Tag: poetry

TOMORROW is NEVER Promised

On By Paul2 Comments
Alone at Sunset/ryndws 

Let’s begin TODAY with a heart of gold

Even though you have a broken soul

Before we meet God for all eternity

May you have love, peace & charity!

Usually in the quiet hours of the morning or late into the night (or rather in the unholy hours of the night), I would have my quiet moments, solitude . . . moments to ponder & contemplate. Very often too when I’m having the “writer’s block” . . . lacking inspiration to write, I would look on to Perth City’s lights from my humble dwelling place . . . and there as with the sparkle of city’s lights, ideas begin to flow & inspiration grow.

This morning was different. At about 6.00, I received this beautiful email from a dear old friend “Roger” (his nick name known only to me) whom I joyfully caught up with after an absence of a lapse of over 40 years. I thought that rather than forwarding it through the usual emailing channel, I could share this with friends far & wide, distant or near, old or new, young & old, male or female in my WordPress blog.

As with the golden sun  in the evening setting

There’s no assurance of the rising in the dawn awakening!

May I suggest that as you read every line, ponder deep & hard, memorise & internalise as with all the good years of your life . . 

tomorrows-never-promised

TOMORROW is NEVER PROMISED . . .

One day a woman’s husband died, and on that clear, cold morning, in the warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn’t “anymore”. No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more “just one minute.” Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away, never to return before we can say good-bye, say “I love you.”

So while we have it, it’s best we love it, care for it, fix it when it’s broken and heal it when it’s sick. This is true for marriage . . . And old cars . . . And children with bad report cards, and dogs with bad hips, and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.

Some things we keep — like a best friend who moved away or a sister-in-law after divorce. There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what.

Life is important, like people we know who are special. And so, we keep them close!

I received this from someone who thought I was a ‘keeper’! Then I sent it to the people I think of in the same way . . . Now it’s your turn to send this to all those people who are “keepers” in your life, including the person who sent it, if you feel that way. Suppose one morning you never wake up, do all your friends know you love them?

I was thinking . . . I could die today, tomorrow or next week, and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that needed rekindling or three words needing to be said.

Let every one of your friends know you love them. Even if you think they don’t love you back, you would be amazed at what those three little words and a smile Jcan do. And just in case I’m gone tomorrow.

I LOVE YA!!!

Source: iuli72an
TehSext
Source: Alraunie
Source: donjuki

End not in loneliness & solitude

Live not a life of bitterness & unforgiveness

LET GO & LET GOD RULE YOUR SOUL!

Be A Genius Only After Death?

On By Paul1 Comment

By P Chong                                                                                  Thurs. 7 October 2010

It often happened that the status of being a genius is only conferred on an artist, poet, writer, musician & composer long after their death.

Greatness is often acquired by being born great, some achieved greatness & still others have greatness thrust upon them. Whichever category that greatness comes about, there is always that element of luck in question.

What’s the whole point of suffering a lifetime & only to be recognised when one is no longer around?

In this 21st century, we find the phenomenon of paintings being sold at auctions for ridiculous prices, literary works being included in school curriculum globally or music being played in prestigious concert halls. Yet during the lifetime of these artists & “conferred” geniuses lived in abject poverty, or being ridiculed or insulted by the public & press media. True geniuses really do not seek out personal fame or fortune. To them it’s all a question of creativity – being able to express themselves for the greater benefits of the community. Sometimes personal glory is conferred out of immediate recognition by the public, while for most the best song & music become interred with their bones . . . only to be resurrected much later. Such is the nature of things & the irony of it all.

 

 

 

Vincent Van Gogh

 

One of the most recognised geniuses who suffered this fate is none other than Vincent Van Gogh, a Dutch artist, symbolically considered to be a

misunderstood genius. At the time when he was working as a dealer jn an art firm, he was able to make a decent living. However, after a sad love story, he quit his job and got into religion, where he got involved with missionary work. He soon lost that position as he was most fanatical & zealous about his pursuit.

He finally landed up in the art of painting. However, he was not understood in this area either. He only managed to sell only one piece of his work “Red Vineyards” and that was to his friend.

Today we know approximately 850 canvases by the artist, many drawings and engravings. 
Once a cafe allowed Van Gogh to organise an exhibition and sell his paintings. Not a single painting was purchased. As a result, many of Van Gogh paintings were simply thrown away or given away to those who wanted to paint their new pictures on the canvas. Today his masterpieces hang in the most prominent museums; they are hunted after at auctions and stolen for private collections.

 

John Keats

 

John Keats, an English poet, one of the best lyricists  of the world literature, did not live up to its glory by just a few months. The young gifted poet was terminally ill with tuberculosis. During his short literary career, Keats did not hear a word of praise from serious critics, who shape public opinion. Keats died very young – at age of 25, and shortly after his death, his book of poems was published. It was so popular with readers that critics could only posthumously acknowledge his genius.

 

 

Arthur Rimbaud

 

Another poet who died young – Arthur Rimbaud – was more fortunate with the patronage of senior writers. The gifted young man was proclaimed the new Shakespeare and predicted brilliant glory. But Rimbaud gave up writing when many were only beginning – at the age of 20. He decided to become an explorer and gold producer. However, it did not work.

Rimbaud died at age 37, in a hospital, where he was regarded as a businessman. The cause of death was amputation of the leg, which adversely affected the overall health of the poet, undermined by travelling. After the death, poems of Rimbaud, as well as other poetry of the Symbolists who called himself “cursed poets” have gained popularity, and today Rimbaud has a strong place in the “golden fund” of the world poetry.

Geniuses are a dime a dozen

But to be conferred the status as such

Only posthumously is sad indeed.

 

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The Heart That Truly Loves

On By PaulLeave a comment

The Heart That Truly Loves

Pink Roses

My Dear on this auspicious day, I dedicate these lines to you:

“It was love at first sight

It’s love that sustains its might.”

The heart that truly loves remains pure and untainted, unaffected and unadulterated by admiration, pursuit and unwanted attention. She will preserve herself specially for her true love. Likewise with him.

The heart that truly loves never fades and remains unaltered right to the end of time. It grows and shines till the end of time with two hearts entwined.

The heart that truly loves never dies. Whatever the circumstances, in good times or bad, in health or in sickness, in happiness or sadness, the heart remains true – ever giving and ever caring.

The heart that truly loves is in tune with God’s love. The grace of God is within. Thus we have inward grace and outward grace, and the beauty of the person is truly magnificent and everlasting.

You are the Spring of my Youth

You are the Summer of my Charm

You are the Autumn of my Grace

You are the Winter of my Life.

Paul Chong

A Chinese by Descent

An Australian by Consent

Blogosphere Vs “Emailsphere”

On By Paul1 Comment

Blogosphere Vs “Emailsphere”

SANY2101

There’s that blogosphere, the world of weblogs for you.

Not sure if “emailsphere”

is an acceptable word for the electronic world. Nevertheless,

you know what I mean.

So there I was for the past 10 over years emailing away

until a friend recommended that:

”Since you’re so fond of writing & good at it, you should start blogging.”

Thus on 21 May 2009, my auspicious birthday, I made my plunge.

After several postings, I began to feel like retreating,

until a friend, Ean, in Singapore, whom I have not met in person,

encouraged me to go on. The rest as they say is history – if the word

applies for such a relative short time span of about three months.

At the time of my writing this, I have posted 106 variety of articles

& have reached a readership of well over 3,800.

A big welcome to you if you haven’t been there at my site!


For years I have been writing and I love it. I wanted to share this great love to the world by getting my manuscripts published, but it was all futile & vain. Rejection slips, though polite, are all that I received. I still have two unpublished poetry manuscripts and one on golf entitled “Swap Work . . . Play Golf” – essentially on the creativity of the game, its joy & frustration and the challenges that golf presents. I’ve got some successes getting articles published in the local papers & magazines including a self-published work on motivation “How To Have Motivation Unlimited”.


At Murdoch University, Perth where I spent one year in the graduate law program in 1995, I had to learn the use of the computer for the purpose of doing law assignments. So I did. From that point onwards, I was introduced to the electronic mailing world.


What a pleasure it was! Emailing is so fantastic, speedy, efficient & cheap. It’s miles ahead of “snail mail” which you have to go to the post office, purchase the stamp to post it. I guess that was how you lose track of your friends because it was such a tedious way of keeping in touch. Most people generally don’t like putting pen to paper. With emailing it’s so very convenient – the feel of the keyboard is different and with just one click you can reach a multitude of friends. In fact, there’s absolutely no excuse for people not keeping in touch with friends these days. No place is too far, no day is too short . . . the electronic world transcends both distances & time.


When told of getting into the blogosphere, I had then only fear! What would I know anything about blogging? The word itself was never in my dictionary, nor have I any connotation of its significance. Who would teach me or willing to? As it’s said, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.


That was my initial reaction & really there’s nothing to fear except fear itself. I always believe in action rather reaction. To me, age is just a chronological number. To ward off any physical effects or defects, we have to actively & positively stimulate our mental ability & capacity. Be in it to benefit it.


In the beginning, I played around with “multiply.com”, “livejournal.com” and even Google’s Blogger. However, I didn’t get much interaction, excitement nor satisfaction, until my sister Annie told me of “Wordpress.com”. Ever since end of May this year, I have been electronically transferring all my thoughts & philosophy into this newly created blog of mine. A very warm welcome awaits you if you have not been there yet:

https://p21chong.wordpress.com

As I express, the Word presses on.

Therein I have all my messages in one place accessible by all globally. My blogosphere is my home where I store that which people can conveniently explore. Blogosphere is far more stimulating, inspiring, motivating & “sexciting” than the more traditional “emailsphere.” My blood runs to my brain & through all my veins! My perspective on life takes on a higher plane, rejuvenating life, generating sparks & fire! Life takes on a new meaning and puts you on a different level. Your boundaries are challenged beyond all limits. In sales, they would say “The sky’s the limit”.


Remember the time before Christopher Columbus when men thought that the world was flat. On the Eastern front, there was the Great Chinese naval adventurer, Zheng He. The much more publicised Columbus sailed to America in St. Maria (eighty-five feet) in 1492. Zheng He sailed from China to many places throughout South Pacific, Indian Ocean, Taiwan, Persian Gulf and distant Africa in seven epic voyages from 1405 to 1433, some 80 years before Columbus’s voyages. His 400ft. long ”treasure ship” was much larger than Columbus’s.


By the same token, “emailsphere” pails in significance when compared with blogosphere. To me, the crux of the matter is that I thoroughly enjoy being in a new sphere, making new friends on an international scale & enlarging my circle of friends globally. Not everybody, as usual, will interact with you, but those who do, I find them to be more genuine, sincere & interesting. They are taking the extra effort of interacting with you even as strangers. But a stranger is truly a friend you have not met.


In blogosphere, you are creating your treasure & asset digitally while creating new friends globally. It’s a world of virtual reality. There’s the prosperity transferable in posterity.


In this world, the question is not how many friends have you got – rather how many people are you a friend to?


Paul Chong

Wednesday, 26 August 2009 @ 4.28 am

A Chinese by Descent

An Australian by Consent

Kirkby College Memorabilia

On By Paul3 Comments

Kirkby College Memorabilia

Kirkby Badge

Needlework TableAn old picture (left) taken in 1960 at the time of College Exhibition

It’s been 49 long years since we left Kirkby College.

Now it’s looking back rather than future fate.

We all have reached a point in life

To savour and treasure what we hold dear.

How the years have flown and how have we grown. As the years accumulate behind us tip the scale of the future years ahead, we can’t help but try to recapture some of the glorious memories we have. Life’s journey takes us through lots of bumps; for life certainly is no bed of roses. Even with the beautiful roses, we’ve got to take care not to be pricked by their thorns. Isn’t that what all these Kirkby Reunions are all about?

Having graduated fresh from High Schools, we were thrown into an environment so unfamiliar to us then. Sadly, a few of our colleagues got lost, but most adjusted and adapted well to our Alma Mater. Our curriculum of study required us to select certain options. Many chose Art and Crafts, Music, some more academically inclined picked English; needlework for the girls and others. I picked woodwork as my option. I wasn’t too sure I would be capable of using all those carpenter’s tools – not hammer and nails.

Having determined to find my soul mate in College, the next thing I decided upon was to work on a needlework table. Some chose to do book shelves, coffee tables and others. To me, the needlework table was going to be a labour of love – yes indeed labour for two whole years. 

6329-symbol-love-chinese-calligraphy-paintingChinese Character for Love

The needlework table is still in our possession after all these 49 years. It traveled from Kirkby College in Liverpool to Malaysia, and now it is here in Perth, Australia. I guess such memories are worth every penny on earth, and no hefty amount of cash offer will dissuade me from parting with it. Our daughter Agnes said: “Please dad, don’t ever sell it.” No way! It’s a family heirloom. In terms of age, it’s kind of an antique!

SANY0009

SANY0011Recent Pictures Top & Bottom

It’s also a piece of art, solidly constructed of teak with craftsman’s precision joints and finished with linseed oil. The top opens to reveal a sliding tray that holds all the pins, needles and thread. Below the tray lies a storage compartment. It was built with love and love will see us through till our dying days.

Paul Chong

Fog

On By Paul2 Comments

Fog

SANY2106

From our home towards Perth City shrouded from sight.

It’s that time of the year before the coming of Spring in September that fogs abound up where we live in the hills. It rains off & on & the whole atmosphere is one of serenity & peace. Best time to lay back by the warm fire, read a book or watch the TV or sit at the computer desk & let your inspiration take hold.

Fog in the hills

Shrouding the view

Softening every nature

Hiding every creature.

The sky is grey

Blue’s gone astray

The light is dimly soft

Invisibility even above the turf.

The fog lingers on

Birds fill the air with song

It’s scene like this

That sets you at peace.

Such wonder makes you wonder

In your heart you ponder

As it gradually disperses

Light slowly emerges.

SANY2107Foggy scene at our backyard

Paul Chong

Thursday, 20 August 2009 @ 14.01

Smoke-Free Deli

On By Paul1 Comment

Smoke-Free Deli

barberry-square-deli_0001


We used to have a delicatessen business for about seven and a half years in 1984. We were reputed for not selling cigarettes which was most unusual for any deli. This economic unsound business practice was by choice on the principle of health hazards of smoking.

Today most or all of these delis have suffered their economic demise. Small business, as like hardware stores, suffered sadly from the competition of supermarkets & service stations. (Kalamunda lies in Perth Hills of Western Australia).


ON TOP of old Kalamunda

With panoramic Perth down under

The air is clean, the scene serene

It really makes you sing.

Set in the centre of Kalamunda Town

Barberry Square Deli has great renown

It’s being called unusual, fantastic & strange

Because of the Deli’s incredible range.

Satay sauce & chilli, all are in store

With Asian ingredients & every spices more

Chocolates, lollies, ice-cream,cool drink

But without cigarettes, now that’s hard to thinkl!

“Why Paul, what sort of store do you run?

We come to play video game just for fun

Yet no cigarettes are here for sale

Surely this means your business must fail?”

“It’s true.” says Paul, “we did think twice

Before we banned the smoking vice.

But we believe that your good health

Is more important than our wealth.”

Paul Chong

A Chinese by Descent

An Australian by Consent


Bridge Over Troubled Waters

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Bridge Over Troubled Waters

bbridgeap8

“Praise the LORD, O my soul;

all my inmost being,

praise his holy name.

Praise the LORD, O my soul,

And forget not all his benefits –

who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.”

(Psalm 103: Verses 1-5)

In this beautiful Psalm, there are seven meaningful verbs,

well chosen to instil a process of hope and positiveness . . . forgets, forgives,

heals, redeems, crowns, satisfies, and renewed.

When hurts roar, let your hope soar.

Your heart might be breaking,

A million pieces shattering.

Feeling’s such a delicate thing

It’s hard even with gentle mending.

A process and period of grieving

Is essential for healing.

The heart may grieve for all eternity,

That’s when understanding can lift it but not pity.

Troubled waters roar with great muddy swells.

Bridging it requires skill to break the spell.

For despair and despondency creep,

Even while you sleep.

Your whole being becomes so engrossed,

Nothing stimulates, enthusiasm’s lost.

A soothing word, a gentle hand

A listening heart and patience spent

Will calm the roar in the end.

To forgive is divine

To forget exceptionally fine.

Christ heals to redeem

Crowns and satisfies to extreme

Renewed spirit sets to spring.

© Paul Chong