Category: 2024

Big Joke Brother Translation – 17th February 2025

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

A familiar face
Staying still is sleeping – moving is falling
Keep walking diligently
I FREAKING HATE YOU !!
”Shaved head ghost“
Each meal, each day – leak, brother
The song has to come, brother

These words are not mine but are arranged by me. These were posts translated from Thai after the politician Prawit Wongsuwan pushed a female journalist in the head after she asked him a question. The translations are poetic to me. The title is connected with a disgraced (?) police chief whose nickname is Big Joke and ‘Brother’ indicates the relationship between such elites.

Cold Comforts – 9th February 2025

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 24 Comments

There are lookers and there are seers
And those blinkered of the mind
Some are do-ers whilst others are be-ers
Finally, those who choose to be blind

Some see magic within the leafless tree
Finding comfort in familiar concrete
As cold and unforgiving as they may be
Rainbows bloom all along the street

Some days, the sees will turn to looks
The busyness of time puts on the blinkers
Turning towards the turning page of books
The seers become the thinkers

The wanderlust begs the wonder lost
Learning is the unlearning to see
Expanding knowledge comes at a cost
Soon blindness becomes the reality

Inspired by writing at this post on the Spinning Visions blog and contemplating how we lose our sense of wonder as we age and become wiser, or at least, more filled with knowledge.
7th Nov 2025 – Shared with W3 – comfort – not quite to the prompt but adjacent at least.

Apocalypse Yoga – 26th January 2025

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Landscapes of destruction and hell
Destroyed cityscapes aflame on fire
Devouring armfuls of pink men
Animals pick at flesh on barbed wire

Zerkon on your headphones
Quiet heralds the chaos to come
Settle into the warrior’s posture
Start banging the apocalypse drum

As anxiety rises in your bones
Breath deep the anguish and terror
Convulsing masses of flesh
Prepared for the yogi pallbearer

To six dragon hounds submit
Borborygms burst through the gut
A danse macabre meditation
Steeled the flesh for every cut

Tensions dissolve in exhalation
Stay in posture for nine breaths
Life leaves you little by little
Every nightmare, a series of deaths

Paraphrased and inspired by an absurd newsletter (The Poney Club Letter n°59) from the record label, Dur et Doux.

Said And Done Again – 31st December 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 13 Comments

A reckoning with my younger self,
nostalgia or all a nonsense?
We should want to change the world,
guided by our conscience;

As the crossroads multiply,
direction becomes obscured;
Pulled along on divergent tides,
wildly thrashing, unmoored;

Ideals discarded to the wind,
just another day to survive;
Waking up to realise
the destination will soon arrive;

A reckoning born of experience
as ideals began to wane;
Everything ever said and done
will be said and done again.

30th May 2025 – Shared with Poets and Storytellers United #179 – starting over

Today I’m feeling:

A little blurry in the morning as I recovered from a few shots of Glenfiddich last night, giving me at least a good reason to feel dizzy.

I took my laptop to Utopia and did a little catching up on things whilst there and a couple of coffees got me good and awake.

After a snack and some video watching, I hopped into bed to read some comics, expecting to get sleepy and have a nap, however, the coffees decided it would be better for me to stay awake and I got up again and went out to my room to play guitar, which was loud and enjoyable.

Soon enough, it was time to head to Mum and Dad’s for dinner, which I am now recovering from.

Health:

Physical: 6
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Trying out some pizza from a city restaurant and getting it delivered by Grab. Easy life.

The best thing about today was:

Wishing ten or so random poets at AllPoetry.com a happy new year while commenting on their work.

Something I learned today?

I learned how to set up a symbolic link across my different drives so that I can load all my comics into one common repository.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I had a reasonable chat with Nong Fah today, trying to encourage her to use more than one or two-word answers to questions.

Whilst chatting, she also told me that she is a little worried about changing to high school next year. I told her that I understood but that I thought that she would be fine.

Rotten Words – 30th December 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Weakness of various kinds may lurk in a flabby lip*
The ill-bred then ill-led by courtier cowards
History’s dustbin overflows with rotten words let slip
A moral vacuum created in Babel’s towers

When the logos kings vanish, only the dirt remains
So sift the glittering trash of golden whispers
In search of the truth which in turn explains
The fragment promises of unwritten scriptures

*I forget who said this quote but I read it in The Decline and Fall of the British Empire by Piers Brendon.

Today I’m feeling:

A little better with a bit more enthusiasm. Coffee was great at Utopia. Nu came and got his shots too before heading off to Chiang Mai. I finished reading Persepolis, which was a very interesting read, before coming home and playing some guitar and listening to some music.

And a little later I finished reading Consider The Lobster. New books to start for the new year in a couple of days.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Hanging on to my old Xbox and cranking it for the first time this year (I think). I spent an hour driving around in GTA. I also accompanied this playtime with some Glenfiddich. It almost feels like Christmas.

The best thing about today was:

Finishing a couple of books before the end of the year.

I’ve almost finished downloading the complete Marvel reading order and I will add those to my comic book reading schedule.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

Anchan asked me for money to go to Chiang Mai but I felt like I don’t quite believe her at the moment. I also haven’t been paid myself yet, though I do have cash spare. I’m happy to help her but I don’t want to just be an ATM whenever she feels like it.

Art took this picture as I modelled for another Utopia assignment.

No Bromides – 29th December 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 1 Comment

Poetry is perfect for cliche
It’s a better way
To say what I want to say!

Sometimes a synonym will do
It’s true!
At least it’s been thought through

Rewriting what’s previously written
I’m smitten
With the hand already bitten!

No poems of autumn or spring
So please bring
Me less cliched words to sing!

Written for a task at AllPoetry.com in connection with cliche. Cliches are often useful, so long as they are not overused, and often express exactly what is required. For me though, I really don’t like cliched poetic topics like seasons or flowers, unless done really well and bringing a new dimension to the subject. I have a pet peeve with some words too but I can’t remember them now because as soon as I see them I click away from reading and forget about them immediately. Next time I see one, I want to try and understand why it is that I dislike it so much! I looked up synonyms of cliche to find bromide! Haha! Never used that word in my life.

Today I’m feeling:

Not sure yet! The cats woke me up well before I wanted and after feeding them I decided to get going. Still dizzy and feeling very hungry despite a big meal last night, or maybe because of it.

I’m not sure what time Amy and Nu got home last night but Amy was happily singing her favourite songs in bed before she finally fell asleep and I was able to get back to it too.

I felt pretty good after being out last night. Even though I wasn’t drinking and still felt tired, I wasn’t bored or grumpy.

Health:

Physical: 6
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Being woken up at 5pm as I was enjoying a good sleep. I then got up and we went to the city for a really nice Chinese meal.

The best thing about today was:

Going to the optometrist and getting my eyes checked and ordering some cheap bifocal lenses for the spare frames I have. The lady there spoke little English but we managed to communicate everything eventually and I was happy not to spend as much as I was expecting.

My eyesight hasn’t changed so my old lenses are still ok but I was wondering if they were contributing to my dizziness. I guess not.

The lady was also the spitting image of my student iPhone and I asked her if she had a sister but she said she didn’t.

I was glad to do all this by myself instead of depending on Amy. Let’s see if the glasses I receive in the end are actually what I want!

I took this picture because this is the extent of the excitement of living where we do.

Excalibur – 28th December 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

I believe, I believe
I believe the King of England
Can pull the sword from the stone

I believe, I believe
I believe that if enough people believe
He’ll be safely sat on the throne

I believe, I believe
I believe even if this divine mandate
Is a set-up, I still believe

I believe, I believe
I believe in suppressing those who don’t
And the rest we can deceive

Inspired by Existential Comics 555

Today I’m feeling:

Less dizzy but also more disoriented. Maybe I’m not quite awake yet, though.

(evening) I feel like I haven’t woken up properly all day. I kinda napped and slept two or three times through the day with little energy for anything else except reading.

Health:

Physical: 5
Mental: 5

Today I’m grateful for:

Nu paying for dinner at the restaurant tonight and driving us there, though he and Amy are drinking now, so I may have to drive us home.

(later) Amy wanted to keep drinking and to dance and kindly offered to let me go home early. Nu was happy enough to stay too, and they would take a Grab home later.

The best thing about today was:

Hmmm… perhaps the morning coffee, reading Love and Rockets and 2000AD, more David Foster Wallace. I barely did anything else.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

I’m trying to stay positive in this bar where Amy and Nu are drinking but I just feel sleepy again.

I took this picture in the restaurant because I thought it was pretty funny.

Human Comedy – 27th December 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

He’s a puzzle, perhaps a piece missing
No joker himself, he’s just the joke
And with his mouth engaged in dissing
He’s the bear that you must not poke

She’s a puzzle, perhaps in too many pieces
Scattered across the floor in such distress
And as the pressure ever increases
It was all a game, she must confess

Today I’m feeling:

Dizzy again. It’s more annoying than anything else. I don’t feel sick or anything but just like it takes extra effort to focus.

I went to school for about an hour, handing out the cookies Amy had made, which got a big thumbs-up from students.

I came home and got into bed, did some blog updates and reading before a nice one-hour nap.

Still a bit dizzy and disoriented. It’s like being drunk but without any fun feeling whatsoever. On the upside, Amy is feeling a little better each day.

Health:

Physical: 6
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

A combination of Makro and Amy. Between them, Amy put together an amazing dish of spaghetti with salmon mince balls.

The best thing about today was:

With little else happening today, Amy’s dinner really hit the spot. Both Nu and I were super hungry, especially after all the delicious smells coming from the kitchen.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

Still struggling to focus while talking to people was a bit frustrating. I wanted to be more eloquent and coherent.

I particularly noticed this whilst talking with Champ, who is back after two years in Melbourne. It was good to see him again, but I’m not sure how I came across. I didn’t tell him that I’m not feeling well, though.

Something I learned today?

Nu travelled up from Bangkok and will stay with us for a few days. He has no plan while here but just wanted to get away from the bustle of the city. We discovered that he is in partnership with a Thai sake brewery in Chiang Mai!

I took this picture because our skinny friend surprised us by standing in the driveway when we got back from the shops.

Freefall Reply – 26th December 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

This haiku was posted by Gary B. Dean at AllPoetry.com on 23rd July 2024.

Freefall

All leaves fall away
From the branches that lift them
For their only flight

I liked it and wanted to reply. So I did.

What is the meaning
Hidden in these words of yours?
How to understand?

The leaves fall away
Because the tree doesn’t need
Them in the winter

Once served their purpose
What use are they to the tree?
Good compost coming!

Today I’m feeling:

Dizzy though my brain was fairly active once I woke up.

I went to Utopia and sent work for my students to do, though I expect very few of them to bother.

I chatted with Bruno for an hour or so, but had to concentrate hard to stay focused. I talked more than I have in a long time and quickly got tired, so I came back home to rest again.

Health:

Physical: 6
Mental: 6

Today I’m grateful for:

Kru Jern again for following up on her class to send me the work I assigned them today. Only one student submitted my work during class time.

The best thing about today was:

Reading comics. I didn’t do much else!

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

I found that my order for cat food got cancelled, though I haven’t received any refund yet. It’s annoying as we have almost run out and it may take extra time to get more delivered.

I took this picture because Amy and I were both surprised to find this cactus looking like this.

The Wonder Train – 25th December 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 16 Comments

A whisper and a wonder
Will all the aunties be there?
Where will everyone sit?
Can I watch the fire faeries flit
As I fall asleep in the quiet comfy chair?

Adult breath whiffs of magic
Will I ever learn these ways?
Maybe I’ll sing a song
And the uncles will sing along
With my series of 20 short plays

Is that bird following me?
Better to be clear of the busy sky
Reindeer running through
Clickety-clack and choo-choo-choo
Where did he go and why?

The sparkle of new toys
The surprise of morning snow
Why all the rush
For the melt to the slush?
Enquiring minds want to know

Shared with What Do You See? #268 picture prompt (above)

Today I’m feeling:

Dizzy and tired. I skipped exercise again and was a little unsteady on my feet. I went to school but came back home after an hour.

Amy was burning up with fever this morning, too, so we went off to the hospital.

Apparently, I have some ear problem that is causing my dizziness, as opposed to it being a brain problem. No idea of the cause and just got medicine to treat the symptoms.

I also got an appointment for my health checkup next week, as well as a physio appointment for my shoulder.

Health:

Physical: 5
Mental: 5

Today I’m grateful for:

The doctor at MFU hospital and all the staff, who were very diligent despite my poor mood and state.

The best thing about today was:

For the hour that I was at school, there was a very good feeling and everyone was happy.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

The doctor suggested cutting down on caffeine. Noooooo!

Something I learned today?

Don’t park your car in Bandu Mueang Mai at twilight, as it will get covered in bird shit!

Nomsen took this picture of herself after stealing my phone out of my pocket.