The Witches' Brew

Day 7 Prompt: A List

Today's prompt for National Poetry Writing Month is to write a poem using a list.
I have chosen part of the ingredients listed in the witches brew described in Shakespeare's Macbeth Act 4 Scene 1 for my poem —

"Fillet of a fenny snake, In the cauldron boil and bake; Eye of newt and toe of frog, Wool of bat and tongue of dog, Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting, Lizard's leg and owlet's wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble."

It is often said, though arguably, that each ingredient in the witches brew is actually a plant, a flower, a seed or herb.
Here's my poem explaining some of those ingredients:

The Witches Brew

Eye of newt and toe of frog
the witches mixed them up
'twas nothing more than mustard seeds
and the yellow buttercup

Wool of bat and tongue of dog
were part of witches creed
The bat wool merely holly leaves
the dog a houndstongue weed

Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting
next went into the brew
Neither snake nor worm were boiled,
just a violet, a poppy or two

Then there was a lizard's leg
along with an owlet's wing
— little bits of ivy and garlic
as witches continued to sing

#GloPoWriMo #NaPoWriMo
By Harold B Huang
07Apr23 2121 hrs GMT+8
Edited 2200 hrs

The Slayer

Day 6 Prompt: Borrowed sounds

La Paloma (The Dove), originally composed around 1863 by Spanish composer Sebastián Iradier. The first stanza and bridge is reproduced below:

"Una canción me recuerda aquel ayer
Cuando se marchó en silencio un atardecer
Se fue con su canto triste a otro lugar
Dejó como compañera mi soledad

Una paloma blanca me canta al alba
Viejas melancolías, cosas del alma
Llegan con el silencio de la mañana
Y cuando salgo a verla vuela a su casa"

---

A poem in English using sounds borrowed from the lyrics of the above Spanish song —

The Slayer

An ancient me recruited as a slayer
Marched in silence with Ataxerxes
Consumed by thirst to ambush like a cougar
Day and night accompanied by solitude

Then I turned pale and blank in a battle
A wave of melancholy filled my armour
Trembling in silence 'neath my fierce demeanour
Will I be vanquished by this invincible warrior?

#GloPoWriMo #NaPoWriMo
By Harold B Huang
06Apr23 2006 hrs GMT+8

He laughs

Day 5 Prompt: Inappropriate laughter

Our beloved Teacher

Teacher made a silly mistake
with an answer to his sums
We laughed

Teacher missed a little step
he stumbled in front of us
We laughed

Teacher jumped up suddenly
a bug crawled on his desk
We laughed

Teacher forgot the lyrics
singing our old school song
We laughed

Teacher lets us laugh at him
He makes us laugh with him
He laughs

#GloPoWriMo #NaPoWriMo
By Harold B Huang
05Apr23 2317 hrs GMT+8

A triolet

Day 4 Prompt: A triolet

• a triolet consists of eight lines with the rhyme scheme ABaAabAB —
• where A, B are repeated lines;
• and a, b are rhyming lines with A, B respectively,
• with each line written in iambic tetrameter

"A verse in rhyme" — a triolet

It is so hard to write in rhyme
A verse in rhyme I'll try to write
I may not get it done on time
It is so hard to write in rhyme
What seems to me an uphill climb
To make the matching words sound right
It is so hard to write in rhyme
A verse in rhyme I'll try to write

#GloPoWriMo #NaPoWriMo
By Harold B Huang
04Apr23 1920 hrs GMT+8

An opposite poem

Day 3 Prompt: An opposite poem

Today's prompt for National Poetry Writing Month is to write an opposite poem. My poem is based on the following original verse by William Blake —

To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flower
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour

(by William Blake, in "Auguries of Innocence")

---

** Opposite **
Ignore the sand that builds our world
and wild flowers that make our heaven
Our finite hands are held by infinity
An hour a captive of eternity

#GloPoWriMo #NaPoWriMo
By Harold B Huang
03Apr23 1707 hrs GMT+8

Surreal

Day 2 Prompt: Surreal

The heavy laden aeroplane
floats lightly through the air
It crawls like a snail among the clouds
soon it's no longer there

I hear its engines hum and roar
in a silent voiceless sky
The huge craft passes high above
like a sparrow flying by

#GloPoWriMo #NaPoWriMo
By Harold B Huang
03Apr23 0950 hrs GMT+8

A Book Cover

Day 1 Prompt: A book cover

A book is discovered when
you see its elegant form
with vivid colours and
pretty pictures on its cover
you'd want to take a closer look

A book is uncovered when
you find its meaningful title
clearly written and
boldly printed across its cover
you'd want to get a glimpse within

A book is recovered when
you encounter its profound story
quietly lurking and
patiently waiting beneath its cover
you'd want to wake it up from sleep
and read it through

from cover to cover

#GloPoWriMo #NaPoWriMo
By Harold B Huang
02Apr23 1135 hrs GMT+8

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

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

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