Why?

Why is the sky so often blue,
and grassy fields so green?
Why are green skies unheard of,
and blue fields hardly seen?

Why aren't there any deep blue cows,
and green hens running around?
Why are they often white and grey,
or black or red or brown?

Why is your face not emerald green,
nor hands sapphire blue?
Why won't my eyes turn ruby red,
when I see a smile from you?

---

"Why?"
by Harold B Huang
Wed 06Apr22 1756 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybyharold
#sightandsounds #daydreams

Day 6 : "colour"
#mpwm22day6 #haroldhuang

Checkpoint Counter Two

In enthusiasm and eagerness,
and much excitement too,
I make my way with hurried steps
to checkpoint Counter Two

Twenty-four months I have waited
for this day to come,
At last, the border opens doors
for me to go back home.

Gingerly, I place my papers
On the checkpoint counter top.
Will the officer find a fault,
Will my journey come to a stop?

My papers are in order,
my passport is stamped in blue.
In high spirits, I walk away
from checkpoint Counter Two.

---

"Checkpoint Counter Two"
by Harold B Huang
Tue 05Apr22 2358 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybyharold
#heartfelt #journeyinlife

Day 5: charge(d)
#mpwm22day5 #haroldhuang

Another Yesterday

Yesterday,
all those lockdowns wouldn't go away,
Within our cities we were told to stay,
To wait for yet another day.

Suddenly,
all our hopes and plans were not to be,
Shattered dreams were all that we could see,
Oh yesterday from us did flee.

Why
we
had to go
through such times,
no one could learn.

How
we
wished we could
make it go,
never to return . . .

Yesterday,
life was such a happy path to take,
Now I seek another chance to make
anew, another yesterday.

. . . anew, another yesterday

(Sung to the tune of "Yesterday", a song by the Beatles.)

---

"Another Yesterday"
by Harold B. Huang
Mon 04Apr2022 2335 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybyharold
#heartfelt #journeyinlife

Day 4: after
#mpwm22day4 #haroldhuang

The Endless Game

Yesterday we all were free to wander
Went downtown, had joyrides in our cars
Suddenly, came movement control orders
They made our spirits drop like falling stars

And the people, they're all locked down
While the daily numbers aren't coming down
We're captive in this lockdown all the time

We can't go out, we can only look,
As numbers stay the same
And go round and round and round
. . . in this endless game

(Sung to the tune of The Circle Game by Joni Mitchell)

By Harold Huang
Tue 2021.07.06, 21:21 hrs GMT+8

#poetry #poetrybyharold #KerajaanGagal

A disappointing smile

A song about the pretentious smiles of lying politicians who announce endless extensions of lockdowns:

Smile, a disappointing smile
Your smile can bring bad news to me
Don't let my TV find you on,
'Cause that would bring a tear to me

This land has lost its glory
We need a brand new story
Now my love,

Right now
Just as in other times,
Your smile can't show me how, my love

Talk in ever twisting words
And complicate them all for me
And I don't need such words in life
Don't ever try to call to me

We know that you don't even mean
A single word you say

It's only words, and lying words you have
Please take them all away . . .

(Sung to the tune of "Words", Bee Gees)

By Harold Huang
Sun 2021.06.27 21:41 hrs GMT+8

#poetry #poetrybyharold #KerajaanGagal

Forlorn

A lady selling breakfast,
standing
at her makeshift table by the roadside,
quietly waiting
for a passer-by or two
to stop and buy her ware,
looking forlorn.

A man selling hot drinks
leaning
against his coffee stall in the marketplace
eagerly waiting
for a customer or two
to stop for a cup of coffee or tea,
looking forlorn.

An old shopkeeper,
sitting
at the counter of his deserted toy shop
by the corner of a lonely street
patiently waiting
for a shopper or two
to come in and buy toys for their kids,
looking forlorn.

They are caught
in a long torturous wait for customers,
hoping for
perhaps some,
perhaps a few,
perhaps at least one,
to brighten the day.

All of them in a sombre mood,
desperately trying
to earn enough
to pay for all the expenses
to carry on living,
hanging on
to whatever little hope is left,
looking forlorn.

"Forlorn"
by Harolde Huang,
Saturday 2021.05.15 20:51 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybyharolde
#pandemic #lockdown

Left behind

Time has swiftly passed us by,
a year seems like a day.
Months have vanished in the sky,
weeks are marching away.

Time has left us in a bind,
marooned in a lifeless past.
Each of us is left behind,
with many unfinished tasks.

Our earnings are depleted,
our businesses destroyed.
Our meticulous plans defeated,
we are unemployed.

Loved ones at home we have not met,
our families we have not seen.
We cannot visit them as yet,
stranded we have been.

Time has left us so uncertain,
we do not have a clue.
Before us stands a daunting mountain,
of things that we wish to do,

Time has moved on to better times,
it has left us high and dry.
We face a mountain we cannot climb,
no one hears our cry.

"Left behind"
By Harolde Huang
Tue 2021.05.11 20:27 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybyharolde
#pandemic #lockdown

Groping in the dark

We are shrouded by confusion,
groping in the dark.
With many orders and restrictions,
bringing unhappy remarks.

One minute an order is issued,
the next minute withdrawn.
One day a prohibition announced,
the next day it is gone.

The outbreak started last year,
many restrictions began.
The minister said you don't always need,
a permit from the policeman.

All you need is your employers' letter,
or your hospital appointment, he says,
You can travel across state boundaries,
the police won't hinder your way.

But the police at the road block says,
you shall by no means proceed.
Your appointment letter is not valid,
a police permit you need.

We're made to live in constant fear,
of being misled and deceived.
We grope around in darkness,
not knowing who to believe.

A few days ago a new lockdown,
was imposed on the nation's capital.
No one is allowed to move around,
into other districts to travel.

"Even those who have appointments
for vaccination in other districts,
need a permit from the police station,"
the minister was very strict.

Soon after, another minister announced,
you don't need police permission.
You only need to show the policeman,
your vaccination appointment!

Nurseries and kindergartens can open,
the security council did say,
"No, all kindergartens must be closed."
said the education ministry today.

Ministers contradict ministers,
while policemen make their own rules.
We grope around in darkness,
we're made to look like fools.

Meanwhile the disease continues,
to spread like a raging fire.
From a thousand new cases each day,
to two, three, four thousand and higher.

Hospitals are being overwhelmed,
almost bursting at the seams.
Doctors and nurses are overworked,
each day's a horrible dream.

Anxiety has overtaken us,
we're full of uncertainty.
We grope around in darkness,
in fear of calamity.

The authorities continue to bungle,
to fumble and stumble too.
For they are groping in the dark,
they don't know what to do.

"Groping in the dark"
By Harolde Huang,
Monday 2021.05.10 14:46 hrs GMT+8
poetry #poetrybyharolde
#pandemic #lockdown

Lost in a whirlpool

A whirlpool of nasty orders
drags our nation down.
An arrogant administration
makes our people frown.

We're lost in an endless whirlpool
of reckless haphazard orders,
by idiots setting many rules
and making many blunders.

A whirlpool of hasty orders
spirals down the deep
dark, confusing waters,
into a sunken heap.

We're lost in a senseless whirlpool,
struggling to break free
from vicious cycles caused by fools,
our hardships they cannot see.

"Lost in a whirlpool"
by Harolde Huang.
Sat 2021.05.08 23:30 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybyharolde

Wind of death

The Wind of death, it is blowing in,
Across the lands, over the seas.
It stretches its wings, an eagle unseen,
From its sharp talons, none can flee.

It may arrive a gentle breeze,
Softly caressing the shoulders of some.
On other days it makes many freeze,
A cold wintry gust it has become.

Suddenly it rises, a ferocious tempest,
Rushing recklessly, a deafening roar.
It tramples on all from east to west,
Dragging many towards death's door.

Each day we're kept at the edge of our seats,
As the news is announced, our anxiety builds.
We're told of victims, whom this wind beats,
Of whom it injures, of whom it kills.

Some left unscathed by the soft and gentle breeze,
Others survive the gust, struggling and weak.
Some have succumbed in deep tempestuous seas,
Swept away into darkness: bitter, barren, and bleak.

Winds of death.
By Harolde Huang
Wednesday 2021.04.28 15:55 hrs
GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybyharolde #pandemic #covid19

Pandemic: between Earth and non-Earth peoples

I was just telling family members the other day, when the lockdown began last year, enforcement officers were highly biased. Most of the time, our non-Earth shops, hawker stalls, business premises and individuals were the ones getting raided, checked, and fined.

In my in-laws home town, a few restaurant workers were fined for not wearing masks while washing dishes in the kitchen AFTER the shop has closed for the day!

As a result of such biased and racist enforcement, most of us non-Earth people adopted a highly cautious stance, taking every possible precaution against anything that the Earth officials can find fault with.

For example, in my town, Chinese Clan Associations even refused to open the cemeteries for the recent Cheng Beng grave-cleaning festival, to avoid getting heavily fined for any small excuse .

This proved to be a blessing in disguise, as we non-Earth people are largely shielded from the virus by our cautious behaviour.

Tidak dibenarkan

Lagu Tema Tahun Baru Cina 2021:

"Tidak dibenarkan"

Upacara sembahyang
- tidak dibenarkan.
Tarian singa, tarian naga
- tidak dibenarkan.

Perarakan tanglung dan chingay
- tidak dibenarkan.
Opera dan pertunjukan pentas
- tidak dibenarkan.

Ziarah rumah ke rumah
- tidak dibenarkan.
Rentas daerah rentas negeri
- tidak dibenarkan.

Rupa-rupanya
semua benda tidak dibenarkan.

Jadi, duduklah diam-diam di rumah
bersama keluarga anda.

Main fesbuk, tonton TV,
Makan, minum, pagi, petang,
Bangun, tidur, bangun, tidur,
di rumah masing-masing.

Buatlah Majlis Makan Besar
secara olok-olok
bersama keluarga kecilmu.

Pura-pura adakan "Reunion"
dengan ahli keluarga yang duduk jauh.

Cuma itu sahaja dibenarkan,
Cuma itu sahaja dibenarkan . . .

"Tidak dibenarkan"
2021.02.05 2204 hrs
#poetrybypengyou #poetry

MCO Comes our way

MCO = Movement Control Order
Will be imposed nation wide.

Sung to the tune of Jingle Bells:

MCO, MCO, MCO comes our way.
It's no fun, we have to hide,
Inside the house today . . .

MCO, MCO, MCO comes our way.
It's no fun, we have to stay,
Inside our homes all day.

Going to the shops
In a one passenger car
Questioned by the cops
At road blocks near and far

Letters we must bring
To show we have the right
To go to work and do our things
And be back at home by night.

MCO, MCO, MCO comes our way.
It's no fun, we have to hide,
Inside the house today . . .

MCO, MCO, MCO comes our way.
It's no fun, we have to stay,
Inside our homes all day.

MCO
2021.01.19 18:51 hrs
#poetrybypengyou #poetry

When . . .

 When can we all go back
To those happy innocent days?
When can we all live again
the way we lived always?

When can we get to see
Little children together at play?
When can we get to hear
Their gleeful squeals all day?

When will we be set free
From these fetters called lockdowns?
When will borders be opened,
And we move from town to town?

Oh for those bygone days
When we went about freely,
Oh for those times past
When we weren't beset by worry

Of this fearsome unknown disease
That spreads around with stealth,
That kills some, and hurts others,
And quietly ruins our health. 

When will this dearth of freedom
Come to a final end?
When can we all go back
To those happy days again?

20201103 2155 hrs

#poetry #poetrybyme #poetrybypengyou

Darurat

Semasa ramai orang sakit tenat
Pemimpin negara ingin darurat

Di saat frontliners berkerja berat
Darurat sahaja yang hendak dia buat

Sedang rakyat jelata semakin penat
Politikus terdesak nak kuasa darurat

Sambil rakyat bertungkus lumus,
berkerja dengan tulang empat kerat,
Ada yang hilang mata pencarian,
lalu tak habis-habis air mata dikesat.

Yang pegang jawatan tinggi di ibukota
tetap bertegang urat
hendak mengejar satu matlamat.

D A R U R A T.

#ProtesDarurat

20201024 2108 hrs

#puisi #poetry #poetrybypengyou #malaypoetry

Young man

 C M C O (sung to the tune of YMCA)

Young man,
everyone is falling down, I know,
Young man,
you see yourself on the ground, I know,
Young man,
'cause you're pushed around
There's no choice but be unhappy.

Young man,
there's no place you can go, I said,
Young man,
when you're short on your dough, you just
Stay home,
and I know you won't find
Any way to have a good time

It sucks to stay under the CMCO
It sucks to stay under the CMCO

You can't go out to work,
You can't have a good meal,
You can't do what ever you need  . . .

(Commiserating with my friends in states and districts under the ongoing Conditional Movement Control Order that has been implemented with many ad hoc changes)

20201022 1302 hrs

#poetry #poetrybypengyou

Reminiscence

After more than fifty days under lockdown, my mind seems to be going back in time. Last night I couldn't sleep. As I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, suddenly a wave of recollections hit me.

In a way, it felt like my whole life flashed before me. Well, almost, but not quite.

I was brought back all the way to the years 1967- 69, to vivid memories of sitting on long benches in my primary school hall together with many other students learning new songs from my Headmaster, Mr Wong, during the weekly Chapel Service.

Some of the songs that I recall learning during Chapel service in those days in Primary School were:

(1) Thank you Lord, for saving my soul.
(2) Joy, Joy, Joy, with joy my heart is ringing
(3) Only a boy called David
(4) Jesus loves the little children

Tonight, I'd like to share with my Christian brothers and sisters this song of thanksgiving which has stayed unnoticed at the back of my mind for more than fifty years, until now.

(1) Thank you Lord for saving my soul,
Thank you Lord for making me whole
Thank you Lord for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich, and free.

Thank you Lord for saving my soul

Nagging questions

Nagging questions.

Are state governments allowed to make their own regulations and to impose additional restrictions?

For example, under the CMCO, can a state government insist on limiting vehicles to single occupancy only? Can they continue to restrict movement to 10 km? Can they continue to enforce 10 pm to 6 am curfew on private vehicles?

If one thinks so, then could each state government have imposed their own stricter version of lockdown right from the start of MCO on 18Mar20? e.g. allow markets and shops to open only once a week?

And if so, could each state government have declared their own lockdowns earlier than 18Mar20?

Finally, do state governments have the authority to continue with their own lockdowns indefinitely when the MCO is eventually lifted by the Federal Government?

/// "Prominent lawyer, Datuk N. Sivananthan is of the view that state governments could not refuse to abide by the CMCO which has been gazetted to run from May 4 to May 12 as it supersedes the provisions of MCO4.

He said state governments have no lawful authority to refuse to comply with the CMCO as instructed by the federal government." ///

#covid19 #pandemic #lockdown #malaysia

Can state governments choose to defy CMCO?

It's all about social distance

In my opinion, the Conditional Movement Control Order, CMCO in Malaysia is a wise decision to prevent more people from losing their jobs, as long as businesses follow the SOP strictly for social distancing. It is a guarded relaxation of the seven-week long lockdown under the ongoing Movement Control Order.

State governments and District Councils cannot prohibit businesses from operating under the CMCO. They also cannot stop people from travelling more than 10 km within the state. And they cannot stop people from jogging, walking, exercising, cycling etc in the parks, as long as social distance is observed.

However, they can campaign aggressively to discourage the public from going out unnecessarily, especially to crowded places.

Also, instead of road-blocks, the police and army can be deployed to patrol and enforce social distance SOP in towns and neighbourhoods.

Finally, for all of us, let us remember to put on our masks when going out, to stay away from crowded places, and to sanitise our hands after touching public facilities.

Minister’s approval needed for state MCO changes

Broken hopes

Malaysia, Sun 03May2020 MCO Day 47

We live with broken hopes upon hearing of another 122 new cases today, the highest in the last three weeks of MCO, since recording 170 cases on 14Apr20.

I am left wondering if the figures reported each day are up-to-date in real time, i.e. if today's 122 cases are really from samples taken from patients today.

This appears unlikely because I remember at the beginning of the MCO, the Ministry of Health used to report large numbers of patients "pending test results", to the tune of several thousands, a practice that seems to have been discontinued of late.

I also wonder whether it would be more helpful to the general public if MOH would publish daily figures based on sampling date, i.e. the date those samples were taken, rather than just report a lump-sum figure each day.