Necklaces at night I behold,
Both of silver and of gold.
Clinging on the hills they lie;
Ones which you can never buy.

To the rankers shall I call:
“Pride goeth before a fall - !
Do not think yourself too smart,
And end up pulling a cart!”

Under the Christmas tree
Are toys for you and me:
First we have our personal phones;
Now, we can each have our own drones…
They fly high – they fly low –
Hovering to and fro.
Like eerie will-o’-the-wisp they fly…
Appearing like dust specks in the sky…
They fly high…they fly low…
We can’t see where they go…
Suddenly here! Silently there!
Like ghosts, they show up everywhere!
Like aliens, out of a nightmare –
Disappearing, ev’n as we stare…
Under the Christmas tree
Are drones for you and me…

In my dreams, my love, you will always be there…
Oft catching me out suddenly unaware:
Gently and softly we touch and kiss,
Lost in a sea of eternal bliss,
Like forever we will stay like this;
Always faithful to you, just to you, I swear.

A moment lasts forever, caught in a frame –
Every page I turn, the picture stays the same:
A being so ethereal and free,
Another like you will never be,
A mo with you an eternity;
Quietly in your ear I whisper your name.

Of the most modern technology we can boast;
One volcano blows, the world stops, and we are toast!
People think that they can say whatever they please…
Talk of global warming, Nature sends her deep FREEZE!
Nature laughs and enjoys being all contrary
We think we can read her, but be very wary!
The human race is not so clever after all…
We just happen to have a lot of pride and gall!
Volcanic dust of glass, breathe it in; makes us bleed…
From within! A curious joke, a dastardly deed!
We are but pawns, we know not, on earth’s timeless niche;
We are manure when we die – we smell like dead fish!
What remains if anything is our memory…
To find PARADISE when we lose our sanity.

Death to life, life to death, it comes unsought;
We view each death with such fear;
Many deaths had we passed thro’, knowing not
Our eternity is here.

As in each life we try to do our best;
Each star to do its true will;
But in reality who can digest
Truth? It is a bitter pill.

It’s easy to think of a Redeemer
Who came to save one and all;
Individuals need not lift a finger;
It must be against the Law!

Each man in his heart must be his own Christ;
Each divine spark runs its course;
Seeking above life, above death, to rise
According to cosmic laws.

Under the golden fountain,
Watch I my silver brothers:
Shooting high as a mountain;
Landing on the still waters.

Silver Blue, wish I were you;
Tho’ each one is so tiny,
All can shine brighter than dew;
Give some of your shine to me!

All youths admire thee to a high degree,
Thou fair image of youth: Vitality.
Thy fragrance of youth; thy zeal and fire;
Steadfastness for Truth; these youths admire.

More than thrice I dreamt of you,
The little girl with whom I used to play;
You whom I no more can view,
Your child-like image in my dreams so gay.

   Now and then of you I dreamt:
   A sweet child standing beside the school-gate;
   Oft, too, in our classroom realm
   Laughing together, forgetful of hate.

Why I dreamt of you: or loved
Deep in my subconscious the lady-child
Who resent’d me, with me strove;
My childhood playmate I fain reconcile.

   But change I must the word “love”
   For my love was nought but mild affection
   And this I would like to prove
   Mild affection was not infatuation.

I thought of you with kindness
And without any inward youthful fire;
My schoolmate, your aloofness
Did I silently regard and admire.

   Perhaps, your image with me
   Is still the one formed in Primary Four;
   Innocent and young were we
   Sitting side by side near our classroom door.

My memory is fresh and bright,
Of days and years by the wind blown away;
My message, hope, is no fright;
Perhaps, you think my head has gone to lay.

   But I write with affection,
   My ink mixed with the early morning dew;
   Here I send, not in fashion
   My message of goodwill
           And God bless you!

P/S:
To our future I drink here
A glass of water clear – cool, refreshing;
May one day your face, my dear,
I see with the warmth of old remaining

I have ridden with the sun across the skies;
There’s a DIVINE spark in me that never dies;
Ask me all the What’s and Who’s and Which and How’s and Why’s;
Question the DIVINE spark within me, it never lies.

With God within me, Nature and I are One;
I cause the earth to quake and rivers to run;
Ask me questions, seek from me the Truth to understand;
Seek within yourself – the universe within the man!

The force within balances the force without;
A whisper within – as mighty as a shout;
See Mother Earth when you look upon a grain of sand;
Man is the Universe and the Universe is Man.

A pen, like a poisoned dart,
Dipped in ink aimed at the heart;
Words well chosen from the start,
Is it science or is it art?

A play on words - twist and turn,
Take great care - like fire, can burn;
Tapping into the great Vine,
Your ether is also mine.

Everything, for good or ill,
Has been with us and is still;
Naught itself is good or bad,
But the intention we had.

We feel whatever we think...
Excess takes us to the brink;
Control our thoughts, we will feel
Hearts content, with minds of steel.

Minds and souls are closely linked...
Our hearts change when our minds blink.
Thro’ practice, our minds we train,
What we choose to lose or gain.

Little rituals, little thoughts...
Slowly we think we are gods!
If so, then Justice must rule
With Wisdom learnt not from school.

The wind is whispering to the trees:
"Come! Come! Do speak to me."
The trees reply, "Please send the breeze
Our leaves break loose and free!"

It is a race against Time!
Until I finish this task,
Stay, Time! the church bells do chime…
Alas! Time has won; it’s dusk.

I think there’s a wormhole in my bed:
Can’t find my mobile, needle and thread.
My scissors have vanished, I’m afraid;
Not quite where all of them have been laid.

I look for each thing for days on end:
Cannot find my notebook nor my pen.
My torch also promptly disappears,
While my teddy brought me close to tears.

I search for my lucky charm in vain –
I clasp close the things that still remain.
Looking around to see who to blame,
I can only utter my own name.

Stressed and feeling the ultimate pain –
I’m resigned ne’er to see them again.
They then appear from another plane…
Either that, or I’m going insane!

They tell me that I am no good;
They lock me up in jail.
They give me all the sloppy food
They tell me I have failed.

They take away my self-respect;
They tell me no one cares,
They tell me you will soon forget
I’m part of your nightmares.

They say they’ll throw away the key;
My cell is dark and cold.
By and by you will forget me
As I grow weak and old.

The days grow short, the nights grow long;
My time is running out
Like the end of a dreary song
I have no breath to shout.

A jailbird has no wings to fly,
Not like your feathered friends;
A jailbird can just wait to die;
His way to make amends.

Gentle as the Spring-time breeze
Kissing the green leaves on trees,
Warm as the bright morning sun
Smiling aft the night is done,
Came my love, in a mysterious way –
Disposition between grave and gay.

Strange! Two people – worlds apart
Born to meet by Divine Art…
Who can tell what lies ahead?
The unknown makes me afraid…

Life is like a ferris – up and down.
You rise so high! then you touch the ground…
Your head is turned by colour and sound.
You marvel, your feelings are profound.
Altho’ not always fun while it lasts –
Every so often life is a blast!

Secretly I admire you, nought do I declare.
Your mind is like morning dew – sparkling bright and rare.
Beauty does but strike the eye: Wisdom wins the soul.
In your brain I can espy things worth more than gold.

It is raining in my heart,
‘Cos you are going away.
Will we always be apart?
My world has gone sad and grey.

Will you be back when I lite
Your little candle for you?
My soul will always burn bright,
When I am expecting you.

All the happy times we shared,
Will we always remember?
Everything we feared and dared,
January to December?

Will you be back by and by?
To our memories I cling.
I am sad, I want to cry;
To me you are everything.

Why are the stars still shining,
When it’s time to say ‘good-bye’?
Inside my heart is crying,
Even tho’ my eyes are dry.

Hope I have not let you down,
In ways that I do not know.
Time slipped by without a sound;
Now it’s time for you to go.

Will we be back together,
As this journey of mine ends?
Hearts as light as a feather,
We who are closer than friends?

Will we meet on the rainbow,
Hanging our tears out to dry?
With our faces all aglow,
And from our ******* not a sigh?

On earth we come together,
And from earth we then depart;
Storms and hardships we weather;
Enemies tear us apart.

Those with whom we wine and dine,
When enemies they become,
Is it the end of the line?
Should we not ourselves disarm?

They who know us just too well
Targeting our weaker link;
We must have a way to tell,
How in quicksand not to sink.

Good-bye, now, my precious friend;
We’ll meet on the other side...
This is not really the end;
Some things fate cannot decide.

As the sunshine smiles thro’
Clouds that shed heart-broken tears,
Letters ebbing strength renew,
Cheer the heart and rid its fears.

Distance keeps us apart –
Each other we cannot see,
But – united at heart,
Is close as friends can e’er be.

Two people – worlds apart,
Who met by a twist of fate…
Who could tell True Friendship’s art?
Its growth nothing can abate.

They used to say “yes” or “no”
And you would know where to go.
Now life is complicated, they say they don’t know
Fearful of mistakes, everyone is vague and slow.
They just look up at the sky…(where the info “cloud” is?)
Not looking you in the eye.
Of most things everyone seems so unsure.
The answer to most questions is “e…er…e-er…”
If you can, you will look it up online:
However, there is no Sat-Nav or sign;
“Answers” pop up from every direction…
Follow your nose at your own discretion!
Interpret it at your own risk…
Everything is just hit and miss!
Hours later, forgetting what you are looking for –
Each person, his own expert (according to the law…),
You feel tired and completely drained,
Like a Dalek has sizzled your brain.
Your initial enthusiasm is gone and energy, too.
All you can whisper, weakly, are two meaningless words, “Boo…hoo…!”

Tho’ seas and mountain barriers may us part,
Your image will still remain in my heart:
A being supernal yet darkly wise,
Your healing sympathy in cold disguise,
- Your character can never be defined,
With inconsistency of every kind.
One who knows you learns to love and adore,
Even when you split a heart into four!

Who’s greater than a friend,
A friend who loves you?
A friend who helps you plan
Things both old and new.

When you have made a friend,
Never let him / her go,
Let not your friendship end,
With sorrow and blows.

If you have made a friend,
Never let him / her go,
Let not your friendship end
For friendship is gold.

Who can live without friends
In this world unknown?
Who can live till the end,
In this world, alone?

Pray, do remember this,
For I was once told:
“Love is the way to bliss,
Everywhere you go.”

To one teacher we are little devils, little imps,
But to another we may be little cherubims.
As you see, my class has many a variety:
Mischievous, intellectuals, as well as the sleepy.
But this variety is what makes the world go round.
I do not like a class that is too sober and sound.
Seriousness does not make a mind care-free and easy;
Instead, too much seriousness can cause insanity.

Life is sweeter than a flower,
Tho’ silently goes like dew;
So make good use of each hour;
Show the best that is in you.

Show a face of sunshine cheer,
A smile on a tender face;
Show your courage, show no fear;
Show the best in human race.

A life of music I’ll share with you
A life of music we’ll both go thro’
A life of music with just us two
A life of music beneath the blue
A life of music! Come, hold my hand
A life of music in this dreamland.
Come, my Beloved, I’ll dance with you
Come, my Love, the roses we will view
The sunshine is ever bright above
Come, Naferina, and be my Love!

A life of music I’ll share with you
A life of music we’ll both go thro’
Come, let us dance in this sunshine land
Step together on this lustrous sand
Step together! In this dance employ!
Step together! Gloominess destroy!
Youth is like green grass which the winds sway
‘Tis a time to be youthful in May
The sun is shining brightly above
Come, Naferina, and be my Love!

My homeland when this day I see,
Looks like a fairyland to me;
With its bright and dazzling lights,
Shining everywhere at night.
Beautiful my homeland fore’er shall be;
May its fairy-lights shine eternally;
Increase may its fame and glory,
As is now my country’s story.
Higher and higher its buildings grow;
How changed it is from eight years ago!
Vegetable-fields are many,
They’re grown instead of padi.
Many too are cars, tramcars, and buses –
They drive carefully for life is precious.
Streets, houses, things and all,
Are not the same anymore.

Why should I be reminded of you,
Now that we’re apart?
Let not your fair image be renewed,
Deep in my heart.
Let the past forever,
Return to me never;
Let it be wiped from my memory
Eternally…eternally…
Though we may meet,
Now in the street,
We will not stop each other,
Nor greet with a nod or smile,
But take each other for a stranger,
And look away all the while…

As many poets come and go,
I am but one;
When I’ve imparted what I know,
My work is done.

I am here just to say “Hello…”,
This niche in time;
To watch the world, to note its flow…
Put it in rhyme.

Whate’er people may think of me –
Good, bad or mad,
At heart I am vibrant and free;
For that I’m glad.

I bid you farewell now, my friend,
Tho’ we may meet
In distant worlds, should this one end –
As old friends greet…

Christmas is here! Time for good cheer!
Once more the best time of the year!
TV programmes; same old! Same old!
We love them! Stick with what we know.

The season we’re celebrating;
All year long we have been waiting.
Eating food we don’t have to make
From scratch. Nor do we need to bake.

Shops sprinkled with white Christmas dust;
All things sparkling! All things a must!
Time for fun, for laughter, for joy!
From “on-line” get the latest toy.

Buy in haste, regret at leisure…
Toys that give us short-term pleasure.
Turkeys vote for Christmas, we know…
Brussels sprouts, and all things that grow.

Life is “hard labour” thro’ the year;
Comes Christmas, pop champagne, not beer!
Heston’s puddings have all sold out;
“That is a nightmare!” some may shout.

Christmas passed. New Year comes around…
Is snow lying thick on the ground?
We have survived another year;
Very soon ‘Springwatch’ will be here.

Creepy crawlies and birds that sing,
Showers with the first buds of Spring,
Lambs frolicking, pretty flowers grow…
Also, weeds that we did not sow…

Blessed is he who has a guiding friend:
To walk with him till life’s rough journey ends;
To share his sorrows and to share his joys;
‘Midst this strange world’s noise – this familiar voice
Cheers his faint heart when he is feeling low;
Stands by him tho’ the world counts him a foe;
Laughs with him when his youthful spirit soars;
Loves him for what he is with all his flaws;
Blessed are these two –who walk hand in hand;
The road is less rough – to the promised land.

When they see you and guy a-walking,
They call it courtship;
When they see you and a guy a-talking,
They pass knowing smiles and well-meaning quips.

When both of you are a-quarrelling,
They say that the rough must come with the smooth;
Before long, one is a-sorrowing –
Not for the row (as they think) but over a lost tooth.

And then both of you stop seeing each other,
They think it such an unpardonable crime;
All that time trying to bring you together…
‘Tis a shame the wedding bells are ne’er to chime.

In days gone by, roles were pretty clear
When men knew they had nothing to fear.
They were the ones who brought home the bread
And each in his household was the head.

But no longer today, men are pleased
Their financial burden has decreased;
With it too, as heads at the table
Why not? When wives are just as able.

Who is now sharing the household bills?
Who pays now, when the car needs refills?
He no longer needs to feign offence
When outings are at his girl’s expense.

Pray, what mad genius started this game?
Or are the times entirely to blame?
Women are free but men are more free
Who are you fooling? You can’t fool me!

Never is the sky always bright,
Without dark clouds that bring the rain;
And never is life all delight,
Without suffering, sorrow or pain.

I know not how I’m to thank you
For everything that you’ve taught me;
You regard me as I the dew
Altho’ I love you most keenly.

Oh! Give me the key to your heart;
Oh! Tell me how you can be moved;
Or teach me how to make a start;
Whisper how I should my love prove.

Oftimes on you I contemplate:
A statue towering sky high –
Thro’ marble naught can penetrate;
Its inmost thoughts none can espy.

Thro’ troubled days that gloomily hang,
Thro’ dreary songs I wearily sing,
May the gods help me be not depress’d;
But set my poor mind at peaceful rest!
Let not my reasoning be a mess!

My stormy mind cannot concentrate.
I may even confuse love with hate.
I feel the ******* world closing in!
My poor nerves are rattled by the din!
Is all the noise without or within?

Real peace is not found in worldly state!
Nor is true joy on a golden plate!

My spirits are low –
My wits thus made slow,
My thoughts stormy as the monsoon,
Can’t be subdued ev’n by the moon
Which hangs in state up the cold sky –
Looks on earth, laughs and mocks my cry.

A truly calm moon!
Life is a buffoon;
Life is a jester that mocks man
Which man clings to as to a friend!
Great kings may frown at their jesters;
Yet, keep them to hide their slippers!

A man is so small –
Scarce a dot at all!
Yet, man carries in his small head
What cannot on this earth be laid.
It is life that laughs and mocks him;
Yet, mockery is man’s own whim!

Shall I call you “Bruno”?
Shall I call you “Beano”?
What is in a name?
Are they not the same?
Both have world-wide fame.
Names are just a game.
You are very happy
Whate’er your name may be.
Paw tapping on the phone;
Teeth gnawing on a bone;
Dancing around the room -
Lovely flowers in bloom;
Watching TV cartoon;
Mesmerised by the moon...
A rose smells just as sweet,
Whatever name you tweet.

At the art of nagging she will excel;
With her – heaven is earth and earth is hell.
Much in quantity, I venture to tell,
Is her absurdity – enough to sell.

Quick to censure, quick to chide,
As a teacher, than to guide;
A loud voice her single pride,
Both to condemn and deride.

Like a drop in the ocean,
Like a grain of sand,
So is the comparison
Of the world to man.

A golden ray from the sun,
A leaf from a tree,
As joy to a child means fun
I wish to be free.

A poet can’t do justice
Just with words alone
Describing an inner peace
That has quickly flown.

What is Truth – that we all seek?
The answer – who knows?
Where there’s the strong, there’s the weak;
Only a fool crows.

Where there is good, there’s evil;
Where there’s wrong, there’s right;
Our minds create the devil
Whom we fear to fight.

The world is a looking-glass:
Reflections of life;
To be enlightened we must
Give up worldly strife.

Who has stepped out of our world
Tho’ still within it?
The Truth is universal
When the fire is lit.

Our eyes to nature open:
All are relative;
We spy a glimpse of heaven
As each day we live.

It is not you I really need;
Riches and fame are what you seek.
Person who loves in order to gain fame,
Which is the thing that wipes out a good name!

See if what I have written is true;
Think it over and be more careful.
I love _ _ more than you;
Thank you, good-day and adieu!

How often we harken to the common voice
We want to be counted as one of the boys
It is a case of the blind leading the blind
As out of a maze our way we try to find.

We fear to be considered the odd one out
Our views differ, conventions we dare not flout
Why do we always have to follow the crowd
And be afraid to voice our ideas aloud?

No longer dumb driven cattle do we need
In each of us Truth is like a tiny seed
Truth is there even if no one takes its side
All it takes is one lone voice to change the tide.

Sometime, somewhere, someone has to take the lead
Fearless of foes, to accomplish a great deed
Fear not to stand up for what you know is true
Truth must conquer, even if it breaks the rule.

What’s this that all around us we see…?
People strange but strangers cannot be!

The thief sows not, but consents to reap;
The watchman falls a victim to sleep.
The comforter, brings tears, not relief;
The youth, by glamour is oft deceived.
The gossip, loses in frank debate;
The punctual, cannot help being late.
The wise, in his proud conceit turns fool;
The taught, oft seems to be more unschool’d.
The tactful, by silence, oft does hurt;
The polite, being civil, sounds curt.
He loses who speculates to gain;
He thinks himself fit who is insane.

But then, who are we, others to judge,
When we, ourselves, may be among such?

In my little car
I go near and far,
To a  distant star
Where there is no war!

There peace reigns supreme;
Life is a light beam;
Things are what they seem;
Dream within a dream!

Too often has the word “love” been profaned;
He is shallow who loves and loves again.
Tho’ “I love you” sweet words may seem to be,
But, they have been used how often and free!
False, false indeed are the words: “I love you”;
Bright and glamorous like the evening dew.

Last night I was thinking of you:
How you came without our consent!
How you would leave, against our will!

When you are gone,
We return to routine.
Days will drag on -  
A well-oiled dull machine.

We will miss you -
All the fun you give us.
Fresh morning dew
Will be covered by dust.

There is an attic in your house
Quite the place I’d like to browse
What is in it, I’d like to see
Things unwanted, full of mystery

Things valued once upon a time
Now you cannot buy for a dime
Old but too new to throw away
Things you may reach for any day

Vinyls, and such music sublime!
Too much stuff to fit in my rhyme
Christmas trees that have lost their shine
Bottles of fine old vintage wine

Old toys for which you used to pine
Once more you may search for and find
Like trophies from another time
Throwing out would be such a crime

So keep them – you know where they are
Your doll house, train set or your car
Toys you may play with once again
With the zest that may still remain.

If my house be but a garden,
I’ll love it more than gold;
I’ll make it pretty like Eden,
One you’ll smile to behold.

The sun shall rise in the morning;
The moon shall shine by night
And dewdrops shall be adorning
The wonders in your sight.

The flowers shall dance in harmony
With playful butterflies,
And songs like those in Italy
Shall flood the evening skies!

I will make it look like Eden;
I’ll hear the wild bird’s call.
Oh, if I have but a garden,
I’ll need no house at all!

Never have I felt so gay,
Never have I felt so happy;
Gone are the tests today,
Oh, what a happy memory!
Gone are the tests that I loathe,
Gone, gone are they forever,
Ne’er are my feelings better,
Oh, what a day to remember!
My heart sings my thankfulness,
My face shows my joy,
My legs jump for happiness,
Most found in a boy!
Ne’er have I felt like this before
Oh, so very light and gay,
Oh, my heart used to be so sore,
As goes and passes each day!
What is better to remember
Than a test that has gone by?
But yet, yet, all is not over,
The results may make me cry!

Your eyes showeth truth,
Full of amends;
But your heart is like a stone,
Causing others offence.

Your eyes showeth pity,
But your heart is like a stone;
So what is the use of sympathy,
In your eyes alone?

One rule for you, another for me
That is how it is going to be.
Born to rule,
Know who's who,
Born to rule, and not to obey -
Breaking my own rules is okay.
Austerity in any shape or form,
For common folks should be the perfect norm.
I do not need to mind my 'p's and 'q's;
I need a laugh while collecting my dues.
I am above, you are below;
Stop moaning, your position know.
Rules are for the likes of you, not me;
At least you live in a 'free' country.
I can get away with ******, you can't get away with theft;
The law will take from you your last scrap, when you have nothing left.
If you are poor, you'll be poorer still
When fat cats move in for the ****.
Love of money makes the world go round -
Work and no play when I wear the crown.