Friday, May 20, 2005

Blast fr the past! III


Lionel walked slowly through the path. Tis is his favourite part of the Lioncourts garden; tis is where the ancient and great oaks shelter the path wif their embracing canopy, allowing only the distilled rays of a curious sun to peer through the leaves. The sky was a clear turquoise, an evening colour, even though it was still premature for dusk to set in.


Lionel walked wif his head bowed, he had much to comtemplate tis day. He thought about the changes going on around him, both in his life and in the lives of his friends. Everyone seemed to be preoccupied wif some new event, some turning point, knowing someone new or renewing knowledge of someone known.

"A season of change, indeed." As Lionel brooded, he watched the fallen leaves gathered near his feet, whirled in eratic circles, n then launched suddenly in one direction. "Who's to say where the wind will take u? Who's to say if life will break u? I dunno which way the wind will go.."

..But i do know tis old song, n it is to the broken-hearted n the fearful tt i sing it again tonite.


Untitled


When you’re drown in misery recall,

Recall that I will never let you fall.

Close your eyes and I will take you far behind,
Behind of your mind where your troubles lie.
Cos the world is wide but we stay inside,
Inside of our clan where everyone else too reside.

Have you ever heard the song of waves,
Waves singing melodies within coastal caves?

Have you ever laid upon endless plains,
Plains lined with hills and rolling trains?
Have you ever soared above the stormy clouds,
Clouds which hide silver linings to every doubt?

Have you ever imagined me in your dreams?
Like you were in mine,
Through life’s greatest themes.

Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Memory


After my midnight jog, I got myself a cup of noodles from a 7-Eleven store n settled down at the foot of an overhead bridge to eat. Apart from the last lingering couples sitting ard speaking in hushed voices, the pavements were void. In the homes around me, the remaining lights were going out one by one as the nite advanced. Once again, Sengkang was mine alone. It was mine to roam n to sing freely in. The nite seemed timeless, n the duties of the day, far away. A wind was rising n it moaned down the eternal streets, beckoning to me to make a trip. Yet my path tonite was one less travelled, i took a walk down Memory Lane.

__________

She was not a dazzling beauty; v few men passing her in the streets would linger their gaze on her; v few women would regard her wif tt attentive, flaw-finding scrutiny which a beauty often receives. To her acquaintances, her blitheness n unrestrained, rowdy laughter often cause them to decide tt she lacked a certain feminine charm, n render her incapable of sweetness or emotional weakness. Indeed, her strong sense of self-possession n her reservation towards casual revealing of her innermost thoughts and feelings added to tis impression. However, to those of us who r dearest to her, those of us who r blessed wif deeper understanding of her: she is the gentlest of girls—not in manner or appearance, but rather, in thoughts n acts of kindness for others. When u really knew her, when she spoke freely to u—then, her thoughtfulness, her caring heart n her sensitivity impressed u indescribably. Such were the qualities which inspired many of her guy friends to confide in her when they would confide in no one else.

Those days, when she was by my side, were beautiful days. But on a few days, there were the occasional dark clouds which passed by the sunshone plains upon which we laid in unreflecting happiness. She, in her sensitivity, was often hurt in her dealings wif the world. I was unable to be a source of a comfort at those miserable moments; giving her practical solutions which she can invent herself, rather than the empathy n consolation she sought. The result was tt i ended up feeling helpless while she, deprived of my understanding, felt more miserable than before.

There were still other times when i infected the pure heart tt loved me wif anguish. At tis moment, i deliberately steer my remembrances from those regretful times, being more willing to dwell on those better n purer memories of her. The first little presents—innocent girlish letters—which she passed to me at school; the sweet days of our dating whenever the Army restored to me my freedom; the endless messages of longing which passed between us whenever tt freedom was withheld, were tugging fast n fondly at my thoughts tonight…

__________

The wind had not decrease in strength as I tottered back home. How drearily it was moaning! It seemed, at tt moment, to be wailing over me; to be wailing over the couples; to be wailing over all mortal things! As i, absorbed in my thoughts, passed by a group of loitering teenagers, one of them turned around n taunted me. I did not look back but walked on.


Not tonight, not while my world is filled wif tender thoughts of her. In fact, not ever, as surely as God lives.