A Child's Hope

Write in the park, Day 19.

I hope to grow up big and strong,
the budding green shoot says,
With sturdy branches all year long
and green leaves every day.

Like those tall trees standing by,
towering over me,
Reaching high up to the sky,
for everyone to see.

An immense tree I hope to be
tho' now I'm just a shoot,
Tiny buds is all you see
I'm no taller than a foot.

There is a long long way to go,
to turn from shoot to tree.
Nonetheless I hope to grow
A huge tree I shall be.

"A Child's Hope" — by Huang Bing Yao
Tue 28Jun22 1510 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybybingyao
#sightandsounds #writeinthepark

(I took this photo of a young budding shoot of an agave plant on Tue 21Jun22 in Westlake Garden.)

Budding hope

A Parent's Hope

(This painting was created by my three-year old grand-daughter's palm prints. It brings to mind every parent's hope for a child's future.)

Of many colours, hues, and shades,
a child's future is made,
in it our hope is found.

Warm tints of happiness may fill its days,
cold shades of sadness may come its way,
yet will our hope abound.

In bright red times of joy and cheer,
when fresh green chuckles and laughter we hear,
great heights our hope attains.

Hope for child's future

In dark blue times of worry and care,
when heavy deep purple burdens we bear,
unchanged our hope remains.

Tho' months be darkened by war and strife
or years be shadowed by sufferings in life
our hope will still prevail.

Whatever the colour, strong, or mild,
be it pretty and sweet, or ugly and wild,
our hope will never fail.

A Parent's Hope — by Huang Bing Yao
Fri 24Jun22 1046 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybybingyao
#heartfelt #sightandsounds

The Happy Banana Tree

Write in the park, Day 18.

"Look at me! Look at me!",
says the happy banana tree
Playfully waving outstretched arms
for everyone to see

Each branch bears a big green leaf
swaying gently in the air
A long hand hidden in a sleeve
a baggy shirt it wears

Happy banana tree

It wants to stop me in my way
saying, "Let's try peek-a-boo"
A happy little child at play
it wants me to join in too.

This happy little banana tree
does not grow very tall
It is all green and leafy,
and has no wood at all.

"The happy banana tree" — by Huang Bing Yao
Sat 18Jun22 0944 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybybingyao
#sightandsounds #writeinthepark

Coconut Trees

Write in the park, Day 17.

At the entrance to the garden
stands a grove of coconut trees
Gently waving branches
they welcome you and me

Their long and slender tree trunks
bear the scars of many years
Wearing crowns of slender palm fronds
saying, "Pleased to see you here"

Coconut trees waving their branches

Each frond look bored and sleepy
drooping under the sky
Yet rustles loudly with a sudden wave
when a soft wind passes by

All through the day these coconut trees
stand tall to greet their guests
Gently waving branches
saying, "Come and take a rest".

"Coconut trees" — by Huang Bing Yao
Thu 16Jun22 11:12 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybybingyao
#sightandsounds #writeinthepark

Grandfather

Write in the park, day 16.

This morning I try my hands at writing limericks in anapestic trimeter. Typically, limericks are often rude and humorous. My limericks are not rude, I think, but I hope you'll find it at least a little humorous.

Old grandpa he was tough and much hardened
He doted on all his grandchildren
They asked for some bread
He made dinner instead
With the food he could find in the kitchen.

And one day old grandpa went to town
From the shops he did look for a gown
He found one that he liked
It was cosy inside
But it made grandpa look like a clown

In the evening grandpa he would sit
On his rocking chair resting his feet
Grandchildren would come
His bald head they would comb
Old grandpa would pretend it was neat.

"Grandfather" — limericks
by Huang Bing Yao
Sun 05Jun22 0851 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybybingyao
#daydreams #limerick
#writeinthepark

African Tulips

Writing in the park, Day 15.

African tulip flowers
are soldiers brave and strong
Resplendent in royal regalia
they stand guard all day long

High up on the tulip tree
they can be seen from afar
Guarding their castle with watchful eyes
always ready to go to war

African Tulip tree

African tulip flowers
are warriors without fear
Armed with swords of gold and crimson
no enemy dares go near.

"African Tulips"
— by Huang Bing Yao
Sat 04Jun22 0855 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybybingyao
#sightandsounds #writeinthepark

Happy ripples

Writing in the park. Day 14.

Happy ripples playing on the pond
Running, skipping, hopping without care
One moment they're here, the next they're gone
Chasing one another everywhere.

Rowdy ripples rush in frenzied waves
Bouncing about in unpredictable ways
Ripple against ripple strong and brave
Playfully battling all over the place.

Happy ripples on the pond

Carefree ripples, boundless, unrestrained
Celebrate in cheerful festive mood
Singing heartily their noisy refrains
Dancing in their friendly neighbourhood.

A happier, merrier scene one cannot find
Than happy ripples of the playful kind.

"Happy ripples" — a sonnet
by Huang Bing Yao
Fri 03Jun2022 0700 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybybingyao
#sightandsounds #sonnet
#writeinthepark

Solitude

Write in the park, Day 13.

A lonely flower in the park I spy,
disinterested, indifferent, all alone.
Quietly ignoring people passing by,
absorbed in a silence of its own.

Away from the rat race all around,
on a retreat from a hectic life.
In solitude its refreshment abound,
in quietness and peace its happiness thrive.

Solitary flower

Let's come aside from work that never ends,
from diverse duties all along our way.
From many obligations to our friends,
and find some rest in solitude today.

Spend not all your days in work and strife,
spare some time alone to live your life.

"Solitude" — a sonnet
by Huang Bing Yao
Thu 02Jun2022 0900 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybybingyao
#sightandsounds #sonnet #writeinthepark