. Slowly, as one, they recalled the words of their last member;
A single tear.
And then they were gone.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Flux
Who am I? The question rings
throughout the mind, the inner thought
of Jackals inside, together they wrought
Doubt and question into the King.
Some say such thoughts reflect the soul
Of gears that grind with broken teeth;
Until at last the rust of old
Shall bring the Reaper in relief.
Some say tasks are what make the man
as tasks make women too,
Yet work makes mad all in its hand
Like wisdom makes the fool.
Some say it lies within the heart
within the self that we are true,
Until it too stains, as we trudge
into the mud; our hearts turn hard.
Some say tigers can change their lines,
Some say not, but both are right;
Stripes are stripes but eyes are blind
to the Grass that paints them white.
Who am I? I am Grass and Tree,
Caged bird, Pig-sty
Spirit still free;
Who am I? Why can't you see?
I am both and neither--
I am Me.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: I tried something different with this one. Hopefully something more deep and comprehensive that the other poems. You might need to think a little to get it.
At least, that's the intention.
Still, Robert Frost is one scary dude...
throughout the mind, the inner thought
of Jackals inside, together they wrought
Doubt and question into the King.
Some say such thoughts reflect the soul
Of gears that grind with broken teeth;
Until at last the rust of old
Shall bring the Reaper in relief.
Some say tasks are what make the man
as tasks make women too,
Yet work makes mad all in its hand
Like wisdom makes the fool.
Some say it lies within the heart
within the self that we are true,
Until it too stains, as we trudge
into the mud; our hearts turn hard.
Some say tigers can change their lines,
Some say not, but both are right;
Stripes are stripes but eyes are blind
to the Grass that paints them white.
Who am I? I am Grass and Tree,
Caged bird, Pig-sty
Spirit still free;
Who am I? Why can't you see?
I am both and neither--
I am Me.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: I tried something different with this one. Hopefully something more deep and comprehensive that the other poems. You might need to think a little to get it.
At least, that's the intention.
Still, Robert Frost is one scary dude...
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
The Climbers
I climbed the mountain quick and fast
and soon I reached the top at last,
Stared across the fields in awe
Stared in shock at what I saw:
Not forests tiny from this height
Nor ants I thought would be so slight
No houses large but now so small;
I saw more mountains, standing tall.
I saw one there; Another! Another!
Each one growing; Higher! Higher!
At that moment my pride did rust
As all my trophies seemed so much dust,
Covering footsteps long past down
Swirling behind when I first left town
To climb the mountain, to conquer all;
Yet now I see a greater wall.
To scale, to climb - what do I see?
Another climber, well ahead of me!
And another, another! Why do I try?
No more! No more. I sit down and sigh;
For even now, as I climb new heights,
Even now, as I share new sights
Forever and ever, I shall look and know
The climbers up high,
braving the snow.
and soon I reached the top at last,
Stared across the fields in awe
Stared in shock at what I saw:
Not forests tiny from this height
Nor ants I thought would be so slight
No houses large but now so small;
I saw more mountains, standing tall.
I saw one there; Another! Another!
Each one growing; Higher! Higher!
At that moment my pride did rust
As all my trophies seemed so much dust,
Covering footsteps long past down
Swirling behind when I first left town
To climb the mountain, to conquer all;
Yet now I see a greater wall.
To scale, to climb - what do I see?
Another climber, well ahead of me!
And another, another! Why do I try?
No more! No more. I sit down and sigh;
For even now, as I climb new heights,
Even now, as I share new sights
Forever and ever, I shall look and know
The climbers up high,
braving the snow.