Shared with W3 – The Pararhyme Paradox around the theme of incompleteness.
She’s A Puzzle – 16th May 2025
Tag: love
All the pieces scattered across the floor
A Flavoured Lexicon – 13th May 2025
Tangy, the aftertaste of unsent ink,
words left like fishhooks in my throat.
Of your preposition that held up my sky,
love became my silent film, soon unreeled.
Not to be unzipped, unbuttoned in the dark,
man’s executioner lurks within his whisper;
Best laid plans are left unsaid at the confessional.
Friends echo fallacious words
tonight, the coin was tossed into the sea.
Tongue tastes, a blind snake in a maze;
twisted sheets after bad dreams
and on the bridge that’s always burning,
tied a noose to the rail.
Tangling telephone wires hum my hymns
over the moon-whispered tides;
Our empty cups, save our salt,
simple as a slip, a dark entry,
joyful as the fire laughs at the forest;
Words become the silence.
Tied (again) but now with notes;
Tongue (again) a rusted hinge
knotting the clocks, doing time.
Over (returns) like a skipped stone’s fate,
poems sank to the lake bed;
Often returning to the teacher’s words
spoken into jars and never sealed.
Tangled in a comb’s teeth;
Tongues – final act – stilled by dawn.
Live and maintain pretence, to write
poems on ghost paper.
With the last match in the box,
friends (again) echo their silhouettes.
All the sand left in the glass;
Tongue (last stand) now a relic,
tangled for a final time in this museum.
Word one, we’ll never say again,
@ – a noose around the moon;
The most dangerous definite article on the
wharf where lost verbs go to drown.
Legendary, the stains became
night, the inkwell we dip our days in;
Of (last breath) the last breath;
Tangy – full circle – a foretaste of new
words for scented letters.
A type of mesostic or maybe a skeleton key poem, I’m not sure exactly what this form is called. The first word of each line is taken from the complete poem ‘word tangle’ by Rog Leach. The last two lines reflect back on the first two.
The words are 95% mine, with some original assistance from AI for the base. I kept the line ‘@ – a noose around the moon’ though, as it appealed to me.
A Bucketful Of Sand – 24th April 2025
When you left, I promised myself
to build us a mountain
for our future;
each day, a bucketful of sand;
building this monument
towards the sky.
When you return, in my dreaming,
your journeys at an end;
together then;
each day, the winds of time will take
a bucketful of sand,
until it’s gone
Shared with Momoetry April Poet Month challenge – ekphrastic and WDYS #285 picture prompt and the idea came after reading Time Passes here
Charlie Zero The Poet Music picks & Reviews #19 and my quick thoughts:
Trepaneringsritualen – Getting Neubauten and Keuhkot vibes from this. As others mention at bandcamp – riveting, terrifying, menacing! A good Thursday morning downer.
Haunted Horses – If this was the first time I heard this style or genre then I would love this. Very good.
Gay Beast – This is my kinda thing and already familiar to me. I’m always looking for more music along these lines.
Lunar Mistake – I like this, it could grow on me. The vocals put me off on the first song but are nice on others. Kinda soft-prog. Gonna listen some more.
Atrium Carceri – I don’t have time for this. I’m not a young man anymore. I get all the ambient noise I want at 8 pm in my jungle village.
Unlovable II – 1st February 2025
It felt like love, at least it seemed that way to me
Circumstances made it lighter than it should be
Now we have both learned to carry it differently
Our love was brittle, so as I saw new chances
We both became victims of those circumstances
A quiet candle burns, a little flame still dances
A true story though truth changes over time. Unlovable can be found here.
Inspired by this post on Instagram by muskurahateinn.
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.
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.
Butterflies – 22nd July 2024
Was it a fantasy? A fair fumble in the past
– Mystical ticks as the clock rewinds
That magical ache in the chest again, at last
– A blood-pumping petition reminds
Gave up reality for frolics in the dark
– Gardenias by day, jasmine by night
Naked in starlight, reignited the spark
– Gladdens the mind from a dark requite
Submitted to No Theme Thursday – the picture above, Moonwashed Musings – mystical and Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge – magic
10th Oct 2024 – Shared with What’s Going On – magical
Today I’m feeling:
A little bit weary before coffee but fairly upbeat after. Will try to get out to my room before watching any TV today, make sure I do things that are pleasurable, though take some effort, rather than just sitting watching the box all day. Whilst content may be interesting, too much at one time gets boring.
Today I’m grateful for:
The staff at the hospital who gave me advice on when to come back to get my medicine.
The best thing about today was:
Playing guitar again for a couple of hours was fun and though my skill seems to have plateaued, I’m starting to understand it a little more deeply.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I went up to the hospital, though only after talking with Hayden about health, which reminded me to see if the psych was there. Actually, I knew that he was only usually there on Monday mornings, so I wanted to find out if he would be there next Monday, but as today and next Monday are holidays, the department he is in is not open. It was a vague hope that they would be.
However, a nice member of staff, with reasonable English, told me that he would be there from 1pm tomorrow, so I figured I’d take tomorrow morning off and wait at home until then and go to my afternoon class at 2.30. I don’t want to have to go back and forth twice tomorrow as I’m short of cash and will need to refill the tank at some stage.
Something I learned today?
Biden steps down as the 2024 US presidential candidate, and civil war there feels like more and more of a possibility.
On a similar note: Jellyfish are not fish; they have no brain, heart, or bones.
Review your acts, Good and bad.
I followed up with Baipad about her cat and also with Freya about herself.
Maybe One Day – 29th May 2024
Maybe one day
I’ll laugh on my birthday
Devour the cake you made
As you got drunk
Waiting for the sponge to rise
Maybe one day
We’ll be lost in love again
Taking photos in the park
Fresh-faced
And newly dyed hair
Maybe one day
I’ll bring flowers to your work
And your colleagues
Will look at you with longing
To be just as loved
Maybe one day
To scratch the travel itch
We’ll be taken away
In different directions
Maybe one day
All the plans I made
Will be forgotten
Just lists on fading paper
A reminder
Maybe one day
We’ll look at each other
And celebrate together
This journey made
Surrounded by our comforts
Maybe one day
The cats long gone
I’ll push you along
Complaining about my knee
And we’ll chat about the future
Submitted to the Weekly Prompts Challenge and inspired by When You’re Gone by Colleen Looseleaf
Today I’m feeling:
A little tired but was able to push through to do some exercise again – another AI-generated one that I ended up running through twice as it is quite short. My abs were burning but feel ok now.
It’s super humid this morning which is energy-sapping and my first class were difficult to keep engaged and under control but I didn’t let it bother me too much.
Nomsen was messaging her mum online and then burst into tears for some reason.
After she calmed down I told her that she shouldn’t be talking with anyone outside the class during the lesson and that if she does some study it will take her mind off things.
She complained of a headache and I know she finds English too difficult but I just tried to push her to not give up.
Phu was also sleepy in the class and he also struggles with English. The kids told me that he was up late working last night but that’s not my problem. I guide and encourage him as best as I can but expect very little from him.
Today I’m grateful for:
My 4-hour break between classes during the day. It gave me lots of time to catch up on some things that I wanted to read and some writing too. I won’t have much free time for the next two days so it’s just as well.
The best thing about today was:
Hmm…nothing stands out in particular but it was a pleasurable and consistent day that I enjoyed very much.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I haven’t managed to get to my room to play guitar for a couple of nights now and I really want to.
I’m doing a bit more lesson planning in the evenings because I’m worried that I don’t have enough things prepared for all these new classes – and I’ve hamstrung myself a little by asking the students what they want to learn about rather than just giving them canned lessons.
Something I learned today?
I talked with S* again today about what she told me on Monday about sometimes showering with her stepdad when she’s tired. And she confirmed it and the way she described it does seem to be completely innocent and is not some kind of regular thing. Like a naturist family or something like that.
I warned her to be careful who she tells about this and she said she understood that and only mentions it to me because she trusts me.
Because of her exposure to Western culture, she considers herself only 10% Thai. Maybe as a Westerner, she was testing to see how normal this situation was. I told her it was pretty unusual.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
As Amy flew to Bangkok to visit Nong Mai and Yaya today and will be away until Sunday I have to find my own food. No problem, I thought, as the market would be on at the University.
As I knew that Baipad’s mum was still away, I asked if she and her sister wanted to come with me to get some food there and so I picked them up and we drove up to the Uni but because most of the students had gone home for the end of the semester the market was cancelled.
We drove around and eventually found a cheap Korean shop to eat at.
When was the last time I felt a sense of freedom?
The one time that I felt it really noticeably was on my trips to China.
On my first visits, I was surprised to see how free the environment was and I likened it to being at a large free music festival with folks just getting on with what they needed to do. It was a far cry from my corporate work environment and the nanny state society of Australia.
Of course, for me, I was a tourist and enjoyed the freedom of being on holiday but I sensed it amongst the people in general there. For them, it was probably just business as usual and normal.
I guess we tend to see more freedom outside of our own environments as we count every negative against us with more weight and take for granted a lot of other things. It’s a reason to consider that one culture cannot be better than another. Just different.
I feel this freedom living here in Thailand too but do understand that it is only in comparison with my experiences elsewhere before.
I’m really anti-stupidity laws such as jaywalking, which was enforced in Sydney CBD with a brutal crackdown and over-the-top fines. On my first trip to China, I remember watching as pedestrians grouped together and slowly forced the cars on the road to stop and let them cross.
I imagine it is much different there now, with probably fifty times the number of cars on the road since but it showed me that people don’t need a law to counter stupidity. If you are hit by a car whilst trying to cross the road you only have yourself to blame.
Same with holes in the sidewalk. If you are not looking where you are going it’s your fault if you fall in. Don’t blame the folks that made the hole.
Yes, things could be better and safer but not everything needs a law and its enforcement. I mention enforcement as in Thailand there are many laws but they are laxly enforced. Sometimes, this makes sense.
Which place from my childhood do I most fondly remember?
Without doubt that would be Forest Cottage – my home from aged 9 until about 20.
Most particularly my bedroom, where a lot of partying went on along with all the other ups and downs that teenagers have to struggle through. It was my space to invite others in or shut them out.
Smooth Sailing – 18th May 2024
Love is a lantern in the sky
Taken by the winds of change
Not knowing which way to fly
Along the jet stream strange
Caught in this whirlwind gale
A vortex within your hold
Around you, I smoothly sail
Balanced by the hot and cold
From trade winds, east and west
We made our world distinguished
The Roaring Forties try their best
But this light is not extinguished
Submitted to WDYS #238
Today I’m feeling:
Exhausted so far. Skipped my alarm and slept deeply for another hour.
It’s the past week catching up, and it only involved two days of teaching! Thursday and Friday are my busy days now so Saturday will be a regular sleep-in I think.
Today I’m grateful for:
Nong Na coming to stay at our house to take care of Cap and Tig for the next two days for us.
The best thing about today was:
Ending it being in Bangkok again.
The weird thing is though, it didn’t seem to take much effort or organising (though admittedly Amy was taking care of all the details for this trip).
I even got a longer-than-expected afternoon nap that Amy woke me from saying ‘We have to leave in 20 minutes!’
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I took some jackfruit to Baipad’s with the intention of giving it to her mum, hoping that Baipad would still be sleeping but she was in the shop playing with her sister.
I gave her the fruit and she said ‘I don’t like jackfruit!’ I said that was fine and to give it to her mum, which she did.
I will talk to her sometime about thinking about something better to say!
Down And Dirty – 16th May 2024
Romans once bathed here
Wiping blood from their beat brows
Spa after sparring
Solsbury Hill looks
Down River Avon Valley
Somerset steam rose
Conscious hearts beating
We ran through these stone warrens
Love in ancient times
Praying at the monastery
A different sacking was done
My first attempt at a Choka, inspired by The Skeptic’s Kaddish and submitted to dVerse’s Quadrille #201: Poems of Place
Today I’m feeling:
Good though a little nervous in the stomach. I think I have my head around how I’m going to do things in my classes.
I can feel less enthusiasm in the air with everyone this morning as the reality of classes starts to hit.
I have a three-flight climb to my first class too and it was already an English summer 27 degrees at 7 am this morning.
One of the boy students was already smelling off by 9am! And later in the day I saw David in his class of new grade 7s and the whole room stank of rank teenage sweat, like a changing room after five hours of football.
Today I’m grateful for:
Sometimes speaking up and sometimes keeping quiet. I told the school that I didn’t want to teach the new Integrated Program until it was settled in and that I also didn’t want to teach the grade 9s this year and so it came to be.
So when I got new classes scattered around the school and more hours than the other teachers, I didn’t say anything and just accepted it.
My first class today was in a new (to me) building and on arrival I discovered that the internet cable and wifi don’t work which is a bit of a problem for the method that I teach, everything being stored on Google Drive.
I sent a message to Kru Mai that this was going to be a problem for the five classes I have in the building and he quickly scouted out other classrooms that I could use back in our usual building and voila – four out of five of the classes solved!
When I told Kru David about this he mentioned that sometimes it’s good to speak up and ask for some things and not just expect it. He also mentioned that George was not happy that he has to teach the Integrated Program now. He’s had it good for a long time but as soon as something is not to his taste he’s getting antsy.
The best thing about today was:
After my first two classes I managed to get back to House for a coffee refill and sat down to do some writing.
I noticed a pretty young lady studiously working on her iPad in the corner in amongst a lot of people coming and going – probably the busiest I’ve ever seen the cafe. Some days I might be the only customer all the time I’m in there!
Later the lady got up and as she came to the counter, caught my eye and I thought I recognised her so gave a little smile and then when she smiled back I realised that it was Pear, who used to work there. She has changed her style a lot but I could easily recognise her smile.
She was studying hard to pass a university entrance exam as she has taken a five-year gap year! I could sense that she wanted to talk and indeed, she sat down and said that when it comes to English she could read and write easily but doesn’t have much opportunity for speaking.
Actually her listening and understanding is good too and when speaking she can find the words in her head most of the time but it is interrupting her flow. I could feel that she is driving herself to improve so I stopped what I was doing and we chatted until it was time for me to go.
Something I learned today?
I learned bits and pieces about my new class of 41 grade 12 students.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
After I finished my classes I sent Pear a piece of text to practice reading for me so I could help her more with her speaking. She replied quickly and I sent a couple more and I will help her when I have free time.
Did you do something difficult or challenging today?
Motivating tired sweaty students at the end of the day was a challenge and I have three days where classes end at 4.30 pm but it’s looking more likely that I will have to end them all at 4 pm most of the time, which is fine by me!
When was the last time I felt misunderstood?
I can clearly remember thinking that I was being misunderstood by Amy about something that we were quarrelling about but I seem to put quarrels out of my mind (whilst subconsciously learning the lesson of the argument!) so that now I’ve forgotten what it was even about!
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.
