Gathering Magic – 13th October 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 4 Comments

Connections form between young and old
As the tribe gathers at these tables
Every nugget may not be gold
And truths told as if they are fables

The dining room, like a rush-hour train
A gaggle of gossip between gulps of water
The old folks never tire to explain
Love for their new grandson and daughter

Two hands touch to make a familiar bond
Share secrets down the generations
Soft in comfort where love belongs
And meets all expectations

Shared with WDYS #257 picture prompt and also submitted for an assignment at AllPoetry.com as follows:
Write a 12 to 24-line poem in any style that uses simile. Keep the imagery consistent and clear. Make sure that you use two clear examples of simile in your poem using the words ‘as’ or ‘like’ as discussed in the lesson. Try to write in the present tense and incorporate at least one concrete use of the senses in addition to imagery and metaphor, which was covered in the previous assignment.

Today I’m feeling:

Reasonable and positive, fairly relaxed.

I woke up late, allowing myself to get up when I felt ready. I had no real appointments or plans, so it was no big deal.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

The hairdresser today, who paid particular attention to trimming the hair out of my ears.

I think that as she knows that as I always tip her and my cut is quick and easy for her, perhaps she felt that she owed me a little extra. I usually enjoy pulling the hair out of my ears whilst I’m waiting at traffic lights. I’ll have to wait a few weeks for them to grow back again.

The best thing about today was:

Well, it might not be right to say it was the best thing but the main thing that happened today was going to another funeral.

This one was for a friend of a friend who, whilst riding his pushbike, got hit into a ditch by a drunk driver who sped off, but was later tracked down.

If he hadn’t sped off and stayed to help, there was a chance that it might have saved this guy’s life.

Today was his cremation and I drove us there and followed the proceedings, which is something I’ve grown used to here. There were lots of fireworks today, more than I’ve seen before.

There were also lots of people; the guy was a well-liked coffee shop owner and his wife works at the university. He was only 32.

Despite the heat, the three hours there went quickly and I was inspired to write a few related rhymes while there.

Something I learned today?

Stumbling on a video about Junji Ito alerted me to the fact that he has a lot more work out there than I realised. It was an interesting psychological analysis of his work which gave me a better appreciation of his style of horror.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

At the funeral, Amy asked me to fan her to cool her down, to cool us both down. She said that the other aunties there would be jealous because her man was fanning her, something that most Thai men wouldn’t think about doing.

Indeed, one old uncle was curious and came over to try to chat a little but he didn’t stay for long.

I took this picture to remember another funeral. Today it made me think about growing accustomed to and accepting of another culture despite not understanding it.

Rebel Rock – 12th October 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 10 Comments

There was a time when London called
The papers and hoi polloi appalled
Frustration and anger overspilled
The youth of the day proudly thrilled

Smash the guitar or smash the state
Yet the changes promised had to wait
Revolution rock was just a lame duck
But at least the music didn’t suck

Shared with dVerse Poetics: album cover art

Today I’m feeling:

Well slept and despite turning on my alarm I got up before it would’ve gone off anyway!

Today is the first day of my holiday proper. I say that as I still feel as if I’m on holiday most of the time anyway, even when I’m working. However, today I meet Porpieng, Momo and Baitong for lunch at Central, go for a psych appointment on Monday and back to the ENT on Tuesday. Too busy for my liking!

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Baitong buying me Dairy Queen ice cream today after we finished our pizza.

The best thing about today was:

Meeting the kids (the smart ones) for pizza again and watching them change and grow every six months (though I see Momo more often at school).

As Popo and Baitong have had experience at my school and now a new school I asked them which they thought was best and the both said the new school was better for their education even though it was more stressful in some ways.

I think they can realise the benefits of not having access to their phones during the day allowing them to focus more on their classes.

Baitong still cracks me up. She’s smart and has a quick wit and loves to make fun of everything.

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

The baby cow is on our garden again. Amy thought it best to close the gate to keep him here as if he’s left outside he could walk off anywhere.

His mum is calling him from the other side of the fence but he doesn’t seem to care as he munches on our grass.

Mum is tied down but the baby, whilst having a rope that can be tied up is left to roam. I think the cow man can guess where to look if he can’t find the baby. He’s used to it by now.

Something I learned today?

Baitong told me that she can’t ride a bike or drive a car but that she can drive a tractor!

She said her mum is a housewife and she didn’t quite know what her dad does but that he works hard. I asked if she would prefer to be like her mum or dad when she finishes school and university and she said ‘like her dad’.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I bought Momo, Baitong and Porpieng lunch today and as Baitong shares my birthday I bought her the materials to do the painting of our cats that she promised me last time we met.

I messaged Anchan and she told me that she still has a fever (39.2).

Momo messaged me in the evening saying that some of her class were wondering about the grades I gave them. Most of her class did well enough but their question of understanding my criteria is a fair point.

Basically I want them talking and communicating more in class. I asked her to pass the message on and that her classmates should contact me directly to show me their initiative. Let’s see!

I took this picture because who is the real boss here?

My Compass – 11th October 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 24 Comments

Uncertainty filled
Troublesome future begins
The big questions unanswered

Yet you bring to me
A much-needed light to shine
My compass, my map and guide

Shared with Tanka Tuesday (life change) and Moonwashed Weekly Prompt (where I’ve taken Eugi’s words and added to them).

Mondo poems are often very brief collaborative affairs (usually written by two poets) that present a question. (The question needs to be open-ended and poignant and should be a test of the answerer’s wit). The answer is written in the style of trying to glean meaning from nature. My poem doesn’t quite fit this requirement but let’s use our imagination.

Mondos can be as short as a one-liner or as long as two 5-7-7 syllable stanzas.

The first stanza presents the question; the second stanza gives the answer. We usually write this form in the spirit of Zen, responsive through meditation and observation of natural surroundings.

Today I’m feeling:

Reasonably ok, though I woke up early again and struggled to get more good sleep before my alarm went off.

The morning passed quickly with more reading and writing and, shock horror, even some lesson planning – though it was more thinking and organising than writing any new lessons.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

The ladies in the financial office who helped me to provide them with the documents that they had requested. Through broken English, broken Thai, phone translation and gesture, we managed to get everything sorted.

The best thing about today was:

Making it out into my room but not long enough to play guitar, which was my initial intention for going there! I ended up sorting out the Hellboy comics reading order in my files, which took a fair amount of work and it was dark by the time I finished and time to eat.

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

I got a message last night from Anchan saying that she checked into the hospital again last night, as she has a fever and was worried that she would go into shock. I offered to bring her food or whatever she wanted but she said that she wasn’t allowed visitors.

Something I learned today?

The Internet Archive is currently the target of hackers and it would be a travesty if the data held there were lost. Some people have compared it with the Library of Alexandria.

I took this picture because Garfield was in the in-tray when I went to visit the financial department. Earlier I had seen him sitting comfortably on a ledge with a one-storey drop on the other side!

The Big One – 10th October 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 2 Comments

After one too many casting couch sessions
Marilyn turned in her grave to send these lessons
Let fire, thunder and earthquake run free
And watch Hollywood sink into the sea

Shared with Kevin’s No Theme Thursday and this picture prompt

Today I’m feeling:

Good, this morning, waking up before my alarm again for some reason. I heard some heavy rain and thunder briefly in the early hours and the air was clean, fresh and cool when I went to do some exercise and stretching.

After clocking in, I went straight to the cafe (Couple Cups) to write and maybe do some lesson planning. I have been thinking about it at least!

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

This neck massager that I received from Temu in China today. It’s not that great but it was also cheap, so I didn’t have high expectations.

The best thing about today was:

Amy’s quick dinner with fake pork belly. Delicious. I don’t usually want to put food-related things as the best thing of the day but today hasn’t been filled with too much of anything besides coffee, reading and writing, sleeping and eating!

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

The after-effects from last night’s gummy hit me once I got home around lunch time and I ended up sleeping for a couple of hours and even now feel as if I could go straight back to sleep again and it’s only 7.30.

I really don’t like wasting my time sleeping! But I do enjoy sleeping.

I also spilt coffee on my brand new white shirt whilst I was at the cafe. I soaked it as soon as I got home and hope that it doesn’t stain.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

Anchan is stuck again and feeling down. I’m trying to perk her up but her situation is fairly desperate. She has been in the hospital again because of low immunity, probably from not eating enough. I’m going to try and take some food to her tomorrow.

I took this picture because Garfield has been hanging around at the office most mornings.

Germ Free – 9th October 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 2 Comments

I still exist in the sense of space
Any glitter will vanish without trace
Scrub away at these crusty limbs
Below these hollow bones, the sins

Managed to squeeze 12 prompt words (crusty scrub limbs vanish bones exist space glitter still hollow below sense) into 4 lines and still have some semblance of sense! Shared with The Sunday Whirl wordle 674. The title comes by way of X-Ray Spex’s ‘Germ-Free Adolescents’ with the refrain ‘scrub away, scrub away’

oday I’m feeling:

A little bit tired this morning as I forced myself up for a little exercise and on arriving at school, not really having much to do, though I guess I should do some lesson planning.

As I was falling asleep last night, I was urging myself to try and wake up with the same positive feeling that I had yesterday. I’m not quite there due to tiredness but still fairly positive.

At 10.30, I headed to the temple for Krit’s father’s funeral. A quiet, sombre morning.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Not having to be too involved with the lesson planning at school again. Turn up and show my face for a while and it’s all good.

The best thing about today was:

I dropped Amy off at Baew’s, where the girls planned on a few drinks and I went off home, got some snacks and ate a gummy. It was a bit intense for a while and made time disappear way too quickly, like I was really conscious of it going so fast.

Amy video-called me a few times throughout the evening and looked quite drunk, though she was at least switching to water already. I’m glad she was having fun but also glad that I was asleep when she got home, as I don’t know how my stoned mind would have dealt with her!

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

On meeting Kru Mai this morning, he surprised me a little by telling me that our classes will change from last semester. This was a little frustrating as I had planned well ahead with my lessons but thankfully, when I got my list, not too much had changed.

DeathBringer – 8th October 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 7 Comments

We can’t take them back
Their cries already ignored
Boats delivered murder
By guns, disease and sword
Ever pushing forward
In search of more reward
Broken promises betrayed
The trust in your accord

Beat down any rebellion
By sowing the seeds of discord
Masters of death and starvation
Even beyond the Golden Horde
All done with Bible in hand
And in the name of your Lord
Better this place was left alone
In peace and unexplored

Shared with Moonwashed Weekly Prompt – Unexplored. It got dark quickly!

Today I’m feeling:

Positive and lively. A little bit naturally but also a little bit forced, as I knew that I would be sitting in a meeting room fairly bored for most of the day as we ‘study’ AI use.

It’s lunchtime now and indeed the meeting so far is boring and dull but I’m investigating other things related to AI whilst all the talk is in Thai and then taking part in the activities as and when required.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 8

Today I’m grateful for:

Amy bringing me back some weed gummies from Bangkok. She tried them with Fern and Pim there and was surprised that they didn’t make her feel sleepy but more lively instead. I might try one on the weekend and see how it is.

The best thing about today was:

It being an even and steady day. No highlights and no lowlights, just calm and relaxed whilst doing whatever needed to be done.

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

I’m sure my time would have been better spent doing other things during the day but as we had to be at this meeting, I chose to enjoy the time.

Amy’s flight was delayed too, which meant staying at school until it was due and then when I arrived at the airport, it was delayed even more! I’m sitting, waiting for her now.

Something I learned today?

There’s a big hurricane heading for Florida that is forecast to do a lot of damage. This is going to happen before they’ve finished fixing things up after the last one.

And still the US government gives more money to Israel and, ironically, to Lebanon, which Israel is currently bombing with US bombs!

American Sentencing – 7th October 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Every accusation a confession;
peace through violent aggression

Manipulated media suppression,
leading to depression

Today I’m feeling:

Pretty good and positive. For some reason, I woke up well before my alarm and was hoping that I still had hours to sleep but I couldn’t calm my mind down enough or get stupid songs out of my head. Never mind.

I skipped exercise but did some dead hangs, which felt good. After breakfast, I picked up a decent coffee at Utopia and, upon arriving at school, set to printing out all my grading files, which involved a bit of dicking around to make them acceptable for the school, such as the girl who never came to class suddenly having 100% attendance. So it goes.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 8

Today I’m grateful for:

Kru Mai, Jern and PP for helping me sort out the printing of this semester’s grading files.

The best thing about today was:

Writing poetry and reading comics. I also enjoyed playing the guitar today, more so than yesterday, for sure.

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

As I was sitting in the teacher’s room this morning, at 9 am, all the Thai teachers went off for a meeting, so I was left by myself, busy updating my files to print.

About ten minutes later, George turns up and, on seeing me, just drops off his bag and leaves the room without saying a word. He was pacing up and down outside the room and making phone calls.

About ten minutes later, he comes back in and collects his bag and leaves again, without saying a word. I didn’t see him again, though I stayed around at the cafe until midday.

Perfecting The Eight – 6th October 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 2 Comments

Here’s the one perfecting the eight-liner
Though some things must be said in twelve
Only enjoying writing the rhymer
And philosophy is the place to delve

Sometimes perfection is found in four
The idea sublimely surmised
Yet feeling obliged to write some more
Until the eight lines are realised

Submitted as a task for AllPoetry’s ‘An Expression of Yourself’ course.

Don’t be Ordinary

This assignment is going to take you beyond your reaches. I want something that you can’t even fathom writing. Go beyond what you think is normal.

Write to be remembered. Don’t write like anyone else… Don’t blend in! It’s okay to be original and shocking. To stir the pot and to poke the balloon and deflate it. Shake things up. Make a name for yourself.

Write a poem that you would want to define your ability. A poem that is read and the person is like… that is “your name here”.

Don’t write a poem where it could be stirred into water and blended in with everyone else.

This was an interesting task. I can look at a couple of other poets who follow their own rules and can be identified by their poetry.

As I’ve been writing for 40 years or so I don’t feel that I have a particularly identifiable style, though now I’m thinking more about it.

I do have a preference of style for my own writing though so I submit the following for now.

I could break my preference (and do sometimes force myself with different forms) but not sure that I could ever reach writing something that I can’t myself fathom…..

Today I’m feeling:

A little sleep-in this morning was good, setting me up for the day.

After a simple yet delicious lunch, I dropped Amy off at the airport as she goes off to Bangkok for a couple of days to meet Fern and Pim.

I decided to take Baipad to practice driving a car, rather than a motorbike, as it’s too hot in the afternoon and she called Fahmai to come too.

We drove around near her house and then up at the Uni and they both did well for never having done it before.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 8

Today I’m grateful for:

Finding old reviews of 2000AD issues that I’m reading now, which help me to understand some of the weirder stories. Excellent!

The best thing about today was:

Teaching the kids a little driving, because I could see the confidence in them both growing as they were learning.

Something I learned today?

The CIA posted on Twitter and Facebook, asking for Chinese citizens to become their spies. This was met with a lot of laughter on Chinese social media platforms.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I messaged Baipad to ask how she felt after she did so well with driving and she replied, ‘I feel proud, I think.’ It’s a good start.

Baipad’s cat, Inky. He’s a very chatty cat when he’s awake.

String Along – 5th October 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 3 Comments

Bow the theory
Draw the threads
Sub concatenation
Monochord spreads
Ribbon weaver
Filament ropes
A ripping yarn
DNA microscopes

– A Cross-wired rhyme

Close the curtain
Tie the laces
A carabiner
Belt and braces
Trussed and twined
Strewn and hung
A dangled cord
Highly strung

Shared with dVerse Quadrille 209 – string

Today I’m feeling:

Good again, though I still have a sticky throat. I’m back at the ENT at Sriburin hospital. Let’s see what they say this time.

No big plans for today. Hope to read, write, play guitar and listen to music when I get home again.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Everyone at the hospital again. A quite quick turnaround with the result of getting some different medicines.

They shoved the camera in my mouth again and things looked better than last time. Though, because it doesn’t feel any better, it means the sticky phlegm is below the voice box and isn’t visible now.

The best thing about today was:

Not worrying about too much of anything. Although I got out of the hospital by 11 and picked up Amy from her eyelash shop, we then had to go to a couple of banks to transfer a wad of cash and they were both very busy.

Then, stopping off for some food for lunch, it ended up being 2 pm by the time we got back, so I didn’t get much reading in or go out to my room to play guitar.

But that’s ok. I’m feel fine with it.

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

When we woke up this morning, Amy came back from the kitchen and said that the baby cow had been stuck in the garden all night last night!

I went and said hello. He’s not afraid of me now and I walked him to near the gate where he stopped to pee. When I opened the gate, Tangmo ran in and was bemused to see the cow there and started barking and running around. I told him to calm down and he started marking territory. He’s so jealous of anyone and anything being around us! The cow chased him a bit and I went back inside for a shower.

I didn’t want to lead the cow out because I couldn’t see his mum nearby and didn’t want him to go wandering off. At least he’s safe in our garden.

When I came out again, the cowman came by and called the baby over and Tangmo went off, too, maybe to make sure that he left.

Something I learned today?

I watched a video about a video game that made me laugh a lot. It is called Squirrel With a Gun and it looked hilarious.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I got Noey to talk with Amy this morning about opportunities for her to go to Australia next year.

I offered to take Baipad to practice riding the motorbike some more too. She’s not thrilled because she is lazy and still lacks confidence. I will try to keep pushing her through her defences.

I took this picture because he’s a cutie!

Close To Home – 4th October 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 23 Comments

When the light pours out of me*
I will be there as your guide
A whisper from your guardian angel
To counter the devils at your side

Here is the lie of the land*
I’ll shield you from these rocky shores
Vigilant against the swelling tide
Forever knocking at your doors

When the light pours out of me
Together we shall roam
When the sunsets on the horizon
You are always close to home

Shared with WDYS #256 picture prompt and dVerse OLN #371
*paraphrased from Magazine.

oday I’m feeling:

Good, though I was enjoying a dream when my alarm went off. Picked up coffees at Utopia before heading to school. I’ll hang here for a couple of hours before going home. Get some more reading and writing done.

I’ll start thinking about new lessons next week.

Back at home, I had a snooze before heading to my room for more blog updating and a little guitar playing. Then back inside to prepare for Nut and Bruno arriving for dinner.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Nut bringing some beautifully baked bread for us. I was so hungry that I wanted to eat it immediately but didn’t want to spoil my appetite for dinner.

The best thing about today was:

Chatting with Bruno and catching up on things. I was pretty tired but never bored, and stimulated with talk about music, culture and books, amongst other gossip-type stuff.

Something I learned today?

Kru Tang sent us the plan for next week and then the week following is a holiday.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I tightened up the bolts on all the chair legs before Nut and Bruno arrived. I felt recently that some of our chairs were getting a little unstable when sat on.