Tag: dVerse

The New Normal – 30th August 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 22 Comments

The dream is dead, since the sixties
Turned to the seventies, nice and sleazy
Endless wars processed the hippies and pixies
Economic vandals left a peace uneasy

Was it in our name, the forever fight for peace?
Did we ever question what’s going on here?
The grabs for land then returned for lease
The struggle for survival, a punishment severe

Can the decks be cleared with genocide?
The algorithms are running the numbers
There’s no longer a place to hide
And we’re left holding only clunkers

Sign away our lives with disappearing ink
Fingers crossed and handshakes informal
Accustomed to shit we no longer smell the stink
This is the new normal – abnormal

Submitted to Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge – Uneasy, Weekend Writing Prompt #378 – Severe (though not 18 words – I always forget that there’s a word limit in Sammi’s prompts!), Monday Poetry Prompt: Abnormal and Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge – Clunkers. This could also be submitted to dVerse – stormy weather but I already submitted another poem to that.

Today I’m feeling:

Uncertain yet. I slept for about ten hours and could’ve slept more, too. I’m still coughing but it doesn’t feel so much like there’s a hole in my chest.

I’m looking forward to the end of the day already.

(Later) I was a little ill-prepared for my first class, grade 11s doing presentations, as the lesson I had could be completed quickly. 

As this class is fairly lazy, though they didn’t care and spent the rest of the time playing games or sleeping. I did go around engaging them in brief conversations, though. 

The next class were grade 11 too and we did my Scams lesson and it went well and I was particularly happy with Sugus who seems to have been trying harder over the last few weeks. She has improved her English and I made sure to tell her and encourage her.

I dashed off for coffee and caught up with reading at lunchtime before heading back to help the students with the play, cancelling my afternoon grade 8 class.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Having the freedom to cancel a class and accept the invitation from the students to help them with their play. 

I’m not sure what the teacher in charge really thought about it but she was only there briefly anyway.

The best thing about today was:

Watching my second grade 11 class set to the task that I set them for the final hour of the lesson. They all got to it quickly and would ask me for help and advice when they needed it. 

I guess these kids have matured to the point where they just need pointing in the right direction now.

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

I ended up leaving school later than normal and sent a message to Amy that I’d be running late and she then reminded me that she was going out for dinner, so that I would have to find my own food. 

This meant spending some of what little money I had left this month. What could I do? I have to eat!

Something I learned today?

The last day the students will come to school is the 27th of September. That’s just four more weeks! Time to wind down!

Whilst helping with the play, I discovered that my old student Achang potentially has OCD. There was a part in the play where he should grab another student’s arm but he was really reluctant to do it. 

I thought that it was a cultural thing or just shyness but the other students told me that he will always go and wash his hands and that he has a problem.

He is also supposed to be acting like a smooth-talking player but is lacking confidence in being able to pull it off.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I spent an extra hour helping with the play and gave them as much as I could, considering that they have to perform it in the next few days. 

They were all very appreciative at the end of the afternoon, though and that made me feel good.

I took this picture of Guitar, Lin and Poppy as they perform this cheerleader routine at the beginning of their play.

Insatiable Child – 21st August 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 7 Comments

I don’t know why
She bent to my will
Years later
It confuses me still

Why did she
Fulfil my dreams
Ignoring her own
As I played my schemes

I was the child
Though she was younger
I was insatiable
She fed my hunger

Submitted to dVerse Quadrille #206 – bend

Today I’m feeling:

Pretty good after sleeping well. A little bit of exercise again, where my body felt good immediately afterwards, though it was also telling me that it would be great to go back to sleep again. That will have to wait, though.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Kru Karn encouraging her grade 8 students to commit to the assignment that I set and do so in their free time. 

Most of them complied, and it was actually a fun, though slightly chaotic, afternoon.

The best thing about today was:

Starting some little Instagram videos of a little stupid idea I had. I got three done at random times today and have sent them to Jet to see if she can fancy them up a little before posting them online.

Also, the grade 8 classes that I talk about elsewhere here were fun too.

Something I learned today?

Two of my grade 8 students came to me during my afternoon class, claiming that they couldn’t do my assignment, of a three-minute conversation with another (unfamiliar) student, because they were introverted and too shy. Both their English is reasonable too. 

I encouraged them to just try and do it and that afterwards, they would feel much better. Sure enough, they seemed quite pleased with themselves when they had finished.

There were others too, putting up some opposition to this task and I explained to everyone that now is a time to put their learning to use, instead of just filling in gap-fill forms or doing grammar quizzes.

It’s making me rethink what I want to do with these classes next.  I learned a lot from it.

I took this picture from a video that I was trying to do with this student, Best.  I don’t teach her, but she must know me through her friends, as she always wants to talk with me when she sees me. Today though, she couldn’t stop laughing when trying to make the video.

Placard – 20th August 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 9 Comments

To protest alone demanding to be heard
Upset at the wrong use of the word
Defined by slogan, magnified by fear
More important than contrition here

Any apology draws more contempt
No exclusion, no person exempt
A placard of placation has no effect
What does repetition come to expect?

A madness of masses in individual
A singular dogma conformed to ritual
Angry at the freedoms provided
For all to enjoy themselves divided

I’m still reading Crisis In Culture and finding new inspiration to write.
29th Aug 2024 – Submitted to dVerse – stormy weather

Today I’m feeling:

Not so bad. Amy woke up before my alarm and started looking at her phone and the dull light movements were enough to wake me too.  I covered my head with another pillow but soon enough, my alarm went off.

I managed to motivate myself to do a little exercise, which got my blood moving, which was good.

Both my classes were fairly entertaining and fun, though the rowdy grade 8s were certainly noisy today, but as I gave them the speaking task they’ve been practising again, I wasn’t so bothered.

After class, I ended up stuck in the canteen talking with many, many students.  I was kind of waiting for Jet to appear, as we had discussed her editing some Instagram videos for me and she said she would be around there at lunch time.

Eventually, I left though, back for another coffee and some reading and writing catch-up before heading home.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

A quick power nap from 4 til 5 that, if I hadn’t woken me from, I probably could’ve slept through until morning.  I’m also grateful for Amy’s home cooking, which I haven’t had since Friday, as we’ve either been out or I’ve just made myself sandwiches instead.

The best thing about today was:

Hanging with the students at lunch time was a lot of fun, as I walked around and found new groups to chat with.

I went over to sit with Momo, Baifern, Pan and Namsai, and Momo always gets nervous in these situations because I’ve known her for a long time already. She told me that Pan really wanted to talk with me but that her English wasn’t good enough.

So I went and sat next to Pan and got her talking as much as she could. I told her that the only way to improve is to practice and to talk to me whenever she wants. I think she was happy that I was prepared to make the effort and I was happy that she tried her best too.

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

I’d been given a room to teach in for my grade 10s but found that it was being used today so we had to resort back to the library again, which wasn’t too bad in the end.

Something I learned today?

Momo and her friends told me about a new app that they are using to study English called Edsy. I’ll check it out.

Momo took this picture of me and Pan at lunchtime. All the younger tomboys love Pan.

Winter/Summer – 17th August 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 9 Comments

I have no time for winter blues
A clear sky has little else to choose
Gone is the rain
That flooded my brain
It’s a return to the mountain views

Pouring the sunshine out of our hearts
Deep in the valley, the cloud departs
High season, no joke
Then awaiting the smoke
Of burning fields when summer restarts

Submitted to dVerse Zeugmatically Speaking and inspired by other poems written there. Not quite sure I’ve hit the mark with this one and I find limericks to be lazy poems but this one fell into place.

Today I’m feeling:

Slow to go but woke up before my alarm and had to get moving soon enough to get to the airport where I’m sitting now, caffeinated and ready to fly.

Still coughing, slight headache but at least a change of scenery ahead.

Health:

Physical: 5
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

A surprise appearance of Jessica at lunchtime. Amy told me that we were meeting an old high school friend of hers and when we arrived, I was surprised at how much she looked like Jess, and it took me a second to realise.

The best thing about today was:

A little bit of shopping at Union Mall and Central Lad Prao, which Amy let me put on the Westpac card. A new bottle of Bath and Body Works perfume and a shirt and pants for work.

In the evening, we went to the Red Sky bar, which is a rooftop bar where we had expensive snacks and cocktails as part of a deal. It was nice enough but we didn’t want to stay for more.

Amy found a jazz bar and posted pictures on Facebook of the rooftop bar in the meantime. Soon after, we got a message from Aing and we asked her to come and meet us.

We arrived at the Saxophone Bar at around 9 pm and soon enough Aing, Now and Nu arrived and we got stuck into more cocktails and a bottle of Jack Daniels apple flavour.

We had a good time catching up and Amy and Nu enjoyed dancing to the live band.

Afterwards, Aing was kind enough to drop us back to our hotel at around 2.30 am and we quickly got stuck into a short sleep.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I managed to pick up a copy of a book that Baipad really wanted in CentralWorld.

I took this selfie because ‘Let’s go to Bangkok!’

The Door – 10th August 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 8 Comments

Is the door ajar?
Is Debbie looking in?
Her eyes drew me closer
Mine, all set to spin

Held me tight in embrace
Touched by your presence dear
Kissed me under the swamp tree
Woke up, sudden and clear

The door was not ajar

Submitted to dVerse prompts – jar and dreams and inspired by a dream I had after watching Blondie’s ‘Touched By Your Presence Dear’ on TV, where I swore that she was looking and talking to me, so powerful was the dream that the next day I went to the tree in the swampy woods and waited for her to appear again. Predictably, she did not.

Today I’m feeling:

A little tired and dizzy.

Today I’m grateful for:

Being able to watch the Swans just get over the line against Collingwood this morning. I gave up on them but they somehow pulled it off.

The best thing about today was:

Putting together the sleeves and vinyl for the High Voltage/SpeechOdd split and figuring out how to get rid of as many of these things as possible!

It gave me a little more motivation, though my energy soon ran out again.

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

I came back from my room at about 4 pm and started watching videos and thought it would be a good idea to eat the last weed gummy in the fridge. A couple of hours later and my head was spinning badly and I felt nauseous. I went to pee but soon had to stop as I needed to throw up and out came the chewed-up gummy and a couple of Amy’s delicious cookies.

Thankfully, I felt much better after that but couldn’t do anything except watch another four hours of The Boys, finishing off Season 2.

I ended up forgetting to write here and catching up on Sunday morning.

Something I learned today?

I think that’s it for weed for me. I’m too old for that shit now!

See Me Dead – 3rd August 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 27 Comments

I want to see the grief expressed
Hear the kind words manifest
Let me celebrate the life I led
To become immortal now I’m dead

You don’t need to shed those tears
I got to enjoy so many years
But being gone is a long, long time
Don’t forget me and what was mine

What wishes made, to have been said
Or ones wished retracted instead
Look on my legacy for what it’s worth
You’ll soon join me too, returned to earth

You and me, will all be forgot
Ladies and gentlemen, that’s your lot!

Inspired by reading others’ poems about grief at dVerse this week and the idea of wanting to know how others feel about you once you are gone, much like my teenage student, who, after attempting suicide, said that she wanted to see her mother’s reaction once she was gone!
12th Feb 2026 – Shared with Reena’s Xploration #417
10th Apr 2026 – Shared with Poets and Storytellers #222 – Legacies

Today I’m feeling:

Tired and a little sick with a sore throat. I slept for almost twelve hours and crawled back in again at around 11 am, after a couple of coffees.

Today I’m grateful for:

Amy told me that she was talking to a village auntie (the cowman’s wife) over the fence this morning and asked if I was teaching at CRPAO. Amy said yes and the auntie said that her son is in grade 8 and that even though I don’t teach him, she has heard that I’m a good and kind teacher.

That was nice to hear.

The best thing about today was:

Eating some nice food at Bruno and Nut’s place this evening. Even though I was feeling a little tired and sick, I enjoyed eating, talking and listening with them.

Something I learned today?

I watched an interesting video about a new DAW in development called Blockhead. Even though I don’t even use the DAWs that I have, I would still be interested in the idea of playing with them one day.

I Fear – 28th July 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 12 Comments

One day at a time, I fear
A dread existentially

Made it my philosophy

Each morning my mind made clear
One day at a time, I fear


Days are done with entropy

Fallen down unhappily
Into the night they disappear
One day at a time, I fear


Broken up elegantly

What was it specifically?

Unknown circumstances here
One day at a time, I fear

Submitted to dVerse Poetry Form: Ballata and Weekly Prompts -The One-Day Prompt (4) and initial inspiration from the Charles Schultz quote there.

Today I’m feeling:

Tired still, though I didn’t sleep until after 1 am, partly because of my afternoon nap but also because I was playing a game on my phone. 

When I stopped playing and saw that it was 1.20 am, I immediately deleted the game! I can’t be using up so much time like that.

Today I’m grateful for:

Amy being back and cooking or buying food for me. I’m short of money again and trying not to spend anything. It will be like this for a couple more months at least. Hang in here, Shaun!

The best thing about today was:

Getting out to my room and thinking about adding old pictures to the blog, which I did a few of today, along with some more old emails and looking through other bits and pieces of writing that I have.

I also listened to a few albums of stuff that I had downloaded, including the old Fusion live tapes. I was perhaps inspired by listening to Per Purpose as I was driving today.

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

I didn’t watch any TV today. But this was on purpose, as I didn’t want to find out the result of the Swans game before being able to watch the mini-match tomorrow.

I did end up watching the movie Inside Out in the evening though as Amy had recommended it and it was enjoyable and I’m curious about the second one and if it could be useful for my students.

Lots of other things were out of my control today but I never let myself get out of control.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I drove Amy and me around the city so we could eat and visit Mum. Amy loves being a backseat driver and I generally just let it slide, joking today, asking if she would talk to a taxi driver like that. She said I’m not a taxi driver and ‘I can talk to my husband any way I like’ and then, jokingly, gently slapped my face. I guess I’m special!

I took this picture because I spotted this new growth as I was opening the gate.

She Is Waiting – 26th July 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 11 Comments

She is the lone wolf
Waiting for the summer mist
To rise from the forest floors

Her thoughts are her own
Serving no masters
Comfortable in quietude

Ears alert to opportunity
Sniffing out the rats
Deadly silent stalker

She is the lone wolf
Waiting

Submitted to WDYS #246 and dVerse Quadrille #204 – summer
26th Sep 2024 – Submitted to Word of the Day Challenge – stalker

Today I’m feeling:

Tired still and not particularly excited for my classes, knowing that many students will be missing for various reasons, disrupting my plans.

I got up ok this morning but feel a lack of energy and my eyes are a little blurry still.

Onwards we must go!

Today I’m grateful for:

A bit of a chilled, busy day due to circumstances described below.  I’m still pretty tired at the end of the day but was expecting to feel much more exhausted after six hours in class, then dashing home and soon out again to the airport to pick up Amy.  I’m looking forward to sleep but also feeling satisfied with the day.

The best thing about today was:

Falling into the rhythm of the day with only 14 out of 35 students turning up for my first class.  The rest were mostly off doing projects and special meetings.

As the class was due to do presentations, this has to be delayed until next week.  I figured I’d try to do some pronunciation work with the few students in attendance and settled on a 90-question Quiz about the pronunciation of past tense ‘-ed’ verbs.

At the start, everyone was quite competitive but with so many questions, once they started to understand the rules for this grammar point, they all started deliberately choosing the wrong answers to wind me up.

Suitably satisfied I stopped the quiz halfway and let the kids relax for the rest of the time.

And so it went on, in my next class, about 8 or 10 students were off doing something (which luckily I heard about yesterday and had prepared for) and I did a really simple reading, translation and quiz with the predominantly J-Biz program students.

I even managed to dash off to House for a quick coffee and writing catch-up before my final class with grade 8s and a tough reading challenge for them.  I was pleasantly surprised at how well they handled it.  Not with the quality of their reading but the fact that they’ve become accustomed with doing what I ask and feel comfortable that I will assist them.  It’s a win as far as I’m concerned.  If they can’t improve their English, at least their attitude to difficult tasks will improve.

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

I’ve been a little frustrated with waiting on covers for the SpeechOdd/High Voltage split 12”, which Parthiban arranged with Talib in KL.  Talib has been out of contact for a few weeks now and I’m sitting on a stack of currently unsellable vinyl until I get these covers.

There’s not much I can do and Parthiban is also frustrated and decided not to work with Talib again.  Hopefully, the situation resolves soon.

Something I learned today?

I read an interesting piece about how Buenos Aires was richer and more culturally advanced than any other American city in the early 1900s until the Great Depression, followed by a series of political missteps, which saw it lose its status.  There was even a phrase, ‘To wish to be as rich as an Argentinian!’

Review your acts, Good and bad.

Even after my long day of classes, I dropped in on Kru David’s grade 9 class and helped Nicha, Yurin and Tankoon to understand what was required.  It felt good to help them and they showed their appreciation with their thanks.

I took this picture because Freya didn’t understand why I was saying ‘Sadako’ when she was fixing her hair, so I put the picture up on the screen and made her stand there too.

Deeper Reds – 20th July 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 14 Comments

Symbolism in deeper reds
Canvas colour capture spreads
Abstract yet educated
Rhythmic patterns illustrated
Leaving be the ugly things
Elevate what this beauty brings
The fusion of knowledge

Spiritual movement college
Aims towards enlightenment
Grittily honest experiment
Evoking the scarlet sage

Dancing eyes across the page
And so the paintings change view
Now that the painting changed you
Creativity in meditation
Invitation to interpretation
Nearer to the stormy sea
Goes the light blue nursery

Animal instincts of segregation

Wisdom rises beyond illumination
Hanging our pictures on these walls
In the museum, how history falls
Risen to rhyme and rearranged
Look at me now, times have changed
In search of happiness and beauty
No submission to customs of duty
Greedy and grim, not another one

Death and frenzy have all been done
Ever since, and so it will be
Raise the tools to stave off misery
Vanquish fear with canvas maze
Inspired to passion with its praise
Spun out a web of dream delight
Hanging on the deeper reds tonight

Submitted to dVerse and inspired by the attached painting by Alma Thomas and information found about her work.

16th Jan 2026 – shared with Esther Chilton prompt #99 – red

Today I’m feeling:

My regular weekend tired, though I got up early to drop Amy off at the airport as she heads to Udon Thani via Bangkok to meet Jess.

Then Baipad messaged me that Jan will come and meet her at The Black House this morning and wanted to arrange with me to transport her there. 

No problem, though I’m looking forward to getting home later and playing some guitar, reading, writing and listening to some music.

I’m hungry already, too and it’s not quite registered yet that I have to figure out what I’m going to eat today and the rest of this week, with my regular chef being away!

Today I’m grateful for:

The drink lady at Baan Dam who complimented me on my Thai.  And then Jess also complimented me when I was able to answer her questions, though usually in English.  She was at least impressed that I understood her.

The best thing about today was:

Seeing the look of happiness on Baipad’s face when she saw Jan again.  They haven’t seen each other since March and though they chat a bit online, I could see how happy they were to just be able to gossip with each other about their lives.  One thing I really noticed was that they barely looked at their phones the whole time that they were together.

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

Just as I was sat comfortably in bed, Cap came to the door asking to be let in, which I did and then Amy video-called and I started talking with her, Jess and Jess’s relatives.  Cap jumped up onto bed and then proceeded to piss all over it.  Motherfucker!

I hung up the call grabbed the sheet off the bed and ran it to the washing machine, coming back with a cut lemon and some paper towels.  After cleaning up as best I could I called Amy back and was feeling a bit annoyed, at one moment feeling relaxed and the next having to deal with this.

Amy was happily drunk and laughed it off but I wasn’t in the mood.  She could feel that and we said good night.  I’ve switched all the bed linen to Amy’s bed and will sleep there tonight.

I’m dog tired, but my adrenaline is up now.  I’ll calm down soon.

Something I learned today?

When I asked one of my grade 12 students what they could do to practice speaking English when there was no one around they said that the practice with ChatGPT.  Not a bad idea.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I talked a little with Freya today and tried to pep her up as she is understandably still feeling down about what happened yesterday.

I took this picture at Baan Dam because these cute bugs would probably make Amy itch. They were everywhere!

The Albatross – 13th July 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 3 Comments

The crab said to the albatross
“Can you take me from here?”
“Where do you wish to go?”
Asked the albatross
“Anywhere away from these sad rocks,
To the skies!”
The albatross said “Hop in”
And opened wide his mouth
Enjoying a difficult meal

Submitted to dVerse Quadrille #203 – crab

Today I’m feeling:

A little better with my hip, though it kept me tossing and turning all night last night and so when it was light this morning, I just got up.  It was only 7am but I felt better for moving.

I had to deal with an army of ants biting my feet in the kitchen as they were retreating inside from the rain overnight.  Sadly for them, they are all dead now!

I started doing some weeding before heading off for coffee.  I don’t know why.  I just saw one and then kept going.

As I was about to get on the bike, the neighbour told me that they will concrete our drives today and so I can park over the road at Auntie’s, where there is lots of space.  Everything should be finished soon, making our road much easier to traverse.

As our gardeners were due this morning, I asked Amy to cancel them but they insisted on coming.  I guess they need money and know that we are reliable to pay them.

Today I’m grateful for:

The gardeners again.  I’m glad that they came in the end as our grass is cut nice and short again making it less likely for snakes to travel through.  From my quick inspection it seems that they didn’t manage to destroy any cactuses this time too.

The best thing about today was:

Tangmo coming to visit us a couple of times. After coffee in the morning and grabbing some Swenson’s ice cream, picking up Amy and coming home I’ve done a lot of TV watching and hip resting.

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

The pain in my hip is out of my control and there’s not much I can do about it. I’m hoping a bit more recovery tonight, otherwise I’ll have to go and waste some time at the hospital.

Something I learned today?

The Swans won this week, smashing the Kangaroos by 79 points. Not a difficult opponent but good to get another win after the small loses over the last two weeks.

Review your acts, Good and bad.

I met Nong Kratae at Utopia this morning and she asked me if I would come and help her once a month, as her high school-aged students need more information about IELTS study.  

I told her that I could come along one time and see what it is that I might be able to offer.

I took this picture because Piti was doing his best sexy pose this morning.