Welcome to Valhalla

Welcome to Valhalla, visitor dear
Climb this stairway to a different paradise.
Fantasia, for short
Where the dreams are wrought in the furnance of one's mind
But nightmares are won.
So Dream all.
Endure the stinging arrows of adversaries and battle on.
Oh break these chains
Break these clumsy fetters
That bind my imagination to the ground.
And let us battle on
Fearing none. Daring all.
The tea break is at ten.
Thus ride on my fear comrades
Mount the steed. Grip the sword.
There are many battles to be lost.
Come, dare all. Life's a final suicide.
It has to be made the most of
In Valhalla.

YMC Copyright 1990.

(Written in one of my gothic moods. Note: I had not read NG's Sandman series.)

CIty Lights

Glittering Bright
Jewels of the Night
City Lights
Whispering Delight
How like Stars, they shine.

YMC © Nov 2008

Emily Dickinson - If you were coming in the fall (winter)

I have a friend, a close friend, and she's going away. We've talked about our friendship for awhile and she wants to move on. After a long time thinking about it, I think its good. And perhaps in time, in another place, we shall carry on our conversation again. If you are reading this - Carolyn - this is for you. Its by Emily Dickinson.

If you were coming in the fall,
I'd brush the summer by
With half a smile and half a spurn,
As housewives do a fly.

If I could see you in a year,
I'd wind the months in balls,
And put them each in separate drawers,
Until their time befalls.

If only centuries delayed,
I'd count them on my hand,
Subtracting till my fingers dropped
Into Van Diemen's land.

If certain, when this life was out,
That yours and mine should be,
I'd toss it yonder like a rind,
And taste eternity.

But now, all ignorant of the length
Of time's uncertain wing,
It goads me, like the goblin bee,
That will not state its sting.

Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson is one of my favourite poets. However, she's not someone I would probably bring along for a long journey.

She had a fascination with death - and dwelled on it a fair bit. One of her editors ran out of her house after spending sometime with her - he found her morbid.

However, she does have a bright side. A little glimmer through the dark clouds.Here's one of her "positive" poems.

I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

Emily Dickinson

who wants to live forever

who wants to live forever beneath this great shining sea
to swim with dolphins in luminous waters
to hunt with sharks in bloody waters
to descend to the great abyss

YMC 2008
(work still in progress...)

To J (2007)

I wrote this soon after the Sipadan trip in 2007. I still like it.


To J....

She charms me so...
How?

Is it her scent?
Perhaps.

The nearness of her fine slender body?
Could be.

Her electrifying presence as she is sits next to me?
Might be.

Her walk as her sarong embraces her graceful hips?
Mmmm... may be.

Her smile when she looks at me playfully?
Yes, indeed. 

Most definitely.

Psalm 118

The Lord is my companion; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
The Lord is with me; I will look in triumph over my enemies.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.

Bible Psalm 118: 6 - 9

Maidens of the Sea

As I sail
I see the maidens of the sea
Hear their syren song
Their singing voices how it allures me
I listen and am seduces
But they do not sing for me
they do not sing for me
...

Thought of the Day

Examinations encourage rote learning. An exam education culture creates students who are good at answering questions but may not be so good at solving problems.

A Princess' Tale - for Aila

(I thought of this story recently)

A long time ago there was a beautiful princess named Aila who lived in a desert land. It was hot and dry like all desert lands. Occasionally it would rain and the strange and wonderful desert flowers would bloom. Those were the happiest times for her. But those times were few and far between.

She longed for a green land, a land where rain would fall often, ... not too much though. Her cousin was nearly drowned in such a deluge.

She wanted to be in a land filled with summer flowers and autumn trees. A land where the roads were lined with Cherry Blossom trees in constant bloom. A land with the tall African Plain trees with their wide shady branches. A place where she would across endless fields of golden wheat and travel across vast plains of green grass like a ship crossing the sea.

One day a dreadful demon in the guise of a whirlwind passed over her land and drank up all the water. Everything turned to dust. There was little to begin with and once he had finished there was even less.

The Princess stayed in her castle, its stone walls protecting her safe from the demon. But she knew she could not stay. At night, when the air was cool once again and the demon was asleep, she made her escape.

She walked through the night, guided by star light,
In the cold comfort of the dark, she found respite

... to be continued...