In loving memory..

You came to my life a year ago
a gift no less
flourishing like the gods owe you
bold, resplendent, full of life
gracing the occasion like no other

Then I brought you home
placed on a podium of honour no less
you started to wilt like the gods left you
rapid, shrivelling, life seeping
drama unfolding like no other

Panic! panic! a rescue op ensued
perhaps the sun is what you crave
off to the planter box you go
and survive you really did!
well.. at least 3 stalks out of 6

minute by minute, hour by hour
flowers gone, leaves remain
day by day, month by month
leaves still green, but no flowers

When the sun got too much
I brought you a small brolly
still a struggle against the burn
the sun a double-edged sword

minute by minute, hour by hour
sometimes glistening, other times dull
day by day, month by month
hope you gave me, but still no bouquet

Then the sun a-shifted
brolly no longer needed
oh spring is in the air!
will I see a second bloom?

Alas disaster struck!
pesky pest I could not rid
oh so sick and strickened
finally joining your shortlived brethen

An empty pot layeth
all that remains of what had been
oh what a pity what can I do
so with ladened heart I painted thee

stroke by stroke, brush by brush
the arcs, the shapes,
the colours, the life!
bloom by bloom, stalk by stalk
alive you became
a sight to behold

A joyful work I will make thee
hopeful another two to follow
an ode to your beauty
a tribute to your glory
at least on canvas you cannot fade

Oh may you rest in peace!
the one and only orchid I will ever own
living ones at least
cos painting hands I possess

but not green fingers.. amen

Life's Punctuation

It's a cliche to say life is full of ups and downs. I prefer to say life is, or rather needs, commas and full-stops, and the occasional exclamation mark! At least mine does.

Caught in the drone of daily work and routine, I tend to get on with the days on auto-mode.. Brr-ing!!! God! Monday blues.. Brr-ing!!! It's only Tue??! Brr-ing!! Why is'nt there a mid-week break? Brr-ing! Almost there.. Brr-ing! Tahan a few more hours.. Then zzz... tired out.. zzz... rested.. but tomorrow's Mon again :( GROAN.

Yes, life's one big GROAN. Especially when I'm not one of those blessed few - you know, the authors of feel-good books who simply lurve their work, or at least proclaim to be so passionate about slogging as to be unable to live (pant) without it ;p

I need punctuation in my life period. To break the routine, so to speak. So that I can feel alive again. And, as a bonus, have things to brag about to my friends when I see them ;p

In my school days, I used to like exams. Not because I'm nuts but because there is a finality to it. During the term, you go through the pain of attending classes, doing tutorials, and having occasional fun pauses when they're done. Finally, the panic, cramming and sleepless nights before the wham-bam of the papers hit! Then yes, it's OVER! Euphoria washes over. And I'd reward myself with a gift - something that I've always wanted - or go out with friends to celebrate. Even a hair-cut can be such an uplifting moment at a time like this! That is the beauty of it all. A brilliant full-stop, no exclamation mark, after a long long session with occasional commas.

I like to say I love studying - often to the incredulity of others. It was only recently that it dawned on me that what I really love about my studying days is for its clear-cut punctuation. There is a time for pain and tedium; a time for rejoicing and fun. Pure and simple. Nothing else gets in the equation, like $$$ for instance. Working life, however, sucks. You go through the tedium and you go through the tedium. Responsibility weighs a tonne when you are working for the dough. Politics are distasteful but unavoidable. There is no right or wrong answer. Instead everything becomes a muddy grey.

I used to think of working life as a general nuisance but a necessity to pay for my holidays. And that's where my punctuation needs come in. So I've learned to make my own punctuation. Even as I write this, I'm on a comma (somewhere in scotland ;p) Eventually I'd have my grand big FULL-STOP - not drop dead lah but my early retirement date!!!

3rd May 2009, Glasgow.