Saturday, August 22, 2026

Modern China

                                                                                                     
Author: ermell
Image: Chinese High Speed trains in Shanghai-
(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the 
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 
3.0 Unported license)

Looking at the illusion and to be able to 
breeze through a scattered gaze is plain 
to the eye but difficult  to fathom

Won the Korean currency is bent to gain 
international splendour upon a gathering
of strength befitting the hardy and hard-
working fervour of its people

It is beginning to rattle other growing 
economies through its ability to harness
and harvest the benefits of international 
commerce.They penetrate right through
the skin to lodge in to the secular and
jugular core of business acumen and ethics. 

They got over the stigma of inferior quality 
of products and are now worthy  successors 
to the Japanese who have lately sagged and 
lagged behind in their competitive advantage 
and are instead trailing from the rear.

Hank had written the above on Nov 30, 2014
With a little more than a decade we are 
privileged, and astounded to witness 
the change attributed to China.

An Epilogue

China has been blessed with the dedication
and foresight of its leadership. Deng Xiaoping
bravely emerged after Mao but not without 
challenges to his personal self. Nonetheless 
things changed variously and tremendously,
which is an understatement.

Barely a few years ago the change was felt
and expected but only until very recently it
thrived without a known ending

The AI 'revolution' brought it out in the open
and DeepSeek became known particularly.
The world is now basking in the exponential
development of things AL and no one can 
tell what's brewing!

Rosemary's at PSU Friday Writings #241: Change

Tuesday, August 18, 2026

In the Failing Lights

                                                                                                      Author Mariusz Guć

Image: Visions and Shadows
(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the 
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license)

to include the following lines in the prose:
." . . and the iridescent image swims through a mirror that flows.” 
 -  Stanley Kunitz from his  poem King of the River.

Iridescent means: showing bright colours that seem 
to change when you move or look from a different angle.

Failing lights follow the rocking of the boat. 
It reserves a thought for what is in store in the morning. 
One feels the concern for the guilt for not coming 
back with a decent decision and looks like the 
iridescent image swims through a mirror that flows.

It appears better from the other side and then the 
other, depending on the movement of the sun earlier
Is it with full abandon to just raise both hands 
and prepare to give up.

Many have walked this path. Many are familiar with the
underlying frustrations of not being satisfied with the ones
done lately. Time constraints may not be the reason. 

It is perhaps to throw everything to the winds and to see 
what is giving way. Building walls around one's options 
may not get the desired results. It stifles growth and that 
is not good at all!

Dora at d'Verse's Prosery—Luminous Accounting

Thursday, August 13, 2026

But dreams lingered on...!


                                                                                                   Author: Chris Downer
Image: Lady in the Distance
(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons given under the Creative 
Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license)

Rue to the one who thought
The eyes were seeing things
What apparition, playing tricks
Someone familiar out there?
Ruefully..
Check !

Someone beckoning in the distance
So he thought
An uncanny resemblance
How she had transformed
Sultry in the failing light

He asked, was it for real?
Stagnant in thoughts
Check again!

Undaunted he surged forward
He called out her name and waited….

There was no response
Just the cool of the day
There was nothingness
His stomach squirmed
His mind numbed
He yearned for her

His senses malfunctioned
Lost in thoughts…
She had been long gone
Reality was not easy to accept
But dreams lingered on...

Ruefully…
A quiet prayer….solace in silence!

There would be someone…!

Sanaa in d'Verse Open Link Night #413 
with Live Edition

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Belimbing

 

Image:1 A bunch of belimbing on the tree in our backyard

Image:2 Taken from another angle of the same tree. The flowers are seen on the right side, red in colour

Note: A distant cousin of the star-fruit, smaller in size but rounded not star-shaped. Measures about 6cm (2.5 inch) The tree in our backyard sprouted a generous offering. Very sour, can be taken raw but not munched as a fruit. It is taken as an appetizer.. 

Pounded with chillies
Whets the appetite with meals
In place of chutney

As a curry dish
With fish and coconut milk
Fun with rice for lunch

Dried out in the sun
Thrown in as one of items
To make mixed pickles

Sumana's Open Link at 'What's Going On?' 
This is an old posting.

Kissing in the Rain

                                                                            Author ClickFlashPhotos / Nicki Varkevisser

Image: Wonders of the Weather
(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons given under the
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license)

Letting the rain to run down in rivulets
There they are oblivious of the wet
Resolute in not wanting to regret
 A panacea of pain failing to observe
Clasped in the entanglements of love

 

Sweetness belies feelings less of trivia 

Turbulent in thoughts but standing on air

Tugging in the cold they don’t deserve

Let loose emotions that are hazardous

A couple in throes of falling in love


Exudes warmness in having to let
Can man continue without feelings of guilt? 
Obliquely avoiding words of despair
Headstrong pushing seemingly unfair
 
Twinkling eyes of the lady a respite
Not revealing the dumbness of the plight
Softening the savage breast of the ardour 
Kissing in the rain is an obvious splendour

Lisa in dVerse Poetics — Have You Ever Seen the Rain?

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Island of Beauty

 
                                            Author:Honey 
Image: A Beautiful Lady
(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the Creative 
Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license) 

Untouched 
Exuding bright rays of hope 
Island of beauty

Adored by many
Pristine serene and misty 
Far from prying eyes

Not readily seen
Rare glimpse at the window 
Smiles are luxuries

A forbidden fruit 
A courtship of old
Jumping for joy
Uppermost, Mom’s approval 

De Jackson at d'Verse Quadrille #353: 
Jumpstart your Poem

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

The Anaheim's Disneyland

                                                                                                       Author: Hank's
Image: Entrance to Anaheim's Disneyland

Process note: 
This is a revamp of an old posting of our journeying over to Anaheim many years ago  The original prompt calls for an Other Voice. I had it made out from my daughter's voice of her reminiscences of the wonderful sojourn. 

The Happiest Place on Earth

It was a dream that I had dreamt of. We were here now, Mom and Dad  and my younger brother Hafidz. I just couldn’t believe it. Barely a few weeks ago on TV, we were then watching a program tagged the Happiest Place on Earth.

Apparently Dad had long before decided and saved.
A flurry of events followed which we later realised. Dad had made preparations but cooking up a surprise. Everything were ready, passports, luggage, light attire. And now we were all here!

Disneyland here we come. 
Wow, this was going to be fun!

Main Street  USA we gave it a pass. We went over to Fantasyland just as fast. Then it was What a Small World, Peter Pan and Space Mountain in Tomorowland. It was alive! Beware The Haunted House. The subsequent Adventureland and Jungle Cruise then  followed with later the Frontierland and Thunder Mountain Railroad. They were all full of surprises. We kids just wanted more!

Hafidz and I were in the ‘thrill’ mode. Taking snapshots Dad kept himself busy
Showing  them in class they would be green with envy

The 3-day Passport was not quite enough. But being here itself was heavenly, thank our lucky stars. Since we were in the vicinity, we had a peek at Las Vegas. Free meals in the casinos were widely advertised. Then into the Nevada desert in the morning a leisurely ride to arrive at another spectacle, the Hoover Dam, what a sight!

The next day we ventured south to San Diego Sea World with a stopover at Capistrano to sight the swallows. Awaiting at Sea World a sight of fantasy of illustrious performances. Man and sea animals all in unison, a  scenic spectacle, a marvel to see 

I’ll always love my Daddy, for giving us this marvelous opportunity

Dreams of youngsters here
Adventure rolled into one
Fulfilled in Disney

Frank's at d'Verse's a Haibun Monday 8-3-26: Journeying out!

Monday, August 3, 2026

Lying by the Sea-shore

                                                                                           
Author: Hasanblaze
Image: A Coconut on the Beach
(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the Creative 
Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license)

MLMM Monday Wordle 
The 10 of 12 given words:
cast, lightly street, sensitive, cool, view, 
tickle attract, evening, glow, attract 

Basking in the evening sun
Lying by the sea-shore
Not a worry anymore
The sea breeze seeks to brush by

The constant lashings of the waves 
Slow sounds in low octaves
Unlike the din on busy streets

Free to laze at ease 
With nothing sensitive
Filling in the time to feel easy

Cool view of moments of solitude
Feelings of gratitude 
No one to tickle or intrude

Heightened the  mood 
Later in the evening glow
Easiness held sway 
Attracting in a good way 

None that Im seeing 
Engulfed all my being
Not a bother in the world

Picture Prompt: A lone coconut on the beach

Mindlovemisery Managerie's: MLMM 
Monday Wordle #488