Evening

Evening

by Ranier Maria Rilke




The sky puts on the darkening blue coat
held for it by a row of ancient trees;
you watch: and the lands grow distant in your sight,
one journeying to heaven, one that falls;

and leave you, not at home in either one,
not quite so still and dark as the darkened houses,
not calling to eternity with the passion of what becomes
a star each night, and rises;

and leave you (inexpressibly to unravel)
your life, with its immensity and fear,
so that, now bounded, now immeasurable,
it is alternately stone in you and star.


Translated by Stephen Mitchell

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri

Peace on this Wesak Day

When My Soul Findeth Wings

Let me introduce another lovely poem, written a century ago by Libbie C Baer, which again moves me very much. I read it in poems.org (a website run by the Academy of American poets)

Libbie C. Baer was born in Ohio on 18 November 1849. She was the author of In the Land of Fancy and Other Poems (F. T. Neely, 1902). She passed away on 27 February 1929.

When My Soul Findeth Wings

Like roses the bright dream did pass, 

On swift, noiseless footsteps away;
Like glistening dew on the grass,
Dissolving beneath the sun’s ray.

Like voice of the lark that doth soar,
Through the golden haze of the dawn;
You hear it and bend to adore,
Just hear it and then it is gone. 

The lark on his swift, flashing wings,
Keeps pace with the flowers in their flight;
And that’s why when soaring he sings,
And passes so swiftly from sight.

I slept, and a vision did see,
Of eyes that were tender and blue;
I awoke to know that for me
The vision may never come true.

The lark soars no more in the skies,
He’s gone with the roses and dew;
The face with the soft tender eyes,
Comes never to gladden my view.

My memory holds images fair,
Of all these beautiful things;
Which I will be seeking somewhere,
When my soul, as lark, findeth wings.

This poem is in the public domain. Published in Poem-a-Day on May 3, 2020 by the Academy of American Poets

In April

Let me introduce a lovely poem, written some 95 years ago by Ranier Maria Rilke, which moves me very much. I read it in poems.org (a website run by the Academy of American poets)

Rainer Maria Rilke was born in Prague on December 4, 1875. The author of several collections of poetry and prose, Rilke is recognized by many as a master of verse. He died on December 29, 1926.


In April 

Again the woods are odorous, the lark
Lifts on upsoaring wings the heaven gray
That hung above the tree-tops, veiled and dark,
Where branches bare disclosed the empty day.

After long rainy afternoons an hour
Comes with its shafts of golden light and flings
Them at the windows in a radiant shower,
And rain drops beat the panes like timorous wings.

Then all is still. The stones are crooned to sleep
By the soft sound of rain that slowly dies;
And cradled in the branches, hidden deep
In each bright bud, a slumbering silence lies.

I just love the beauty of 'In April'.

'In April' appeared in 'Poems' (T.A. Wright, 1918), translated by Jessie Lemont

Tolong berdiam-diam

Abang sayangku, abang sayangku
Look at that woman dress in PPE
With 'Menteri' label on dress too
Diam lah, manja voice-kau 2 geli

tiru nada Doraemon & dikuti dengan gelak manja?
😲😒😂

Oi, one and all, look I am spraying

4 your safety, I am dressed in PPE
To disinfect virus, monstrous being
Podah menteri, itu my mango tree

😠😠😠

Bersandiwara, kerbau, tua chong
'Ni menteri2 hanya mau publicity
Sampai memanggil Si Doraemon
Langsung ta' ikhlas, no sincerity

dei tangachi podah

👎👎👎

Minum air suam bagus sgt sekali

Lagi menteri kerbau cakap ayam

Ini bolih buat Covid bunuh sendiri

Tapi yang best, tolong berdiamx2

😛😜😝

Blessed Rain

We've been told the rain in Spain
In that tragic Covid ridden Iberia
Usually'd fall mainly on the plain
But what of our tropical Malaysia?

The rain goes dom dam dom dam
Beating rat-tat-tat on my zinc roof
Nature's musical singing telegram
Our friendly hujan, not at all aloof

Saying to me As-salāmu ʿalaykum
As I smell it sweet moist freshness

Sitting on the veranda of my home

Magically feeling tranquil calmness

Soon the rain will leave me alone

In idyllic and stoic contemplation

Meditating on my Nirvanic throne
& cherishing Nature's benediction

The Frogs of Malaysia

The eternal bane of our country are frogs
'Tis the season for them, hopping all over
Stinking like malodorous dirty worn socks
Yes, they're very much attracted to power

Frogs I refer to aren't nature's amphibians

Just offspring of scums in grotty cesspool
They love nefarious acts pre-post elections
Yes, drawn to filthy lucre & loot they drool

Some are amazingly agile in their hopping
They lompat kiri kanan, whoa, back to kiri
Their inner GPS' directing them to offering
Lucrative, in a game of 'Gimme', 'Gimme'

Their hides are thick as African rhinoceros
And faces masked with hypocrisy and lies
Preaching righteousness in voices sonorous
While converging on pungli like eager flies

Note: 'pungli' is Indonesian abbreviation for 'pungutan liar' or 'illegal levies' (bribes)

Happy New Year 2020

O Ass-Dick

O Ass-Dick Ass-Dick Ass-Dick galore
I feel quite comfy now I am staying
Many now of his 'mis-deed' deplore
Cursing that man with No 3 Sodomy

O Ass-Dick Ass-Dick Ass-Dick galore
He's beginning to frustrate me mucho
My men find jailing him 2 big a chore
'Coz he's wrestling like a dumb sumo

O Ass-Dick Ass-Dick Ass-Dick galore
That Apek I'll soon put in Kajang jail
Fails to realise his eff-ed mien I abhor
Like a greedy cur with a wagging tail 

O Ass-Dick Ass-Dick Ass-Dick galore
What's the prob, my dearest Boy Boy
Dad, not Ass-Dick but S(Ess)-D(Dee)
STFU, me you're beginning to annoy

he eff-ing thinks he knows it all when he has been eff-ing mucho stuff galore, wakakaka 

Is Chin Peng still with us?

When you remember me, it means that you have carried something of who I am with you, that I have left some mark of who I am on who you are. It means that you can summon me back to your mind even though countless years and miles may stand between us.

It means that if we meet again, you will know me. It means that even after I die, you can still see my face and hear my voice and speak to me in your heart.

For as long as you remember me, I am never entirely lost.

When I'm feeling most ghost-like, it is your remembering me that helps remind me that I actually exist. When I'm feeling sad, it's my consolation. When I'm feeling happy, it's part of why I feel that way.

If you forget me, one of the ways I remember who I am will be gone. If you forget, part of who I am will be gone.”


― Frederick Buechner , Whistling in the Dark: A Doubter's Dictionary

The singing canary

FMT - I was coached to downplay Najib, Jho Low’s roles in 1MDB.

When you sing like an too-eager canary

You sound woefully like a blardy kerbau
Then you chirp incessantly like a cricket
Ptui, yuck, you smell of all garbage foul

nak masuk lokup? 

atau ... wakakaka 

OK OK OK ... cukup liao lah 

Aiyoh, why do you nyanyi like a canary

& why do you moo moo macam kerbau
What-why, from Maddy's Malay Dignity?
To sabo with his viciously hateful kacau

Al Fatihah Allahyarham Ahmad Ton

MM Online:

DAP veteran Ahmad Ton dies

BY DANIAL DZULKIFLY

Ahmad Ton had held various positions within the party such as DAP Johor state chairman and vice-chairman and was even appointed to the party’s Deputy Secretary-General post from 2004 to 2008

Picture by KE Ooi

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 — Senior DAP leader Ahmad Ton has passed away, his party has confirmed. He was 70.

DAP political education director Liew Chin Tong conveyed his condolences at the passing of the party stalwart, who died today.

In a media statement, Liew said that Ahmad will be remembered for his “strong will” to fight for a better Malaysia.

“The journey of DAP in the former Barisan Nasional fortress of Johor was never easy for our veterans. Being a Malay in DAP in the previous Johor political milieu was doubly hard for Sdr. Ahmad Ton.

“It was Sdr. Ahmad Ton’s strong will and a warrior’s pursuit of permanent struggle for a better Malaysia that paved the way for Pakatan Harapan to finally win nationally and in Johor in 2018.

“My deepest condolences to Sdr Ahmad Ton’s family for their loss. And, on behalf of DAP, I am deeply grateful to Sdr. Ahmad Ton for his loyalty, service and sacrifices.

“Thank you, comrade, and farewell, my friend,’’ he said

Ahmad Ton had held various positions within the party such as DAP Johor state chairman and vice-chairman and was even appointed to the party’s Deputy Secretary-General post from 2004 to 2008.

He was also a long-time member of Johor DAP state committee and has been the party’s central executive member from 1982 to 2012.

He had contested in elections since 1982 and had contested seats such as Tanjong Piai and Labis.

“Since his maiden attempt standing for election in 1982 until 2008, Sdr. Ahmad Ton fearlessly contested the most difficult of seats (including former Barisan Nasional strongholds Tanjong Piai and Labis). Those years were the darkest hours for DAP, but Sdr. Ahmad Ton firmly stood by the party,’’ added Liew.

Valiant in his blue amidst a red-white sea
Striding courageously through thick & thin
Magnificent efforts he made for prosperity
Do we even know what his legacy has been

None of PhD, DSc nor the new mighty MBA
Just his heart, soul and dedication he gave
In his old party's new glory what did he say
Nary a word, as quietly he went to his grave

I recall he did mention Malaysian Malaysia
Quite many years back with some sadness
An ideal he had held for long and very dear
But failed to see that sweet dream manifest

All that no longer matters as he very bravely
Strides forth into a world to be with Allah swt
Whilst others venture into the Hall of Valkyrie
Ahmad Ton, Al Fatihah, our hero, our matey

A love returns

While clearing a couple of old boxes in which I packed my meagre belongings when I came down to Oz, I spied a slip of paper with some crude scribbles.

To my surprise it was an old poem I had attempted to compose in my youthful days, wakakaka. Here is it:

The morning mist lovingly lingers
around rose petals and drops of dew

Soft black tresses caress pink cheeks
wet with tears sparkling with rainbow hue

But the sun rises bright and shining
burning the vapour to yonder blue

I see a smile blooming on rosebud lips
dear one, your love has returned to you

Merdeka

His pet horses love carrot
The rakyat makan tapioca
Macai's His words'll parrot
Malaysia has berMerdeka

By Him we were informed
Of good hot Radioactivity
If you think He's reformed
You're one gullible guppy

We're still playing racial war
Courtesy of his damn legacy
Alas, animosity'd never thaw
Between non & His pribumi

Formula 1 instead of veggie
Car No Tree instead of rice
We still get nepo and crony
And lots of kerbau and lies