Tag: birds

Whisper In The Dark – 19th June 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 2 Comments

Stumble in darkness clear of you
A restful cave, I start to think
Repeat the mantras I wrote for you
To amuse, gather together what I have
To pass this quiet time

Thrust into light, away from you
A forgotten face is all I have
Understood by both, no means no
Repeat the mantras I have for time

“You think you have time, you have no time”

Ghosts by nomeansno

A golden shovel inspired by nomeansno and submitted to FOWC with Fandango – faceless and MLMM Wordle #377 – clear, restful, repeat, amuse, pass, thrust

Today I’m feeling:

Pretty good.  I was so tired last night that I couldn’t even read in bed.  My eyes were hurting, probably from too much screen time, and may get even worse today with my six-hour break before class!

Anyway, my alarm woke me up from a deep sleep but I felt good from it and exercised and got going.

Today I’m grateful for:

The folks at the post office who helped me get the parcel sorted to send it to Singapore. It was freaking expensive and meant getting credit at House again until I get paid but had to be done.

The best thing about today was:

I knocked up a good lesson plan in my spare time today and I enjoyed thinking about it and putting it together.

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

Man, this six-hour break is killing me!  It’s too long.  I think next week I will go and sit in with my old class.  Let Kru NumNim teach and help out some of the poorer students.

Something I learned today?

I got back in touch with Nevin and he wrote back today that he will be moving to HK to study in a couple of months. Hopefully I might be able to catch up with him there sometime. 

Review your acts, Good and bad.

In my one and only class of the day there were 4 or 5 female students who weren’t supposed to be there, come to hang out with the younger girls that they fancy. I let it go for today, as I actually didn’t spot them until later in the lesson!

I don’t usually mind if other students come but they seemed to be disturbing the kids that need to study the most.

Amy took this picture of the mum and dad. Happy family.

Over The Horizon – 18th June 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 4 Comments

What about the baby that pulled the trigger?
He just liked explosions
That made him happy
So many toys to play with
The mind is easily distracted
– It’s so very far away
– Death is so very far away

It can’t even be seen over the horizon

Bang, bang, they’re dead
They all fall down
Because bigger is better
On this side of town

Submitted to Reena’s Xploration Challenge #335

Today I’m feeling:

A little less enthusiastic but still have energy reserves somehow.  The first half of the week is pretty easy now and whilst the last couple of days are busy, they are pretty easy too.

Today I’m grateful for:

Our little birds that came and raised their family with us.  It was cool to watch them grow and then fly away.  Good luck to them.

The best thing about today was:

Spending some time in my room sorting out online music stuff with Parthiban, getting some money sorted to pay Johnny in HK for the Bennu LPs and chatting with Nampan and Team a bit.

And I was able to play some guitar which was fun too.

Something I learned today?

There was a big fire at Chatuchak Market a couple of days ago that killed thousands of animals. I don’t remember even seeing animals anywhere when I was there.

Amy took these pictures because today our little birdies flew the coop.

From The Tree To Me – 17th June 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

In the raw, you leave
A bitter tingle on the lips
A dusty drift in the air
Dry to the connoisseur’s nose

To grip the sweat of flesh
Where the cups of coffee sit
Hard knocks on wood
Built for many winters

All the ale spilled over
And never a complaint
Stoic and solid, ever-steady
Dampened with a cloth

How is it that your shade
Perfectly matches your function?
When your name is spoken
Your colour is revealed

Sealed with a scent
A low release of forest
Antique aching legs
Of stale cigars, whiskey and work

Write a poem about an object in five stanzas using sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch – in any order.
What is it?
This was a tough write and I don’t know if people can understand what the object is!

Today I’m feeling:

Pretty good despite almost swearing when my alarm went off.  I got up and at it though and now, about two hours later, I’m wondering if I can increase my exercise time a little in the morning.  Seems like I’ve already forgotten about how tired I am by Fridays and thinking of pushing it further now it’s Monday!

(10 pm) So tired now that I’m no longer contemplating pushing myself so much!

Today I’m grateful for:

The students in the sick room who bandaged up my fingers whilst taking pictures to show that they were working when required. Fixing the bleeding farang teacher is good optics.

The best thing about today was:

My first class, 3 hours with grade 12s was relaxing and fun. I didn’t push them too much and tried to keep everyone engaged as best as I could.  I was quite impressed with their English skills and with their confidence to at least try their best.

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

Tokyo finally got me today and it was my own fault. 

Usually, when I’m leaving House I don’t disturb her as she is sleeping, yet eyeing what is going on but today she was on her side and raised her paw for a belly rub. 

If I had come round to her side maybe everything would be ok but I tried leaning over the bench which left my hand hovering over her until I got my balance to sit down. I know that she feels threatened by this and sure enough, she snapped her jaw around my fingers and me trying to pull away left a big gash on the inside of my forefinger and knuckle of my ring finger. 

Weirdly, it didn’t hurt that much, though I knew I should be feeling pain. Due to the location of the wounds, they soon started dripping blood.  Gui’s mum got out the medicine kit that they have to keep handy for these situations and I quickly cleaned up before heading back to school. 

I got the cuts band-aided at the sick room and went off to class.

Something I learned today?

Praewa complained about her boyfriend, my grade 8 student Ten, smoking too much marijuana! I was not at all surprised to hear this. 

She has been very unhappy since she met him and I don’t understand what his appeal is. Bad boy appeal maybe? All her friends keep telling her to dump him and she keeps threatening to.

Ten is immature and doesn’t have any parental guidance at home, living with his grandmother and his younger sister. 

I’d be happy if I never heard his name again and I usually like the ‘bad’ kids.

What three words describe today? 

Interesting
Inspiring
Tiring

Amy took this picture just before fixing up the support for the nest with an old shirt. Things were getting precarious there.

Courage – 13th June 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 17 Comments

Alone in the dark, deeply breathing

The sigh became a laugh
A call for arms

Wrapped warmly, waiting
Gathering courage
Anticipating that first kiss

A cherita shared with Shay’s Word Garden – breathing, laugh, kiss.
27th Nov 2025 – Shared with What’s Going On – courage

Today I’m feeling:

Almost out of energy.  I slept well, and the alarm shocked me awake for once this week.  Pushing through, though.  Only one more day left of the work week after today.

Today I’m grateful for:

Kru Jern telling her students that the last class of the day finishes at 4.30 and if you want to leave earlier you have to get everything done.  Today, the kids were on the ball,l and we were all able to get out by about 4 pm.

Nomsen’s ‘family emergency’ yesterday turned out to be a birthday party with some of her older friends.  Not impressed, and Kru Jern agreed, but I let it slide.

The best thing about today was:

The fish stall at the street market was there today, thankfully, so I’m full up on fish, rice and chilli.

Something I learned today?

Little Namwan, the little tom boy student that was scared of me for about 18 months because I physically picked her up near the bathrooms and deposited her back in class 4 years ago now suddenly appeared in my afternoon class (after not turning up for my class in the morning that she was supposed to be at).

When I asked her what she was doing there, she just pointed to Ploy (whose birthday it was today).  Knowing Namwan, she is obviously crushing on her, as she did with Nicha last year.  It’s interesting to watch.

Namwan is 4 years older but seems to lack a lot of confidence compared with her peers, so perhaps she feels on a more even playing ground with the younger students.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

My driving was a bit less rushed both this morning and evening.

Amy and I tried to fix up the bird nest after Amy did some ant extermination around the plant where it is.  She could see ants getting to the nest and maybe annoying the chicks.  Doing that kinda disturbed the nest, though, which is kinda precariously balanced between two stems.

Feathers forming. Not much room for mum now.

Peak – 11th June 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 2 Comments

First steps, first sight
Begging to be fed
All the crying might
Be all that’s ever said

First walk, first flight
Strong enough to feed
Eyes down, left and right
In search of the seed

To run, leave home
No time to be weak
No one goes alone
To rise to the peak

Submitted to Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge – peak. Also planned to submit to the Ovi Challenge – steps but forgot to make it an Ovi!

Today I’m feeling:

Pretty good again, though I know I could do with more sleep.

I was woken in the night by a poo dream!  I just went for a pee though, fearing that dealing with a poop would’ve woken me up too much.

In my dream, I was wearing a nappy but wanted a toilet.  Seems to be remnants of a thought about when grandmum had to start wearing adult nappies.

Today I’m grateful for:

Being able to take it a little easier driving to school because I’m leaving a little earlier.  Hopefully, it will save a little on petrol as well as speeding fines!

The best thing about today was:

Not one thing in particular again, but another great day all around.  Very enjoyable.

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

I asked my grade 8s what is one activity that they like that their friends don’t, and Satang, who is a well-sized chubby boy, wrote that he likes to arm wrestle, but none of his friends like it.

So I sat down opposite him and we arm wrestled, and he beat me pretty easily on our right hands (and I could feel my muscles hurting from all my recent morning exercising).

I gave him a fair go on the left hand, but ultimately, he was too strong on that one too.

The whole class cheered and whooped.  I hope it gives Satang a little confidence boost.

Something I learned today?

I offhandedly sent a message to Baipad asking how her day was, and she said, ‘Everything feels like it’s going fast…Maybe because I’m happy?’ 

It made me a little teary (with happiness)

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I offered to fix all the grammatical errors in the play that Jet, Lin, Noah etc are doing and spent about 40 minutes going through it.  Now it makes sense!  I also went and watched them rehearsing for a little while after my last class.

I need to start thinking about little things that I could improve on as I don’t seem to be falling down with bad acts too much….

Day 4

Sometimes, The Hare – 10th June 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

One forward followed by two back
Searching endlessly to fill the lack
Uncertainty jags wider the crack
Does the turtle always win the race?

Submitted to Ovi Poetry Challenge 51 – steps

Today I’m feeling:

Great for getting up a few minutes earlier, working out and beating the traffic to work. This morning, all the kids were in happy, playful moods, so it was a good start to the day.

Mondays are pretty easy for me, even with 5 hours in class, so I felt relaxed even though I had to rush some coffees and didn’t get much writing done.

Today I’m grateful for:

The students who have been dragged into performing a play this year.  Most of them are my students, either currently or in the past.  I was teaching next door to where they were practising, and they pulled me in to help them with some pronunciation practice. I felt grateful that they knew that they could come to me for help.

Even though I’m already busy, I offered to help them when I had some spare time.

The best thing about today was:

My grade 8 student Manow, who for parts of last semester was shy and wary of me, had her 14th birthday today and as I called her up to the board to do the last piece of work for the class, I announced (though everyone knew) that it was her birthday and we all proceeded to sing Happy Birthday for her.

She then shared out her cake, which she had been carrying around all day and as there were only ten minutes left for the class, it quickly got devoured.

She has warmed up to me a little more now that she realises that I am there to help her with learning.  She’s not great at English, but I give her encouragement for her effort.

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

When I got home, I was happy to see that the gardeners had been and things were looking tidier again (until you look closely anyway).  I was appreciative that they had left alone the part of the garden I cordoned off and asked Amy to remind them to leave, too.

But then, Amy told me to go and look out in the drive, and there were the sad remains of two of our best ghost cactuses. Sigh.

Amy asked me to pay the gardener, which has left me well short of cash this month.  I asked her to send pictures of our ravaged cactuses and to ask them to take more care.

Something I learned today?

Sydney Swans beat Geelong yesterday, and I was able to at least watch the 15-minute mini-match, though things weren’t looking good as we went six goals down and didn’t get our first into deep into the second quarter.  Things came together after that, though, and things are looking positive for the future this season.

It’s kind of annoying that this season, when we are doing so well, is the first season I haven’t been able to watch the full matches. I’m still not going to fork out a week’s wages for a subscription, though.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I took Baipad a piece of Amy’s carrot cake this morning.

When I showed this picture to Jet, she said she suddenly felt hungry for fried chicken!

We Aren’t The Freaks – 9th June 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Life forever felt like a struggle
We were constantly despised
Together we slowly gathered
– We aren’t the freaks I realised

The tribes became a legion
We held hands and joyously cried
All wishing for a better life
– We aren’t the freaks you realised

With a quiet determination
And through all the things we tried
So we came to change the world
– We aren’t the freaks we realised

Inspired by a thought by Norman Brannon in the Anti-Matter Anthology

Today I’m feeling:

Pretty good again. I did sleep an hour beyond my alarm but was able to force myself to exercise again. 

I want to vacuum my room and sit and do some writing, if possible today. Admittedly, I don’t feel like writing when I’m at home, preferring to be in a cafe where there are less distracting options.

Today I’m grateful for:

The carrot cake that Amy made whilst I was drinking my coffee this morning. After a couple of hours in the fridge, I ate it for my dinner.

The best thing about today was:

Getting lots of things done in my room today, including vacuuming up all the dried-up lizard shit.

I read a bunch of poetry, wrote three new poems and started analysing some texts for a blackout poem. I only managed to play a little guitar because I got distracted talking with Team in Bangkok about his latest EP and then figuring out whether to make some CDs for it too.

I also got a little bit of work done and prepared for this coming week.

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

Despite getting lots done, I still ran out of time with lots of other little things having to wait. 

Something I learned today?

94% of the USA want to end the war in Ukraine. But they don’t get to decide that.

I took this picture because I’ve been struggling to take pictures recently, and I can see these becoming a daily photo opportunity following their lives from egg to flight!

Reading My Poetry – 8th June 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 8 Comments
Painting by Catrin Welz-Stein

I was reading my poem
To the owl up in the tree
He was very puzzled
And staring quizzically

“Why are you up here
Reading this to me?”
Well, first I climbed up
Just to see what I can see

As I brought my book
And you decided not to flee
I thought perhaps
You’d enjoy some poetry
“Indeed, I am! It scans
And rhymes (almost) perfectly”

Now the moon is here
And if you would agree
I’ll read for you both
Another two or three

“We’ve all the time in the world
Nowhere else to be,
One about the moon
And the owl up in the tree?”

Submitted to dVerse picture prompt

Today I’m feeling:

Pretty good, more than most of my recent Saturday mornings.

Today I’m grateful for:

Cap scratching at the door after he heard my alarm. I was going to get more sleep, but I got up for him and decided to exercise. I want to try to get out of my five-day routine and into a seven-day routine instead.

The best thing about today was:

Finding our little birdies had hatched. At first, when I went out to look in the nest, it looked like the eggs had been broken and the liquid inside had spilled out. 

I told Amy to come and look with a sad face and shaking my head, but when she came, suddenly these two little beaks appeared, open to the sky though they were still too young to make any noise.

I had noticed earlier in the day that both the mum and dad had been around at the nest, so it seemed that they had just been born, maybe even just within the hour.

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

Amy’s parent’s gutter specialists came today and said they can fix our gutter easily, quickly and for the same price as the last builder that fucked it up.

They said that it was obvious that the guy didn’t know what he was doing so Amy and I both felt vindicated on the shit that we’ve been giving him online. Amy also noticed that he’d removed many of his old posts and thought perhaps we weren’t the only people that he had ripped off.

Either way, we hope to have proper gutters back on Wednesday.

Something I learned today?

Art at Utopia video called with Noey, who is in the USA, whilst I was drinking my coffee this morning. She is on some kind of working holiday during her semester break. 

She said that she is eating pizza every day and misses rice! The only coffee she has now is black drip coffee and at the place she works, some kind of amusement park, a cup is $4.22 and hardly anyone buys it!

It’s a good experience for her and she looks like she is enjoying herself. It is also a reminder for me that most of the USA is ok, normal and people are generally getting on with their lives.

I took this picture because new life inspires.

Mark My Words – 19th May 2022

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 1 Comment

It’s a messy room to live
Misunderstood and bent sinister
Yet never felt better in its life
Your future are missing winner
Heads rolled, sure they did
A grotesque psykick dancehall
A triad-plus hip preist
The Smiths predict the fall
Always seen Totale’s turning
A solvent wax to levitate
It’s a caustic user syndrome
A kurious work to extricate
Mangled language perverted
A sublingual tablet bends
From the click of the country
To experiments of frenz
From the time the north was hit
The house was full of ghosts
A mesmerising miasma
A dream lie fiery jack a-toasts

Listening through the Hanley brothers ‘Oh! Brother’ podcast and falling in love with English accents.

The empire is not worries about the spread of disinformation, they’re worried about the spread of information.

Caitlin Johnstone

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful to see all the birds in the garden, eating all the newborn insects, which come in their millions.

The Week That Was – 29th July 1979

Death By Laundry – 11th May 2022

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Who wants to watch the world a-tumble?
Turned on by private words now shared
The world, a worthless judge and jury
A cult of celebrity being compared

Wars aren’t felt when kept abroad
Out of sight and out of mind
Every channel, a meaningless opinion
Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Rewind.

People are strange; they are constantly angered by trivial things, but on a major matter like totally wasting their lives, they hardly seem to notice.

Charles Bukowski

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful to watch and hear all the birds in our garden each morning.