SUMMER LOTUS

30th Jan 2024. 1 min read.

Published in ‘The Power of Poetry

The soothing sounds of the rumbling trains 

The waft of of freshly baked bread

The sight of people moving briskly through the streets

The delectable taste of food prepared with love and care

It’s the verve and vitality Tokyo metropolis

That fuels my spirit, senses and soul

Tokyo throbs like no other city does

She invigorates me like no other city does

Tokyo is art; its creativity captivates me

Tokyo is culture; its tradition impresses me

Tokyo is beauty; its sceneries stun me

Tokyo is science; new innovations abound and architecture astounds me

Back to Tokyo

For rejuvenation, revitalisation and renewal

Back to Tokyo

When one needs to move ahead again with purpose, panache and passion

Ah Tokyo, the cradle of my comfort

15/1/24 1 min poetry ( also published in The Power of Poetry)

What an awesome morning

Another chance at life

The air is crisp, clear and cool

My soul is instantly uplifted

Another day of exploring and experience

A lovely breakfast even if it’s just a coffee

That warms the heart and livens the soul

A job I love

Friends to chat with

Hobby to indulge

A fortunate family

That’s a good life

Live, enjoy and be thankful

To discover new passions, possibilities and potential

That are still unknown to us

…to her young intern

4th Jan 2024. 1 min read published in The Power Of Poetry

What can I teach you young lady

That is valuable for your life

Values that money can’t buy

That the road ahead is not as smooth as you wish

There will be bumps and potholes indeed

Some will make you stumble and even bleed

But you will pick yourself up.

As you are taught to be calm

It seems like you are given a balm

So that when you fall, you will not falter, at least not mentally and spiritually

Your mind will remain crystal clear

Solutions will surface, kind words will arise from your lips, your hands and legs will remain steady

You can rectify the situation

Because nothing serious will happen

If you do not panic

Everything will smoothen out like a silky fabric

It’s here that I practice calmly so that you will imbibe what we believe to be good for your well being

I must thank you too as I benefit from working with you

Based on this principle of tranquility

Don’t even flinch, things are not as bad as you imagine

Kind words, positive thoughts, and a good deed will carry your day as they do mine

And we can all have a great time

Jan 1st 2024 1 min read posted in The Power of Poetry on medium.com

Resolutions are often broken

Because they were often perfunctorily taken

This year I found the power in setting my goals

As I analyses them carefully and clearly with soul

First is self assessment

As they say, know thyself and the battle is half won

Know your weaknesses and your strengths

Work on them and achieve your ends

Next is self discipline

Set your time, learning effort, focus and be real keen

To attain knowledge, awareness and good health

You may even increase your wealth

Finally is self healing

For oneself and the World, PRAY

As one cannot control what is beyond one’s power

Prayer can and to that I add reading and writing with fervour

To each goal, their specifics are named

Everyday, this will be my game

When another year end nears

I hope to say it’s been a Great Year!

26/12/23 1 min read (published in The Power of Poetry)

Author in Boston, December 2023

One morning in beautiful Boston,

I left the hotel to meet up with my friend who had gone shopping

She did not wait for me as I was napping

The biting blustering wind scoured my face as soon as I stepped out onto the pathway.

I was poor with directions and feared that the GPS would mislead me

I walked briskly on the verge of running, keeping my fingers crossed

It’s not so much the cold but the fear that the person behind me might pounce on me

Few times I threw side glances to size up the figure behind me.

I could run, I could kick, I could scream

Noticing people coming in the opposing direction comforted me

Everyone seemed to pace along, nonchalantly

Being well covered up by his neck buff added to the mystery and my tension

600 m later, the destination loomed up before me

The figure behind me had passed ahead

I was relieved

All in my mind

I have a fertile imagination and innate fear

Anyway, I am glad to overcome my doubts by setting out

What’s worse

To be held captive in my own mind each time I am challenged

Or face the uncertainty, realise the truth and fortify my mind

Many times it’s the tricks of my thoughts

I had chosen not to submit to fear

16th Dec 2023. 1 min read

Author at Climb Central, Singapore

My palms develop calluses as I grip the handholds

My feet ache as I pushed against the footholds

My arms are pumped up as blood is diverted to them

I feel the power of gravity as it hauls me back to earth

And I am tempted to let go

It’s the next level of difficulty

My mind says breathe

My heart says be still

My eyes say look for a better grip

My arms and legs say rest on the wall

My soul says be positive and move along

Rock climbing develops your grit, your persistence and your intellect

There is always a way to finally reach the top

Some can do it because they have unravelled these traits

They are strength, stamina, strategy, stability, stillness, silence, style and sentiment

I will get there, at the top of this level, one day.

These are the qualities that will get me whatever I want in life