Falling waters

Write in the park, day 21

Falling waters, a sonnet.

I came across a lively waterfall,
as I walked one morning in the park.
Its rocky cliff face imposing and tall,
adorned by shrubs and trees with thorny bark.

Restless waters noisy and excited,
Hastily running towards the rocky edge.
Leaping, jumping, looking much delighted,
Prancing, dancing, like actors on a stage.

A waterfall in the park

Rushing, gushing, one another pushing,
stumbling, tumbling, rumbling through the air.
Dropping, diving, frantically screaming,
falling swiftly into a pool down there.

These waters live a short and care-free life,
they're born to fall, it's how the waters thrive.

"Falling waters, a sonnet" — by Huang Bing Yao
Thu 07Jul22 0933 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybybingyao
#sightandsounds #writeinthepark
#sonnet

Look beyond

Write in the park, Day 20

Look beyond the canopy
of leaves that fill your view
High up in the clear blue sky
you'll find your hope anew

Look beyond the canopy
of weaknesses that impede
Rise above all disability
and find the strength you need

Look beyond the canopy
of anxiety and fear
Stand your ground firmly
you'll find courage appear

Look beyond the canopy

Look beyond the canopy
of failures from the past
Avail yourself of opportunity
find success that will last

Look beyond the canopy
of branches obstructing your view
fly up to the clear blue sky
and find freedom anew

"Look beyond" — by Huang Bing Yao
Sat 02Jul22 0908 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybybingyao
#sightandsounds #heartfelt
#writeinthepark

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

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

Sun and Shade

Write in the park, Day 12.

The sun is warm, it stirs our zest,
The shade is cool, it's where we rest.

The sun gives strength, and power, and might,
The shade gives respite from battles we fight.

Sun and Shade

In the sun we dance and celebrate,
In the shade we sit and contemplate.

To the sun we run to chase our dreams,
To the shade we retreat, ourselves to redeem.

"Sun and Shade"
— by Huang Bing Yao
Tue 31May22 2009 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybybingyao
#sightandsounds #writeinthepark

Buildings

I look across the city from a hill,
endless blocks of buildings do I see.
The hill is quiet, the morning air is still,
a gentle wind of thought blows upon me:

"Beneath those buildings made of stone and steel,
stand many other buildings big and small.
Buildings that we neither see nor feel,
they cast no shadows, make no sound at all.

A view of Kepong and northern KL

Teachers building students' knowledge and skill,
Parents building families at home.
Young people building careers with strong will,
Merchants building wealth in days to come."

Beneath those buildings standing tall and strong,
are buildings that we build our whole life long.

"Buildings" - a sonnet
by Huang Bing Yao
Mon 30May22 1344 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybybingyao
#sightandsounds #writeinthecity #sonnet

The Dawn

As the sun peeks over the horizon
homes begin to light up
we prepare to work and play

As Dawn flies over the earth
it heralds the arrival of
a completely fresh new day

I wish this Dawn will bring
a day when we are set free
from all sadness, sorrow, and tears

I wish for a new Dawn
when wars and destruction cease,
and disasters no longer do we fear.

Desa Parkcity at dawn

The Dawn of a new day
when by kindness is cruelty defeated,
and by honesty is deceit repelled.

A Dawn that brings the day
when greed gives way to charity,
when heaven drives away all hell.

"The Dawn"
by Huang Bing Yao
Sat 28May22 1947 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybybingyao
#sightandsounds #writeinthecity

A train ride

I'm going on a journey
I feel like a child again
all excited and happy
at riding the express train

The thrill of hearing clickety-clack
and the occasional thump
of many wheels on the railway track
going over occasional bumps

The express train

The fun of rocking side to side,
the train at times will roll,
beautiful sceneries outside
through the window I behold

I feel a strange excitement
seated aboard the train
It brings such pleasant moments
I'd take the train again.

"A train ride"
by Huang Bing Yao
Fri 27May22 2334 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybybingyao
#sightandsounds #writeinthecity

The Old Lamp Post

Write in the park Day 11

An old lamp post
stands silently in the park,
at a corner where garden paths meet.
He is there in broad daylight
as well as in the dark,
upright on his strong and sturdy feet.

The old lamp post
has lived a hard life,
been through many a difficult time.
Assailed by heavy rain
lashed by storms and strife,
he bears the scars of dirt and grime.

The Lamp Post

The old lamp post
is dimmed but not snuffed out,
weakened and yet not frail.
Under the scorching sun
he stands dignified and proud,
to do his duty he does not fail.

He's been struck but not beaten
ignored but not forsaken,
harrassed by dogs yet not afraid.
He's been threatened but not subdued
leaning but not fallen,
into oblivion he does not fade.

This old lamp post
still stands silently in the park,
for many more years he will last.
Shining forth his dim light
each time it gets dark,
for lovers to walk quietly past.

"The Old Lamp Post"
— by Huang Bing Yao
Thu 26May22 0857 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybybingyao
#sightandsounds #writeinthepark

The bamboo trail

Write in the park Day 10 — a sonnet

A long uncertain trail before you lies
Through a bamboo forest it does wind
Rays of sunlight shines through from the sky
You step forward and leave your past behind

Each shoot of bamboo a day in life you've spent
An accomplishment or mistake you have made
Your deeds or misdeeds the bamboo represent
Kind or cruel words that you have said

Bamboo trail

Joys or sorrows that you have been through
A memory that you cannot forget
Happy moments, times of sadness too
Feelings of satisfaction or regret

The bamboo forest never leaves your view
You don't take the trail, it is taking you.

"The bamboo trail" — a sonnet
by Huang Bing Yao
Tue 24May22 0854 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybybingyao
#sightandsounds #sonnet
#writeinthepark

Walking on water

Write in the park Day 09

I see water all around me
a few deep breaths I take
as ripples glisten brightly in the sun

I put my best foot forward
and trudge across the lake
hesitant footsteps plodding one by one

Bridge on the water

I'm floating away slowly
yet I'm firmly on my feet
along the crooked path I make my way

I'm sinking underneath
yet dry surface do I meet
for all the time above the lake I stay

I'm walking on water
but I'm really on the ground
unhurriedly along the bridge I tread

I'm in peril of the deep
yet I am safe and sound -
to walk on water I am not afraid

"Walking on water"
— by Huang Bing Yao
Mon 23May22 2150 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybybingyao
#sightandsounds #writeinthepark

Best friends

Write in the park Day 08

Two dainty flowers
grow up together
blooming as childhood friends

One a bold purple
the other a timid pink
yet on each other they depend

One is bright and cheerful
the other soft and shy
both of dissimilar kinds

Though one is loudly outspoken
the other quietly subdued
yet closer friends you cannot find

These two different flowers
they're there for one another
always ready a hand to lend

Having little in common
yet getting along together
they're each other's best friend.

"Best friends"
by Huang Bing Yao
Fri 20Mar22 2127 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybybingyao
#sightandsounds #writeinthepark

A glimpse of heaven

Write in the Park Day 07

(Hello everyone!
I'm back, writing in the park again. I took this photo from my window seat while flying over the South China Sea, returning from Kota Kinabalu last Friday 13May22.)

High up in the clear blue skies
way beyond the clouds
A tranquil calm and emptiness
Is this what heaven's about?

In this borderless expanse
we fly from cloud to cloud
A life of freedom that never ends
Is this what heaven's about?

Will there be days, will there be nights
in this heavenly space
Or will there be only daylight
throughout our heavenly days?

A glimpse of the sky above the clouds

How I wish that we could live
a tranquil peaceful life
High above our troubled earth
away from war and strife.

How I wish that we could fly
in skies of heavenly blue
Free from hunger and illnesses
and grief and cruelty too.

O how I wish for heaven's days
joyous and free from care
A heaven where there are no nights
nor sorrow nor despair.

"A glimpse of heaven"
by Huang Bing Yao
Tue 17May22 0855 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybybingyao
#sightandsounds #writeinthepark

Pompous Plates

Write in the city 10May22 (a sonnet)

Plates of fine china, proud, indifferent,
Each one grandly installed on its throne.
Born in families reputable, affluent,
In grace incomparable, in beauty well known.

Plates of fine art, impressive and charming,
Proudly beams at every passer-by
Who stops in awe, beholding and admiring,
To impress their audience, they need not try.

Pompously installed in their thrones

Plates of high standing, nonchalant, reserved,
Exudes an aura of grandeur unmatched.
Getting the rapt attention they deserve,
From their audience they appear detached.

Day and night, enthroned in regal state
On tall pedestals, they are pompous plates.

"Pompous Plates"
by Huang Bing Yao
Tue 10May22 2017 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybybingyao
#sightandsounds #writeinthecity

Delayed

Write in the city 09May22

You search for dates and times of flights,
select, confirm, and pay
Your boarding pass is printed right
you wait for departure day

To airport on a journey long
in bright and cheerful mood
Your heart is filled with happy song
and thoughts of all things good

On arriving, Alas! you're stumped
by bad news that you fear
from your Row One seat you're bumped
to Row Fifty at the rear.

The departures information screen

Another scare comes from the flight
departures information screen:
Words DELAYED flash red and bright
for flights that can be seen

It is a day of bad delays
at the crowded airport hall
with patience tried in many ways
you wait for your boarding call.

"Delayed"
by Huang Bing Yao
Mon 09May22 1119 hrs GMT+8
#poetry #poetrybybingyao
#sightandsounds #writeinthecity