Honey

                                                        Attribution: Scott Bauer USDA ARS

Image: Honey
Source: Wikimedia Commons (here)

Honey, ever so sweet

Never missing breakfast

together just two of us

It's heavenly, it's blissful

Ever like two young lovers

rekindling back the old flames

of love nurtured through the years

Never another moment to match

What do we have here?

Honey and toast the most

healthy of foods don't you think!

Yes, nectar of sorts of varied flowers

Regurgitation and evaporation

A process acted through the ages

The hard working honey bees

In honeycombs storing them as honey

Human kind with all good intentions

Rob them of their nature's best

But they slave and slog still on

Injustice not a restriction

Written for Grace's hosting at d'Verse OpenLinkNights week #94

Damage Control

                                                                                 Attribution: Ingrid Taylar

Image: Picking up the pieces

Source: Licensed through Wikimedia Commons (here)

Riding high hoping

never the need to look back.

The future beckons

Doors opening wide

Opportunities  galore

The sun shines brightly

Dirty play rears its

ugly head.  Ambitions get

stunted. Wrong cards played

Grovelling in the

dark. Picking up the pieces

Familiar story 

Written for Poets United's Poetry Pantry #148

Strength

                                                                                Attribution: Cliff
Image: Triumph Tulip Strong Gold
Source: Licensed through Wikimedia Commons (here)

Awakening is             

realization of what is

strong and what is weak

Lacking in strength

can be overcome but

not lack of resolve

It needs passion to

push and build the sheer make up

of Man under siege

Written for Chev’s CARPE DIEM # 182 with prompt awakening and Kerry's
hosting at Real Toad's Open Link Monday 

Piggy-back

Image: Courtesy of Grandma's Goulash

A beetle might appear

small but it is no way

to overtake like so

To vie for first place

must still be subject

to the rules of the game

(140 characters)

Grandma challenged us to write a micro fiction of not more than 140 characters
based on the picture provided above and to include the word of the week, - vie.

Thanks for correcting the link, Grandma! Didn't realize it!

Written for Grandma's Goulash week 110

Capt Preedy and his Catamaran in Port Dickson

                                                                                                 Attribution: Jm210279

Image: A Catamaran (here)

Note: 1 Chev introduced the concept of Kamishibai in his CARPE DIEM today.
It’s about a traveling story-teller of old Japan who made his rounds going from
village to village with stories many in the form of a haibun. A haibun is a prose 
together with a set of haiku.

Note: 2 The catamaran we were on was similar as in the picture (complete with
sails) We were given a 20 mins instruction on safety before putting out to sea.
It was very necessary as it was fast and it was open. I had then just been awarded
a Bronze Medallion (here) a life savings medal which made me a qualified
life-saver of the Royal British Life Savings Society, so it was ok for me.

I now wish to recount what a thrilling experience I had through a haibun.

The Prose

This happened many years ago when I was

just a 16-year-old schoolboy. Our school the
Federation Military College was by the sea in
Port Dickson. Capt Preedy who was on the
faculty was a sea-faring naval officer who
owned a catamaran. It was stored in a shed
by the sea-side across the road from us

One Sunday, I was fortunate enough to have

volunteered together with 1 other to help out
at the shed. After completing our chores of
some cleaning and clearing Capt Preedy
decided to take the catamaran out to sea.
Surprises of surprises, the 2 of us were
invited on board. It was such a thrill!

It was as fast as a speedboat depending on
the wind then. It was riskier as it was open.
We could be thrown out into the water so
a life jacket was mandatory.

We were taken for a spin not far from shore for

quite some time (I don’t quite remember how
long now). It was no more a mild sea breeze but
the winds across our faces. Salty sea-water would
splash all over us. It helped cool us off from the
beating hot sun though. I had been on a boat,
a sampan, and a raft (later a kayak at the Outward
Bound School, Lumut)  Take my word, nothing
beats a catamaran! 

The Haiku

Such excitement! A

catamaran ride never

forgotten. Such bliss!

The wind brushing the

cheeks. Wisps of hair in

the face and the eyes

Salt water splashing

every time it hits the waves

It was so thrilling!

Chev's CARPE DIEM with prompt - kamishibai 
Karin's hosting at d'Verse  -  to recall a trip 

Xerox

                                                                               Attribution: Joseph Berillari

Image: A Photocopier - Xerox

Source: Licensed through Wikimedia Commons (here)

Before, letters and

notes were written or typed,

a wasted effort

Later, a boon to

students and office helpers

but wasted papers

Now, scanning marks its

impending demise. Costs and

convenience supreme

Written for Leo's Haiku Heights Day 27 with prompt xerox

Chocs

                                                                                 Attribution: joh
Image:1 Easter chocs (here)

                                                                        Attribution: John Hritz
Image:2 Valentine chocs (here)

                                                                   Attribution: Surjit Kumar
Image:3 Swiss chocs (here)

Images licensed through Wikimedia Commons

Chocs come in all kinds

Swiss, Belgian, Valentine in

all shapes and colors

Melts in your mouth not

your hands was old tag-line but

good marketing ploy

Often wonder how

simple cocoa tree supports

a whole industry

Written for Chev's CARPE DIEM #180 with prompt Chocs

A Sijo

Sam is hosting at d’Verse and we’re to create a Sijo

a Korean form of poetry.  In Sam’s  words,

“Sijo is composed in three lines,

each line having 14-16 syllables,

for a total count of between 44-46

syllables.

The first line introduces the theme,

the second develops the theme in a different direction

and the final line provides closure” or,

In Claudia's words, ' thesis, development and conclusion'

Here goes,

Back from vacation, tiresome and disoriented  (15 syllables) - thesis

But it seems it is normal in the initial few days or so (16 syllables) - development

Brimming with feelings of freshness after that and it is true (15 syllables) - conclusion

 (Total count of 46 syllables)

Note:  Hank just came back from a 2-week vacation

Written for Sam’s hosting at d’Verse , Forms For All, Out of Asia -  A Sijo

The Pink Moon

                                                                                    Attribution: nachu 168

Image: Full moon after eclipse
Sourced through Wikimedia Commons (here)

It’ll be full moon on Thursday night. It’s known as the Pink Full moon to herald Spring. 

It’s not really pink. It’s just a name given to a full moon in April. It’ll coincide with a partial

lunar eclipse in the afternoon. That might render it pinkish.  In some regions apparently 

it’ll appear pink as it passes through Earth’s shadow.

Those in Europe are lucky as they are able to see the eclipse, so also in some parts 
of Asia and Africa. But it’ll occur well before nightfall in the US.

Full moon in April

Is known as pink moon of Spring

Though not really pink

A phenomena

This time comes with an eclipse

A rare spectacle

Written for Chev's CARPE DIEM #179 with prompt the Pink Full Moon

Carry on, beyond!

 

                                                               Attribution: Mononomic
Image: Contemporary poster
Source: Licensed through Wikimedia Commons (here)

To carry on right through

Doing things one normally do

Not to be outdone by distractions

Affecting one’s  traction

Say, like walking early morning

Savoring the cool of the surrounding

Extending the feel of freedom

Pushing the mind

beyond!

The chirping of birdsongs

Rekindling,  righting the wrongs

A melody in the brush

Not asking so much

Are we not able

Not to be saddled

With irritants

Bugging our minds

beyond?

Man with his idiosyncrasis

Forever in a crisis

Amid questions and confusion

Clawing for solutions

Life with all its permutations

Leading on and to carry on

beyond!

Written for Mary's Poetry Jam with prompt 'to carry on..'

The Bard

                                                                               Attribution: Darjac

Image: On a Postage Stamp
Sourced through Wikimedia Commons (here)

Note: With sincere apologies to the Bard

All the world’s a stage-coach, let’s rob it!

Try to become a modern day Robin the Hood

Take some but share out the rest of the loot

All will be happy all parties benefiting

Isn’t it the crass and nature of sharing?

To be, or not to be, that is not the question

The question is to decide outright and act

The strength of purpose and will to crack

Will goad others to muster their courage

And move the world on a faster pace

But, for my own part, it is Greek to me

Flair for language brings it to a higher level

Prompting others to try and dabble

Swahili or Urdu are just as beautiful

As English or American are just as useful

The course of true love never did run smooth

Hustlers abound at every corner is a concern

Preying on the gullible and the innocents

Hard-hearted and mean the order of the day

Young or old, hustlers do not choose their prey

O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou

Forever the bayings of a love-sick cow

Never seem to learn but betrayed by all

Frustrated and angry having missed the buck

But still insisting on pushing their luck

Written for Susan's hosting at Real Toad on something Shakespearean for a birthday in April
and Brian's hosting at d'Verse's Open Link Nights

Cherry Blossom

                                                                            Attribution: Sakurai Midori
Image: Ukon, white cherry blossom

A fleeting moment

to be savored. All good things

are not permanent

Waves of white herald

beauty in fragility

faithfully in time

Cherry blossom white

Spectacle of joy fulfils

an annual yearning

Written for Chev's haiku at CARPE DIEM #33 the cool rain. Shared with Kerry's at Real Toad's Open Link Monday

Shades

Image:1 It is 4a.m. in front of the Nabawi Mosque in Madinah. The worshippers are
on their way to perform the morning prayers (Subuh) within about 45 mins. The main
entrance to the Mosque is on the left. Notice the giant shades in the background are folded

Image:2 It is 1.23pm The afternoon prayers (Zohor) had just been completed about 1 hr
ago. The crowd has thinned out and walking away from main entrance on the left.
Notice the shades are now wide open. Those areas not covered by the shades are extremely hot

Image:3  It is 5.50p.m. The worshippers are in the shade. Notice the giant shades are
now wide open shielding them from the hot sun

Note: Continuing the series from Hank's recent trip

Shadows create the creeps

in certain situations

when one is alone

But shadows can be

a savior from the searing

heat.  It provides shade

Holds true recently

The faithful spared, accorded

much needed comfort

Written for Haiku Heights Day 22 with prompt 'shadows'

The Umrah

 Image:1 The twin minarets of the Grand Mosque, The Masjidil Haram in Makkah

 Image:2 My darling daughter Azlin in the Grand Mosque in front of the Kaabah

Image:3 The group from NAZA WORLD ably led by En Zakaria, standing 6th from the left. Hank is standing 2nd from the right

Hank was away for 2 weeks to perform the Umrah, a pilgrimage
to the Holy Land.  It was a hectic sojourn of physical endurance.
Other major religions have their own versions of pilgrimage, to the
St Peter’s Basilica, the Ganges and Jerusalem  to name a few.
Hank had gone through a revelation of a journey fulfilled just as much.

It’s a journey of fulfillment tinged with religious rituals and
endurance that are satisfying despite age being a factor. There’re
so many episodes and observations that Hank proposes to
chronicle in a series of postings subsequent to this.

Fulfilling a call
Journey to the Holy Land
With humility

Serious abandon
Prostrating to Godliness
Supplicating self

Abundance to see
Providence’s Greatness first hand
Satisfied yearnings

Written for Haiku Height's Day 21 Open Prompt Sunday

Leo

                                                                           Attribution to Samit pannani

Image: Lion in Masai mara

Source: Licensed through Wikimedia Commons (here)

Leo lion-hearted

Plays it smart with heart of gold

Hank proud to be one

Written for Chev's CARPE DIEM #164 with prompt, Zodiac Leo

Note:    Leaving April 07

            For a sojorn

            of  2-week duration

            Not connecting

            As such no postings 

            or commenting
            for the time-being

            Cheers!

             Hank

       

An Irony of Life

                                                                                Attribution to Bubamara
Image: A Half Pint Black Toast of Happiness
Source: Licensed through Wikimedia Commons (here)

'It’s going to fun, I know it will'

A contributor to the organization

For umpteen years, rise up the ladder

Knowledge abound and knowledge extended

Rewarded for the faith in serving

an employer of a gem
given to appreciating good attitudes

And in return were facing challenges

together as a team

He had given his all as a model employee

He would be retiring and no more tensions

No more deadlines, no more office politics

No more bother and he was going to be free!

Hooray!  Lots of freedom

My time is all for myself

Hooray! I’m far from all the drudgery

So he thought!

He had retired now for 3 months

It was heavenly, no worry

He had built up a modest nest egg

He would go for a pleasure cruise

Travels, see the world

Do his own thing!

He remembered it very well

It was fun when it lasted
But only for a month after retirement

He suddenly felt bored

The challenges he had before

were no more. He felt restless
got in the way of others

much to the point of a nuisance

He almost gave up on life

until one day, his loving spouse
who saw the predicament

came by to him and said

‘You have lots of time on your hand

You thought retirement can take it all

Retirement can, but only to a point’

What an irony! Being free but being bored

His loving spouse then came up with a brilliant suggestion

‘Why not start blogging?’

Yes, so it is!

Written for Victoria, hosting at d'Verse with a challenge to write on - irony

A Speed Fiend

Half squinting blinded by the lights

and not really aware of a near miss

It could have been disaster if not for

his quick reflects. It’s hazardous and

risky for one to be on the road alone

these days.  It wears one off!  If there is no

valid reason to move around in the night

arguably it’s a better option to just stay

 home where one is king

Practically everyone  else on the road

is in a hurry, day or night. A dangerous

overtaking just barely a few minutes ago

and one meets him at the next stop  

sitting pretty enjoying a cool drink

Worst it may be a mangled wreck  that

one meets if they are not careful.

No reason why they need to risk their

necks and throw caution to the winds

If they need to show they can lick everyone

else with  their prowess behind the wheel

do so without endangering others. Join a

club of like interest with others can be

an outlet to let off steam

Otherwise it’s a mockery of the saying

‘the good die young’

Written for 3WW with the words , squint, argue and lick,