Like a bucket of spilled *****,
Human life is certainly in confusion.
News come thro' in drips and dabs;
I relax with a chamomile infusion.
Life is stranger than fiction;
Has man e'er walked in Eden?
Just as in the depiction,
Is naught ever forbidden?
Mirrors and smoke...
Missing pieces to the jigsaw...
Truth, falsehood, crooks...
Each man is to himself the law.

"Softly, softly" sang the breeze
Sweeping across hills and trees,
"Sweetest kiss given to Man
Is in the sight of his friend."
"Softly, softly" sang the breeze,
"Utter no noise nor a sneeze,
Lest you disturb lovers sweet,
Who on this cool evening meet.

Sweetest things given to Man,
Never last unto the end;
So all lovers sweet and true,
Why not meet under this blue?
Whispers will be my singing
To brighten all life in Spring
All clouds shall I blow away,
To mark this lovely Spring day."

Two stars at night
Will not argue which is more bright;
Two men may fight
To try to prove who is more right.

Your shadow is behind you
When the sun’s before:
So darkness was behind you
Once a smile you wore!

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.

If you a child would teach,
His/Her heart you first must reach.

All the world is dim – she alone is light.
With grace moves her limb – she delights my sight.
Aloof like a queen – a fairy she is.
Expression serene – in heavenly bliss.
Her smiles are gracious – warm and enchanting.
Expressive features – to top everything.
Her eyes bright and clear – with laughter supressed,
Tease the audience here – her smile does confess.

Home from the winds, home from the sea!
Bidding all my friends come to tea,
I laid dishes for thirty-three;
But none sat at table with me.

I called the beggars in for tea,
And they were more than thirty-three –
They drank my health; I left for sea
With a heavy heart within me.

I cannot boast about worldly wealth
Nor can I boast about physical health
But what I have none can take away
I prefer my freedom any day.

I am no King with a worldly crown
With both my feet firmly on the ground
I know that life is an illusion
So nought over me has dominion.

Around me people fight for riches
The chinking sound of gold bewitches
Content does not come from worldly gain
It comes when no desires remain.

I want nothing, so my heart is free
Unattached and just content to be
Very gently with nature I blend
All is my brother, sister and friend.

Together everything makes a whole
We are units of a single soul
We have all been made blind by the “fall”
There is but one god and god is all.

Open our inner eye…we will see
Our past, present and future to be
God is not an outside entity
It is the spark within you and me.

When every ego its job has done
Then the universal prize is won
Like a picture the artist has drawn
The ultimate masterpiece is born.

All the things the world has ever known
As a child into the adult grown
Lives need to be lived and then depart
All is made perfect and becomes art.

From the fount of Love flowed forth blood
To wash away your sins and mine;
They made a cross of tough, rough wood
And there they hung our Love Divine.

O our Saviour who for us died,
At Calvary was crucified,
Is now calling: "Return to Me...
B'fore the Father I plead for thee."

Would you still say: "There is no room -
No room, dear Lord, no room for Thee"?
O sinner, beyond this earth's foam,
Remember, is eternity.

O our Saviour who for us, died,
At Calvary was crucified,
Is now calling: "Return to Me...
B'fore the Father I plead for thee."

For sinners, Love died on the cross,
For them who stray along the way;
Increasingly prays He for the Lost:
On the path throws a shining ray.

O our Saviour who for us, died,
At Calvary was crucified,
Is now calling: "Return to Me...
B'fore the Father I plead for thee."

The game is over, I tell you.
I am gonna to seek someone new.
I am not gonna to fall for you.
I have made up my mind to renew.

We can be friends again.
Our peace we may maintain.
No more make-believe love…
No more saying what you deserve.

I am not gonna to fall for you…
Adieu, adieu, adieu!
Say so if you want to be friends,
That we may once again shake hands.

** is the one you love and miss!
Go to her and she’ll give you a kiss!
And you will think that you are in bliss!
And I can just cross you off my list!

The source from whence we came
The whole, the blind and lame
(No need to cast the blame!)
The source is but the same
The source without a Name!

Together we are whole:
Some are young, some are old,
Some are hot, some are cold,
Some are fast, some are slow,
Some cowardly, some bold.

Of nature we are part -
Of one Mind, of one Heart!
It can't stop...It didn't start...
What didn't come, can't depart!
Life is both science and art.

Standing tall among men was he,
Very humbly he called himself a 'refugee'.
He was the Queen's Consort, oft full of wit;
Yet in humour, he pretended to be a twit.
Some thought he stood among the gods,
Busy with so much he had no time for the Land of Nod.
In life steps behind the Queen he would always be;
At death carried high before the Queen and for all to see.
All the many good works he had done,
The world only knew at the set of his sun.

When the starry host shine on high
Like silver glist’ning in the sky,
How exhilaration does flow
Thro’ my veins like the chilly snow!
These soldiers that guard the darkness,
That steal from thieves their happiness,
That spy on lovers’ secrecy
And drift them more to ecstasy,
Will dim away when dawn draws nigh
Without a breath, nor moan, nor sigh.

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.

Christmas is here, and no one is celebrating:
Families can't meet up due to the R-ratings.
Everyone is in lockdown, the virus is not abating -
Spreading out of control, while for the vaccine we are waiting.
Along comes a variant strain, to blow our brains, has no one seen it coming?
Cases multiplying seventy times faster, the thought is mind numbing.

Everyone looks around, wondering who to blame;
I'm propped up on my bed, playing my matching game...
Knowing that in every way, tomorrow's world will not be the same.

The third world war - against an invisible enemy;
A war to TOP all wars - and a war for eternity!?
A war to TOP all wars - virus versus humanity.

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.

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!

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.

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

We can write words of gratitude on paper,
    Or to all the world her virtues make known,
    Or ev’n pour forth our love to her in measure,
    But, in vain, try to move her heart of stone…!

Here is a friend who taught us much we need to know:
Right from wrong and weak from strong,
                                                   Lit and English, too;
All this time she’s been working steadily tho’ slow –
She’s stol’n our hearts ‘ithout even attempting to woo!

…One day we will remember, tho’ some wish not to,
These days of pain and pleasure, we all have in school;
There are those you thank for every small thing they do
But how to thank her who made a person of you?

    We can write words of gratitude on paper,
    Or to all the world her virtues make known,
    Or ev’n pour forth our love to her in measure
    But,
        Oh…! Oh…! How to move her heart of stone?

May our sorrowful year with you remain in our memory
As a farewell serenade, a sad and tearful melody.

I love you –
Your voice is like music to my ears –
Fresh as dew.
Your heart is full of understanding;
They are few,
Who can win in less than half a year,
Smart students specialised in grumbling.

My love for thee
              perhaps, is not as high as the mountain,
And may not be as deep as the sea;
But shoots forth as water from the fountain –
Bright, clear and sparkling with purity.

My love for thee
              perhaps, is not as fair as the sunshine;
Such is the perfect love of our Grace.
Mine is just a ray from Love Divine –
A longing to run with thee the race.

I don’t want to be famous, I don’t want to be rich
But I have to write because I have the writer’s itch!
Compelled to write by a heart, mind and soul on fire;
Not doing it is like standing on a live wire!

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.

Alas my love I’m a minute late,
But tell me, love, that thou forgive me;
Alas, show me not that cruel is fate,
Say that thou forgive – that I may live.
Forgive me, sweetheart, Rose of the morn,
Why refuseth thou to look at me?
Why doth thou turn from me with such scorn?
Yea, put away that look and kiss me.

Once I knew not my Redeemer
Who had freed me from death.
When I seemed lost in this vast world -
Swimming, I held my breath.
Tossed by the great stormy sea,
Blinded by worldly cares,
Striving for things that'd never be,
Not a moment was rest.
The thunder did above me moan,
And lightning flashed in the sky,
And the flood did all o'er me pour,
Then I heard the Lord's cry:
Turn again, O loved sinner,
Return thou to thy home,
Why art thou in this vast water,
Waiting for thy doom?
I died upon the wooden cross,
That thou and many live,
Thou shalt not be lost,
If only thou believe!
Oh, how my heart then did rejoice
When I left all and all,
And I did raise my voice (loudly),
"Dear friends, do hear this call:
Turn again, O loved sinner,
Return thou to thy home,
Why art thou in this vast water,
Waiting for thy doom?
I died upon the wooden cross,
That thou and many live,
Thou shalt not be lost,
If only thou believe!"

When we grow decrepit and old,
Good health is like a crown of gold.
Youth is young, nimble and bold;
Old age is weak, slow and cold.
Envy not the young when age brings our decline;
We’ve lived it if we live to be ninety-nine!
We have struggled to the top of the hill;
On neither side is the grass greener still.
Life is to be lived, not to look idly on;
Live and learn, school starts on the day we are born!
As we grow, we learn to laugh and play;
‘Tis as certain as night follows day.
When we fall, pick ourselves up again;
Should we stay down in eternal pain?
Winners don’t lose, losers don’t win;
‘Tis a shame both make such a din!
One day we’ll play against ourselves to win;
Will we then be banging on drums of tin?
When all are champions playing on the same side,
Will everyone be happy with equal pride?
When we at last improve all,
Then humankind can walk tall.
We’ll shine as stars in the sky,
Watching boulders drifting by.

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!

No one should judge another,
Just because of his colour,
Nor because of his culture,
For therein lies our future.

All should live in harmony;
Put aside greed and envy;
Build a great world together;
Differences do not matter.

Among ourselves we squabble;
The sands beneath us wobble;
Is it not time we unite?
For in unity is might.

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.

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

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.

On a day when the weather is fine
I seem to be walking on cloud nine.
Everything is brighter than before
My feet seem hardly to touch the floor.

My heart floats like a song in the air
With nature I’m having an affair
I feel sunlight dancing on my skin,
Intoxicating like lime and gin.

So many stars are before my eyes
My heart floats like a dove in the skies
The world is such a beautiful place
I shall not want to leave it in haste

It fills me with such gladness of heart
My soul enraptured by divine art
Nature clothed in such colourful hue
Bright and shining and forever new

An old world that young forever stays
Sharing with all its life giving rays
Beauty in man may be just skin-deep
Nature its youth will forever keep.

Do not weep for me when I am dead
The stars will still be shining o’erhead.
I shall be free from life’s mundane chores
I shall not be bound by earthly laws.

Free as the wind to go where I please
In physical death life does not cease.
I shall watch you for a little while
To see your tears replaced by a smile.

Death comes to each of us soon or late
Our spirits pass thro’ another gate.
Each of us came to fulfil a task
Sunrises at dawn, sunsets at dusk.

The rivers will still be flowing by
The oceans will still meet the blue sky.
All things for you will be as before
I will just grow old and be a bore.

Best to go when I am at my peak
Not to wait till I am wan and weak.
Best to leave while there is still applause
Not wait for the ebbing of my course.

Humans are fickle, changing at will
Only the spirit is always still.
So free from this life I seek to be
To loved ones I say, “Weep not for me”.

What if the world that was once so bright
       be now hidden from my sight?
A world where people used to care
       is simply no longer there?
A world now built with concrete with no soul…
People struggling to live hand to mouth –
       just for their rice bowl?
Are we all wandering blindly into a dead end,
Taking for granted something will turn up
        round the bend?
How long can society survive without compassion
When caring for others is fast going out of fashion?

What if we’ve reached the top of the hill,
       we now have to roll down?
Not agreeing does not matter, we just have to
       look at our town.
There is no such thing as society in this day and age:
Life is about grabbing what you can while you can –
       there’s no gauge.
Giant hands grab all, just leaving behind
       dry morsels and crumbs.
The little people are left speechless, are
       horrified, struck dumb.
Once we had vision. Now the world around us
       is a wreck…
When life falls apart, we will all get it
       in the neck!

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!

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.

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!

Look into my eyes and you will see
You and me and all eternity.
Everything dims into nothingness,
Just you and me in the Universe.

Whispering softly in your ear
Many things that only you can hear…
Paths leading everywhere far and wide;
Will you hold my hand and be my guide?

Whatever lies beyond matters not
When eternity is all we’ve got.
Past and future, all rolled into one.
Always present. Around us is none.

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?