Bawang!

Happy New Year!

Much of the blessings i received in 2008 were coursed through very dear people. I cannot mention your names here, but i know you know who you are: Thank you from the bottom of my heart!


And to usher 2009, i put out this entry with a big bang...literally, may bawang!

Auld Lang Syne

Auld Lang Syne
Traditional Words by Robert Burns


Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

Chorus:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp!
And surely I'll be mine!
And we'll take a cup o' kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

We twa hae run about the braes
And pou'd the gowans fine.
We've wandered mony a weary foot,
Sin' auld lang syne.

We twa hae sported i' the burn,
From morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roared
Sin' auld lang syne.

And ther's a hand, my trusty friend,
And gie's a hand o' thine;
We'll tak' a right good willie-waught,,
For auld lang syne.

A Prayer

A Prayer

Let me do my work each day;
and if the darkened hours
of despair overcome me, may I
not forget the strength
that comforted me in the
desolation of other times.

May I still remember the bright
hours that found me walking
over the silent hills of my
childhood, or dreaming on the
margin of a quiet river,
when a light glowed within me,
and I promised my early God
to have courage amid the
tempests of the changing years.

Spare me from bitterness
and from the sharp passions of
unguarded moments. May
I not forget that poverty and
riches are of the spirit.
Though the world knows me not,
may my thoughts and actions
be such as shall keep me friendly
with myself.

Lift up my eyes
from the earth, and let me not
forget the uses of the stars.
Forbid that I should judge others
lest I condemn myself.
Let me not follow the clamor of
the world, but walk calmly
in my path.

Give me a few friends
who will love me for what
I am; and keep ever burning
before my vagrant steps
the kindly light of hope.

And though age and infirmity
overtake me, and I come not within
sight of the castle of my dreams,
teach me still to be thankful
for life, and for time's olden
memories that are good and
sweet; and may the evening's
twilight find me gentle still.

~ Max Ehrmann ~

(The Desiderata of Happiness)

Tis the Season

Merry Christmas!

October and November saw me shuttling from one class to another. The tight and tiring sked prevented me from updating my blog and putting my musings down pat.

The Christmas holidays will be spent in my mama's home in the suburbs. Having lugged my trusted laptop along, i now find myself up to the challenge of writing down some thoughts tonight...


Could there be a better wish out there? I mean, how does it really go, this thing about wishes? What's the criteria? How does the fortunate wisher get his wish?

Ah, muddled thoughts!

I have always known that wishes are prayers, too.

I'm forty-eight, do i still get a Christmas wish?

Heaven help me!

Dry Spell

How do i explain the long silence? And explain to whom? Why explain?

Waters of September

The following is a poem i wrote in 1975 when i was in my sophomore year of high school. I have long forgotten about this poem until my mom showed me a clipping from our school newspaper. I felt it is very appropriate to publish it here, in time for the month.

The Waters of September

From a lonely cloud,
I fell down to earth
To kiss those flowers
Who need a shower
For I, the waters of September,
Bring forth the love
And blessings from Above.

After the kisses;
I gather myself
To create a pool
and simply move on
Through endless streams,
And down the deep seas
To await my next journey.

Waiting for the sun to shine
And the warmth of the air
For I, the waters of September
Have to meet thee again.
To resume my cycle, so await me,
Come September, I shall shower thee
With life-giving kisses!

Gentle Precipitation

Everybody loves the rain! Most people i've talked to tell me they like it when it rains because it's cool, breezy and sentimental. I couldn't agree more.

For me, the rain is like a friend who comes to visit. It brings many memories of times gone by. Sentimental, but warm and reassuring.

I love the rain! Even the mere sound of raindrops on the balcony brings a good feeling. It sounds just the way it did many, many years ago when i was a young schoolboy watching the street from our window. I could hear the patter of raindrops just i could see them fall on the gravel, how they would light up whenever a vehicle would come splashing by... i remember times like these while waiting for my mother to come home from school... she would be home in time for dinner and as certain as the rains, she would fill our home with warmth and so much love!

It's amazing how the raindrops still sound the same... they patter as if i were that young schoolboy again... basking in my mother's love.

I love the rain.