Tag: art
There’s magic in my fingers
Three Colours Trilogy – 20th September 2025
“Now try coughing,” he repeated.
An unfinished symphony.
The blue of the car’s metal,
twisted and still.
The blue of the swimming pool,
a cold, empty tile.
The blue of the television,
buzzing in a dark room.
This is the blue of a cage
with the door swung wide.
A terrible, hollow liberty.
She wraps herself in a blue crystal necklace,
a weight from the past.
She sleeps in a bare,
empty blue room.
She wants the blue of silence,
the colour of no pain,
Nothings important.
“Tongues shall be stilled
and knowledge shall come to an end.”
You belong to all of us.
And the world leaks in.
This blue is not quiet.
It is an insistent hum.
The blue of his eyes,
asking for a truth she won’t give.
She tries to give it all away,
but the blue follows.
It is the colour of the thread
that keeps pulling her back.
The blue of the sheet music,
a song she thought she’d buried.
Music so beautiful it can’t be destroyed.
The liberty is not in the emptiness.
It is in the choosing.
You’ve always gotta hold onto something
“Tongues shall be stilled
and knowledge shall come to an end.”
You belong to all of us.
The white of a wedding dress,
left in a trunk.
The white of a pigeon’s wing,
taking what it’s given.
The white of his own breath,
ghostly in the Paris cold.
This is a blank space, an erased life,
impotent and powerless.
The white of a passport page,
stamped with a refusal.
The white of a 2 franc coin,
the last one in his pocket,
that will not let go.
He is nothing, a white zero.
A man made empty.
But a white suitcase carries him home.
The white snow of Warsaw
covers the same old streets.
This white is a clean page,
where everything is possible.
The white thread missing.
The white of a lie, perfectly told.
A white, calculated revenge,
by burying a white Russian in Powązki.
Equality is not in the winning or the losing.
It is in the white of two figures,
perfectly matched in the distance.
The white of a promise,
finally understood.
A red sweater hung on a grey chair.
A red light on a wet street at night.
This is the red of a closed door.
The red of a stopped heart.
Across the street,
a red lamp in a window.
An old man listens to the secrets in the air.
He knows the red of betrayal,
the flush of shame.
Now, wanting nothing.
This is the red of a thread,
thin and unseen.
It connects a falling book
to a worried hand.
A red judicial robe fading in a dark closet.
People have a right to their secrets.
A red neon sign buzzes over an empty café.
Another story that you don’t know.
A flare sent up
from one lonely island to another.
The red of a ferry’s light,
cutting through the fog.
No longer a stop,
but a start.
The red of a common pulse,
beating in the chest.
The red of a door,
finally opening.
Who are you
and what else do you know?
This fraternity is final.
Shared with dVerse MTB – colour and I was immediately reminded of the Three Colours Trilogy. It’s been a long time since I watched these movies and this poem did make use of AI to remind me of the details of the stories, from which I started pulling out and reworking various phrases and ideas. I’m not completely sold on my own formatting above and thought the French flag idea would be fun but this particular image is a little garish. I’ll try and come back to this a little later.
14th Oct 2025 – I have since watched all three movies again and revised this poem and flag image. I recommend these movies very highly. They’ve also got me back into watching the longer form, which is good because I have hundreds of unwatched movies at home!
24th Oct 2025 – Shared with dVerse OLN since this poem has been rewritten.
I Have No Art – 12th July 2025
Written (after the fact) for the GloPoWriMo Day 4 prompt: write your own poem about living with a piece of art.
Now, I have no art on my walls,
nothing at which to stare and contemplate
its meaning;
All the flashy screens beg attention
diverting my thoughts,
more mundane;
In simpler times, a painting was all.
Yet, over there, a student’s picture
– I requested her to paint my cats;
And glued to the wall, another friend’s
attempt at writing a comic about Chinese rock music.
Band stickers adorn the cupboards
and my favourite 30-year-old poster hangs tattily
above the rows and rows of CDs,
themselves, providing a wall of colourful design.
So, I guess there is art on my walls,
scattershot and thoughtless,
each little piece contributing to the library of my life;
a mirror without glass.
The Defeat Of Death – 23rd March 2025
Clear night skies, a sparkling sight
A light for everyone who ever died
Some close enough to still touch
Their echoes may whisper guide
Staring up at the never-dead
Scattered across the infinite wide
All of our art has defeated death
To shine over the earthly divide
Gathering Magic – 13th October 2024
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.
Hot, So Hot and Wet – 30th April 2024
Once loving to hug and hold
Long ago days of rain and cold
But now, if the truth be told
The winters burn hot
In a switch, the summer scorch
Sees retreat from the porch
From the airconned room reports
Let’s siesta until twilight
Finally, the storms arrive
Life returns to bloom and thrive
Another year we survive
Thanks to the monsoon
Submitted to Ovi Poetry Challenge 45 – season
Today I’m feeling:
Pretty good again. Got up and exercised and am now out for coffee.
A couple of days ago when I was moving the tree I got bitten by an ant on the inside of my little finger and now it is distractingly itchy. Because of the location it’s not easy to get a nice satisfying scratch on it and it’s super annoying.
Today I’m grateful for:
Art lending me a backpack that I can use on Sunday to go to Bangkok. I also found out that Monday is a national holiday so I don’t have to worry about not being back in time to start work!
Also, a sneaky little doze whilst listening to video discussions on YouTube whilst Amy did the watering and washed the car!
The best thing about today was:
Watching more of Three Body. I’m loving the slow pace of it. It seems each April holiday is marked by watching some TV series or other whilst avoiding the heat. A couple of years back it was Narcos.
I think last year though I ended up playing Xbox more than watching TV and I actually had planned to do that this year but in the end just didn’t bother.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I was on a roll and in the zone whilst sipping coffee this morning, first reading, then inspired, then writing. But I started to feel a little dizzy and knew I needed to come home and eat. Otherwise, I would have loved to have stayed longer and written more.
Tomorrow I won’t have so much free time as we will be running around most of the day doing things for Grandmum’s 100-day ritual.
Something I learned today?
Israel’s prime minister Netanyahu is likely to have an arrest warrant for war crimes issued by the International Criminal Court. Whilst it is likely just a symbolic gesture and he would unlikely ever be arrested at least it shows the world stands against him.
Russian president Putin also has an arrest warrant issued by the ICC but that was instigated by USA propaganda and that is all falling apart.
The world is starting to rise against the genocide perpetuated by Israel on the Palestinians and supported by the USA war machine.
Also, last night I watched a video from Thai Talk with Paddy and he was presenting 12 things that he didn’t like about Thailand. Whilst many other farangs agreed with some or all of his points there were others that I couldn’t believe just how self-righteous they were.
I don’t understand how you can say someone’s opinion is wrong. You don’t have to agree but you must be smart enough to at least counter their opinion. These days people don’t bother to do that just believing that they are right.
I don’t know why this particular video and comments stood out to me, maybe it’s been accumulating for a while. I will cut out this view of negativity as much as I can because it is just a waste of time and energy.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
Noey and Natalie were in Utopia whilst I was there this morning and they were preparing for a presentation. I wished them luck.
Did you do something difficult or challenging today?
I did as much of the exercises as I could this morning though I am weak in certain (most) areas. 3 sets of 60 lunges had to be cut down to 3 sets of 40 and 3 by one minute of static Superman I just held for as long as I could. But I didn’t skip or give up.
Overflow – 21st April 2024
I’m pouring rainbows down on you
Until your cup is filled
You’ll overflow with a love so true
It can never be killed
All your seeds will bear fruit
In fields never to be tilled
Joy spread deep from the root
A life spent fulfilled
Submitted to No Theme Thursday picture prompt, Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge – Flow and NaPoMo.
Today I’m feeling:
Pretty good after a long sleep from the day of travelling yesterday. Should be a relaxing day ahead.
Today I’m grateful for:
Aircon. I don’t know how many times I’ve said this but today was freaking unbearable outside between 10am (when I woke up) and around 6pm. Even just going to the kitchen or bathroom was a chore. It’s going to be hotter this coming week too!
The best thing about today was:
I didn’t do much to speak of today though when the sun did finally relent I enjoyed watering the parched earth in the garden.
Something I learned today?
Charles Cunningham Boycott (12 March 1832 – 19 June 1897) was an English land agent whose ostracism by his local community in Ireland gave the English language the term boycott.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I gave Art and Noey some gifts of candy that I picked up at the market in Chiang Saen yesterday.
What’s a recent realization I’ve had about myself?
I’m starting to BE old. I’m not in need of thrills or excitement so much these days.
I think I realised this when I think about travelling overseas. When I think about going somewhere with Amy I’m not so interested in planning things to do and where to go.
When I see people in places on YouTube videos I think that might be nice to go and see but I’ve just seen it pretty well. I would be taking the same photos every other traveller has taken. I feel like I may not be able to savour it deep into my soul like I might have done before. I’m much more amenable to just getting on a tour bus and letting others deal with logistics.
Having said that I’m still interested in organising a tour for a band around Southeast Asia and dealing with the stress of that, perhaps because the shows would give me the drive and inspiration I’d need.
Perhaps this is not a great realisation but has crossed my mind more recently.
Kintsugi – 12th April 2024
Her perfect features cracked
At time’s many trials
Cool, calm and collected
Thoughts camouflaged with smiles
Bluffing her admirers
A morning mirror does not lie
Putting on a face
Of a beauty, none could deny
Refreshed and worthwhile
No longer a broken cup
She strode into the day
Happily made up
Shared to NaPoMo
25th Jun 2025 – shared with dVerse Poetics: Building from the Broken
Today I’m feeling:
It’s still early but I think I feel a little more motivated than yesterday. I’m lesson planning already and that’s going well, so it’s a good start.
I think I need to be busy, doing stuff, to keep myself occupied. If I get lazy and don’t move my brain and body I start to atrophy.
Today I’m grateful for:
The poetry folks who post prompts and ideas that inspire me to write. I don’t know how many other people might think that I write quite well but I write for myself and when I look back at things that I’ve written I often feel proud and impressed.
I started a free poetry course at one site and struggled with the first assignment which was to write about yourself. It should be easy, most of my poetry is about myself but when asked specifically to do it, where do you start?
Oddly enough, I ended up writing a poem today that was written for four different prompts but ended up being about myself almost directly and I will use it as a part of what I submit.
The best thing about today was:
Getting enough lesson plans done to feel comfortable that I know what I’m doing. I can see the way forward to having enough done for the semester and working out what is needed for the rest of the year too.
Let’s hope that the students reach my expectations of what I have planned for them; otherwise I will have to do some quick revisions.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I’ve been happy to get a lot done today but have also felt a little annoyed at times, though not acted on, just in my head, by little things. It was when I was watching TV, though, that I really noticed bad tinnitus in my left ear and it’s still bothering me now.
I’m not sure exactly what has brought this on. I did play guitar for about 20 minutes but it wasn’t at a volume as excessive as I sometimes play. Usually, the ear ringing comes and goes but it seems to be hanging around today.
Something I learned today?
Utopia will only open in the morning this weekend as they will all go and celebrate Songkran in the city in the afternoons.
A couple of days ago, I learned that Nick at Daytripper will leave for Australia, where he’s hoping to work as a barista in Sydney. With him going, Art decided to close the shop completely as he is too busy to keep it going.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
As I mentioned above I did get internally annoyed many times today. However, biting my teeth through all that I did everything that Amy asked of me, particularly when she ran in from the garden with her skin boiling up in an allergic reaction to something. I got her ice, rubbed on lotions and creams, and did this and that.
She’s disappointed that she is allergic to something (probably the hairy worms), as when the temperature is good, she enjoys pottering about out there.
At The Edge – 22nd February 2024
I’m running at the edge of their world
Pushed away and pulled back again
I don’t want to fall off the fence
And find myself having to explain
They’re criticising something they can’t understand
Never taking the time to lend a listening ear
On the fence, there’s air to breathe
Down below so clouded with fear
I’m living on the edge of their town
Itching to break free of the shackles
My feet only touch the ground to run
The touch paper lighted crackles
And I won’t be shot down
I won’t be pulled apart
There’s no compromise
At the edge of my heart
Submitted to Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge Edge
Inspired by the Stiff Little Fingers song ‘At The Edge’ from which each line of the chorus was taken as the first line of each stanza
And I’m running at the edge of their world
They’re criticising something they just can’t understand
Living on the edge of their town
And I won’t be shot down
Today I’m feeling:
Relaxed and happy. The early birds crawing woke me up before my alarm, along with waking Tigger who then starting crawing too. I slept pretty well otherwise and got back into exercise on this chilly morning. The evening temperatures are perfect but by early morning it’s still cold and then during the day we’re hitting 35 degrees or so.
Today I’m grateful for:
There being yet another event this morning and being able to accommodate the kids wishes to go to it instead of studying. To achieve that I set them a minor task of taking a photo at the event and describing it to me. After sticking around for a few minutes I was able to duck out for coffee and keep up with the classes work as the submitted it to me online.
The best thing about today was:
Feeling good with the poems I was inspired to write today and clearing out some of the growing number of email prompts that I’ve been receiving. I’ve gotten right into this little circle of writers and whilst I don’t enjoy much of what I read I can appreciate the time and effort that they are putting into it and occasionally something does grab my attention that hits the mark.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
The morning event rolled over into the afternoon and so for the second week running my grade 10s were busy and only a few were in the classroom when I got there. Well, that’s fine. I’m not sure if I will get to teach them again this semester. So with even more free time I took the opportunity to wander around the school and talk and play with whoever I found (which was almost everyone!)
Something I learned today?
The last letter added to the English alphabet was ‘J’. Before that, the letter ‘i’ was used for both the ‘i’ and ‘j’ sounds.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I left school at around 3pm and went to Big C and whilst there I suddenly heard ‘Teacher!’ It was Baibua and Khawhom. They looked a little sheepish but also laughing at seeing me shopping. I asked them what they were doing and they indicated that they were going to the movies. But wait a minute! Why aren’t they at school? They said there was nothing to do. Well, that is true. I know and they know it.
With my grade 10 class not showing up I went to help Kru Ren again and offered my help to the different groups of students. I was a little disappointed with Baipad because it turned out that she hadn’t done any work for class for the whole semester. Jan and Apple had done some but not finished it. I asked them why they weren’t doing it now and they just offered up excuses. Sigh. I told Baipad that I can help her catch up this evening if she wants me to but haven’t heard anything from her yet.
David hasn’t been at school for the last three days so I sent him a message asking if he was ok.
What tasks do I often avoid?
I don’t think there’s any task that I avoid completely but I have a different threshold of tolerance to certain things to Amy so in that sense I avoid mopping the floors or cleaning the toilets but if she wasn’t here I would do those things but only when I found it necessary.
Asking Amy what tasks I often avoid might provide a clearer answer.
Click Click – 16th January 2024
At the flick of the switch
There’s no transformation
Remaining an ape or beast
Change requires dedication
No more time to waste
If you wish the click to clack
When you look at the sun
It’s impossible to put it back
Reflecting on our animal nature
A broken machine needing self-repair
Once burdened by distraction
Soon found themselves made it there
Feed the mind with thought
That keeps on the light
Keep quiet and count the days
When everything became quite right
Today I’m feeling:
A bit more relaxed after an extra hour’s sleep. Today is teachers’ day (apparently) and a day off from school though we are busy again at the temple. At least I got two Utopian coffees to kick off this morning.
I didn’t feel too hot after lunch and though feeling sleepy couldn’t get into a deep nap state.
Today I’m grateful for:
Whoever made the Thai snack boxes for the funeral ceremony tonight. There were enough left over for me to take some home.
The best thing about today was:
Mostly devoting my time to other people, though at the temple I’m not really doing much because I don’t know the etiquette or what is required but as soon as I’m asked I will do what is needed.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
At Utopia this morning I couldn’t stop sneezing! I sneezed about fifty times and Nick and Art were worried about me!
Something I learned today?
The top five wealthiest people in the world doubled their wealth last year! Just in one year. I’m guessing that for many others in the world, they halved their wealth. The miracle of trickle-up economics, or should I say flooding-up?
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I’ve been a good boy again, doing as I’m told at the temple. I kneeled to the boy monk as I handed him pizza for lunch! Good luck boy monk. Stay off your phone.
Driving twice in and out of the city again despite feeling not 100%. Tired by the afternoon and my sinuses feel uncomfortable.
List 3 good things you have now that you didn’t have five years ago.
I thought that this would be difficult as I haven’t really acquired ‘things’ that much but five years is a long time and I acquired one of the biggest things in people’s lives and that is a home.
This time five years ago our house was built but it hadn’t quite been turned into a home, at least as I feel about it now.
I feel comfortable and safe around our house and neighbourhood and inside is Amy’s playground for decorating. If I thought about it more and knew where to buy things easily and cheaply perhaps I would make a home environment that suits me too but I’m also a little lazy to do that. Mine and Amy’s ideas are not that compatible and I’m happy to defer to her in this instance. Actually, I’m happy to defer to her most of the time.
Five years ago I didn’t have a guitar and that cheap instrument has brought me a lot of pleasure since purchase. I don’t think that a better quality guitar will improve my playing that much so I’m happy with what I’ve got.
The last thing I have is a deeper love. My love and connection with my students has grown so much in this time and it fills me with joy. I wonder where all our futures will take us.
1994ever 