Poems for you: 2011

Saturday, December 31, 2011

New Year's Eve

New Year’s Eve

By May Kwek

New Year’s Eve is at last here

The final day of the old year

A perfect time to reflect and to remember

The events that occurred across the earth

A time to pay our respects

To those who left this life

A time to remember

The hollowness of strife

A time to rejoice

At the blessing that we had

A time to remember

The tears that we have wept

When the experiences we’ve had

Over the long year

Dance across our mind

In a merry cheer

When we smile and we say

“Maybe I should have done it another way.”

When we laugh and we cry

“Oh yes I did that right!”

So welcome 2012

The time for reflection is done

And with good faith and open arms

We say the words, “It’s begun”

Happy New Year Everyone!

Friday, December 30, 2011

My New Year wishes for you

By May Kwek

With the dawning of a new year

And the setting of the old

Many wishes I wish you

To keep and to hold

I wish you many days of sunshine

And not many days of rain

In hope that when it comes

Your faith it will not maim

I wish that the past will not trouble you

And that it stays where it belongs

In the past long and gone

Or in your memories fond

I wish that you may see the little things

Scattered here and there

That you might find contented peace

Whatever load you bear

And last of all I wish you

A light and happy heart

Able to enjoy the many gifts

That the New Year is bringing us!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Butterflies

By May Kwek

Colours as bright as dawn’s glow

Moving lightly with the wind’s flow

Gracefully gliding, flying high

Over the trees and into the sky

As quiet as the deafening night

Never showing a morsel of pride

Although it’s nature’s canvas on painted wings

Whose beauty rivals those of kings!

So small and yet indispensable

In the circle of life

For the flowers need them

To carry their pollen with flight

And perhaps you will see one today

Or maybe two or three

With its ballerina dance

It simply can’t be missed!

So watch it as it gently flies

Colours as bright as the morning sky!

Watch it as it quietly glides

Nature’s radiance ever so bright

Old Father Time sells a watch

By May Kwek

Old Father Time once had a shop

And it sold everything that could be got

Riches! Gold! And everything nice!

And yes he would even sell mice!

So one day in came a man

Whose life seemed to have gotten out of hand

His face was so sad and so worn

And his clothes were all torn

“My good man,” said Father Time

“What would you really like?”

“I want a lot,” the man replied,

“Riches, happiness and long life.”

Father Time thought for a long time

As though he was trying to make up a rhyme

At last he said, “Come with me!

I have something you should see!’

Then he produced an old battered watch

Its rims were silver but quite worn

On its face written in a rhyme

Were the words written by time

“I can bring you silver and gold,

Happiness and plenty all at one go!

But beware how you seek

For I will not favour the weak”

The man bought the watch

And brought it home

He waited and waited

For the things it told

Years passed and nothing changed

He had waited and waited in vain

One day at a thousand and two

He wanted to return the watch he took

He called his descendant and went to the shop

And there stood Father Time as before

“I want to return this,” the man said,

“It broke the promise that it made.”

“The watch served you true and true

As you see you are a thousand and two

The watch bought you time but you were not wise

And hence you did not use it right

Time can give you silver and gold

But it would not get them for you

You had a chance but you didn’t try

To get what you wanted with your might”

So Father Time ended his speech

While the man stared at his feet

Then passed the watch to his descendant

Warning him to use it different

Monday, December 26, 2011

New Year Musings

By May Kwek

Beginning of beginning

End of end

The passage of time

At the turn of a hand

The first of the first

The last of the last

The New Year has started

The old one has past

New resolutions are made

How many will turn cold?

What events of the year

Will make us feel old?

What adventures await

At the turn of the year?

Are they far?

Or are they near?

What will happen

In the year ahead?

I guess I have to watch

And simply wait

Sunday, December 25, 2011

The First Christmas Day and Night

The first Christmas day and night

By May Kwek

Many years ago on this night

Over Bethlehem a star shone bright

And God came to earth as man

To save us from death’s eternal hand

Many years ago on this day

Three men who had travelled a long way

Came with gifts for the king

And that night did angels sing

When the choir from heaven sang

Shepherds left their flocks with thanks

To see the saviour for themselves

And realise heaven’s intangible wealth

So many years ago on this day and night

The earth received a bright new light

And the hope of salvation was born that day

As the baby who in the manger lay

Happy Birthday Immanuel

God with us

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Do you remember?

By May Kwek

Do you remember your first present?

The brightly coloured wrapping and dreams?

Do you remember the tree and the lights?

And your mother serving ice-cream?

Do you remember

The first time you heard Christ’s story?

Do you remember

How you felt about his glory?

Do you remember

The games that you played?

Do you remember

The fond memories of Christmas day?

And now the time for remembrance

Has come again

And I only want to ask this

Do you remember Christmas my friend?

Christmas Time

Christmas time

By May Kwek

A time to remember the gifts of the year

Of the sunlit presents in our earthly sphere

A time to remember what we’ve received

The gentle smiles like angel wings

A time to spend with those we hold dear

With friends and family all in good cheer

A time to laugh over things of the past

And ensure our bonds will always last

A time to celebrate our saviour’s birth

And remember why he came to earth

A time to keep him in our hearts

And forgive others for their deeds in the past

A time to rejoice and to celebrate

The giving and receiving we’ve had of late

And to spread around the Christmas cheer

Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy New Year!

Books

By May Kwek

There are books on my table

And books on the shelves

There books in the cardboard

And everywhere else

My family read all the time

Especially me

I have a friendship with books

They are my companions you see

They are time machines

That travel through the ages

A ship through which I can travel

And learn without wages

They are an open door

To a brand new world

So though the journeys can be sore

I would forsake it for the world

The words become pictures

And dance in my brain

The stories read quickly

Like a torrential rain

And I can fly away

To the mountains high

And like a bird

I can touch the sky

Books bring me to the oceans

They bring to space

And then they return to earth

To where a poor man once laid

They teach me to feel

What others might have felt

For books have a certain magic

To bring me there as well

And so I say

Books are my friends

For when I am lonely

These adventures they send

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Sweet Dreams

Sweet dreams

By May Kwek

Sweet dreams, sweet dreams

Dancing in the night

Lost in a sleepy melody

Whose tune is ever so light

Where did you come from?

And wither shall you go?

But these melodies I can touch not

They are like mist and snow

I hear them floating around

As I sleep on my bed

And instantly images

Arise in my head

And I have a dream

Which I know to be sweet

But when I awake

I can’t remember a thing

So where did the hours go?

And how did the story end?

Shall it continue tomorrow?

And did I see my friend?

Ah the dreams that spin a tale

That is filled with the memories of the past

Which I indulge in till the sun sails

And my recollections cease to last

Sweet dreams everyone

Monday, December 19, 2011

A letter to a friend with a cold

Oh no! You have a cold!

By May Kwek

My dear friend I hear that you’re ill

And I really hope this letter will

Cheer you up in some way

As you go about your day today

I have here a sure formula

That will get you well

First you take a length of time

And stir it till it swells

Then add hours of sleep

Just a sprinkling or two

Oh and add laughter

We must add that too!

Then mix in a good rest

And let the mixture rest

Remember this is important

Or the whole thing will be a mess

And after the resting

Take the mixture in large doses

Plus be careful not to spill

A drop on your brand new trousers

Ok that should be everything

Call me when you’re well

Then we can meet someday

Perhaps by Fountain well?

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Birthday poem for my friend, Anabel, sixteen birthday

Happy Birthday Anabel!

By May Kwek

After waiting half a year

At last the time now comes near

Sixteen, sixteen, sixteen at last!

Don’t the years pass so fast?

You were born with the summer bloom

Where there was no time for quiet gloom

Little wonder what you are

That smiling person even at a far!

I wish you many hopes my friend

And that life will lend you a hand

Now that childhood has started to fade

Your friends shall always be there to aid

Stand fast in weal and woe

For those will come that is true

But weather it well I am sure you would

And still smiling like only you could

Let your years be your wings

And after your dreams let them sing

Hold on to what is true

And achieve them I am sure you would

What is left for me to say?

So many things I have wished your way

Friends, hopes, wishes and dreams

What else is there for you to win?

But there is one last wish

The most important of all

And with all my heart I wish you

A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANABEL!

Copyright © 2011 by May Kwek

Heaven's battle and band

Heaven’s battle and band

By May Kwek

Rain, thunder, showers shine

Silver arrows fall from the sky

But no man can call them “mine”

For them come from heaven high

Gently they fall like quiet whispers

Amid the battle of the heavens

While one flashes the other cries

Thunder and lightning rule the sky

All through this the rain will flow

To the river it must go

So they fall forever more

Till they reach the ocean’s core

But while on the ground they form little men

Each one lasting only a second

But their voices they gladly lend

To the rain’s noisy band

So this continues night and day

For this is the December’s way

When the heavens want battle and song

And the rains play along

Friday, December 16, 2011

A cry for the Tiger

By May Kwek

Black flames on an orange coat

The ruler of the forest from times old

Swiftly you glide through your domain

Hiding behind the forest lanes

Sharp claws hid in your paws

In the jungle there’s only one law

Do what you must to survive

Whatever it is you must not die

Lightly you step in the forest deep

You’re hungry and must eat

You see a goat, yes that would do

And slowly forward you must move

Up and swiftly you quickly pounce

At the same times a gun sounds

And you drop down dead and gone

The life in you has swiftly gone

A man above your body stops

Soon your hide would be in a shop

For to man there’s only one law

That they are the ruler of them all!

And soon you’ll lie dead and rotten

But in the forest you’re never forgotten

For the forest always remembers its very own

And there the spirit of the tiger will always roam

Waiting to receive our 'O’levels results

By May Kwek

Now the time has come

And we’re seated in the hall

Waiting for our results

Oh that dreadful call!

I am fidgeting, I am nervous

I know not what to think

All the blissful holidays

Have passed by in a wink

And now we shall see

If our two years of labour

Have in fact

Produced fruits with any flavour

I know what I want

But I know not what I’ll get

And I simply cannot stand

This agonising suspense!

I want to know what I got

But in my fear I also do not

I can’t control my feelings

And feel as though I’m shaking

It’s fine for me to know

And it’s also fine not to know

But it’s this wait before knowing

Which I find so frightening!

So if you’re in charge of this

Please have some pity

And put a swift end

To my fearful misery!

Christmas shopping

By May Kwek

To be honest I don’t like shopping

But at Christmas it’s a need

It’s lucky it doesn’t stem from greed

Or I would have squashed it like a weed

At this time however reluctant

I venture into the malls

Staying away from the large stacks

Fearing they might fall

I then enter the shops

Taking nervous little stops

Looking at this and at that

And wondering if anyone needs a hat

I wonder what each person would want

Then try to hunt it down

And if I am lucky

I’ll find something else as well

I squeeze through the crowds

Which often talk too loud

And avoid the sales ladies

Who have too much to tell

All in the quest

To find the perfect present

With “what would they like”

As the deciding question

Then after the long queues

And the agonising waits

I’ll usually have a few

Presents on my plate

And now I can find a seat

And admire the Christmas lights

Then in amazement

Find that it’s already night

And I’ll rush home quickly

To beginning with the wrapping

At the same time remembering

How I hate Christmas shopping

Homework

By May Kwek

Homework homework

A daily menace

The sad result

Of all my lessons

They sit in a pile

Waiting to be done

At the same time depriving me

Of all my fun

Without voices they scream

Demanding to be completed

Without arms they grab me

In a conscience prison

Procrastination tempts me

While duty reminds me

Of my teacher’s warning

Just that very morning

So eventually a side prevails

And the homework must be done

Otherwise I shall be unprotected

From my teacher’s wordy lunge

But that was when I was younger

And afraid of my teacher’s wrath

Now the fact that I still do well

Must tear them in halves!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Boredom

By May Kwek

Boredom comes quietly

No trumpet does it blow

And yet its continuous victory

Is always widely known

Before the battles even begins

Your war is already lost

As boredom comes and deprives you

Of what will you’ve got

Your spirits sink so low

That you have no energy to go

And your eyes droop in submission

To this efficient menace

It is like a lazy spirit

That swoops in and becomes your master

And though you want to rid it

No strength can you muster

You feel like a clock

Hanging tired on the wall

Waiting ever so patiently

For the final call

You find yourself staring

Blankly into space

With boredom in your bones

You’re a hopeless case

Boredom is a sickness

Which inflicts us all

Against which even the mightiest

Will eventually fall

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

A letter to Santa from a spoiled kid

By May Kwek

Dear Santa how do you do?

I promise I’ve been good

Here’s my Christmas wish list

I hope you will be in a giving mood

There’s a lot I want for Christmas

And you better get them right!

I want a helicopter and a bike

With a bright head light

I want chocolates and goodies

And sweets and cakes galore

You will need your big sack

Cause I want them all!

I want the tree to have many

Very many presents

In fact there should be more

Than I got last Christmas!

I want a large stack of notes

To buy many things

And a maid to pick up my books

And socks and other things

I want Daddy to earn more money

And Mummy to buy less

I want a new TV

And a computer only the best!

I want more video games

And that no one gives me books

Oh and a birch rod on my teacher

When she gives me dirty looks

Have you got that all Santa?

This letter you have to mind

Or I will have Daddy

Give you a piece of his mind!

Yours Sincerely,

The spoiled kid

Physics

By May Kwek

Physics is a magician

Of my imagination

A box of many presents

Some which I can’t open at present

Sometimes it’s like fireworks

That dance to your hearts delight

Sometimes it’s like a gentle stream

Slowly turning darkness into light

At times I am tempted

To call it an imp

Who delights in torturing me

With its many whims

What was complex is simple

What looks right is wrong

Mathematics is a tool

But even that can be wrong

Yet at other times it’s delightful

As it opens up your mind

To what could be the treasures

In this universal mine

It has thoughts so deep

That they are deeper than the sea

When your mind can’t grasp

What you seem to see

So that’s why I call physics a present

One that that never ends

Because until you know everything

There’s still some treasure left

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Let Your Attitude help

Let Your Attitude Help

By May Kwek

Life's not fair

that is true

But does it really help

Saying that it is so?

Life is full of troubles

covered in ups and downs

life would never listen

to your moans and groans

So what do you do

When the road ahead seem far?

When the work seems to hard

and you simply want to stop?

First you take a breather

then look at the facts

you have to do it anyway

so why don't you relax?

Instead of moaning

start with a willing mind

You'll find that the work is easier

and that time just seems to fly!

I know that it may seem difficult

and that the road is tough

But since you have to do it

why not let your attitude give some help?

Sunday, December 11, 2011

My Kindle

By May Kwek

My Kindle is a strange little thing

A present without the messy strings

A bookshelf that takes up little space

With which I can read and simply laze

It's black and small

And yet has all

The books which I might want to read

Even some that put me to sleep!

But at night it's hard for me to read

For sadly no light it would emit

So I attach a little light

And then my Sis can't sleep at night

But then it is a small trouble

Without its glare I won't see double

So even if I can't read at night

It reads like a book in the light!

Fire

Fire! Fire!

Kipling’s red flower!

The immaterial dancer

Who the wild can’t master

Fire the owner

Of a strange desire

To hold the flames of fire

In the midst of danger

Fire that pales

In a splash of water

And yet reignites

At the smallest amber

Fire a friend

To those who tame it

But a deadly enemy

To those who can’t use it

Fire the master

And Fire the slave

The wild encased

In an immaterial flame!

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Day Dreaming

By May Kwek

As the day passes slowly

The boredom overcomes me

And I find myself lapsing

Into blissful daydreaming

I wonder what it would be like

To soar above the clouds

To fly above the cities

Away from the noises so loud

Or maybe I could be a sailor

And sail the ocean blue

And watch the dancing waves

As I play my lute

Or perhaps I would be a hero

One with powers great

Conquering mountains and cities

While the wind flutters my cape

So lost am I in dreaming

That the world ceases to exist

It blurs out and fades

Into a dreamy mist

But then a voice recalls me

To life’s true monotony

And I find that if my daydreams rule me

They shall be the death of me!

Oh December!

By May Kwek

Oh December!

Where it ever rains

Where the air is cool

And the moon wanes

Oh December!

The old man of the year

Age withered

On the shaggy beard

Oh December!

When sorrow and grief

Joy and happiness

Mingle as they please

Oh December!

The time is past

The month so long

And yet didn’t last

Oh December!

The end of the year

Always so far

And yet so near!

Oh December!

Friday, December 9, 2011

A Christmas Poem

A Christmas poem

By May Kwek

Here Christmas has no snow

No bells to ring or bitter cold

There’re not many presents and the tree is sparse

But there is Christmas in our hearts

Here we appreciate

That Santa cannot ride his sled

The trees are high and I’m afraid

That he would crash his sled instead

But it is fine and all is well

Christmas time is simply swell

For it is the joy with which we celebrate

That makes the season really great!

It is the joy that makes it Christmas

Not Santa Claus and trees

It is the hope that makes it Christmas

Not the carols that we sing

For it’s on Christmas that we celebrate

The miracle of the light

Of the birth of our saviour

That first Christmas night

So the snow doesn’t matter

And neither does the cold

For it’s the Christmas in our hearts

That makes the season glow

Merry Christmas Everyone

Thursday, December 8, 2011

In the forest

By May Kwek

In the forest

I gently step

My eyes in wonder

of the life there

The gentle sun

shines on the floor

growing little

glowing orbs

The quiet wind

dances through the trees

filling the air

with the rustlings of leaves

Behind the mighty giants

I catch a shadow of a deer

or perhaps it was a creature

from the tails we hold dear

The air is restful

full of contended peace

a place where men

may quietly sleep

Yet life is there

in the smallest of leaves

As long as the sun shines

nature may do as it please

In the forest

life's in the air

and if there is beauty

I am sure it is there

Nothing is too small

By May Kwek

There is nothing that is too small

to matter in this world

Just take a look around you

and count the little things

And you'll be surprised

by how many you'll see

but if you didn't spot them

then let me do that

A little drop of water

in the desert sand

May well revive a man's life

at its very end

A tiny little seed

when given time to grow

May well become a giant

taller than me or you

A single word of kindness

spoken everyday

may give hope to others

who have lost their way

So don't ignore the little things

they are more than what they seem

the best part is they are so small

that you can give them free for all!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

A lone man walks by the sea

A lone Man walks by the sea

By May Kwek

A lone man walks by the sea

while a poet writes about the things he didn't see

about the waves roaring as they splash on the shore

about the watery mist at the sunset's core

She writes of the towering mountains in a misty dream

and the white sea foam that looks like cream

In the background the glowing sun sets

amid a symphony of green, orange and red

And so by the sea this lone man walks

lost in dreams, lost in thoughts

The King of the Jungle Am I

By May Kwek

The peacock strides in the forest heat

holding his head high above the weeds

He fans out his tail and with a loud shout cries

"King of the forest am I!"

A tiger pounces in the forest deep

but misses the peacock with his leap

He lands on a trap and it is sprung

and into a hole he has sunk

The peacock looks into the hole

and there's the tiger! Lo and behold!

With pride he fans out his tail and cries

"King of the Jungle am I!"

A snake in the waters deep

sees a peacock that's good to eat

He strikes out but alas! Sigh.

A falling fruit hits him from behind

The peacock looks at the unconscious snake

and takes a drink from the lake

Then he fans out his tail and with pride cries

"King of the forest am I!"

A man sees a peacock bright

and wants it with all his might

He steps forward but trips on a stone

and the fall leaves him cold

Now the peacock feels very fine

he opens his tail and sees it shine

"No one can hurt me here!" he cries,

"For King of the Jungle am I!"

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Writing on a rainy night

Writing on a rainy night

By May Kwek

A quiet peace descends

On the gentle misty air

And outside the rain drones

Without a worldly care

It is here that I sit

Painting my dreams

In a world that doesn’t exist

But in the painting words bring

I dream of flowers and the sun

Dancing in the brightness of dawn

I dream of the moon and stars

In a world dark and long

I write of people

Of their cares and their joys

And I write their stories

To give them a voice

I laugh with the children’s laughter

And cry with the widow’s tears

I feel when hearts are broken

And rejoice when they are healed

I can see the clouds dancing

And hear the rustling of leaves

But I also see the battles in war

And the hear the cries within

It is a supreme agitation

On such a peaceful night

To hear what you rather not

And see darkness instead of light

But then the peace returns

And the mists roll into the night

For in a writer’s world

Words are might

Farewell my watch

By May Kwek

Alas my watch it's time to part

Five years together have warmed my heart

But sadly as you too well know

You have grown a tad too old

Time has passed and made you a fool

Your face wiped blank all too soon

No more use can you be to me

And so sadly your place you must leave

But though a new watch has taken your place

Fond memories are written on your face

So though our parting may be long

Be assured that the memories are not gone

So farewell my watch! Adieu!

In the past I now leave you!

For though for long you were my friend

Dawn

By May Kwek

Bright tongues of fire

streak across the sky

colours red, orange and gold

dance in the crystal light

The sky is ablaze

with mystical cosmic light

as the sun welcomes the earth

back into the sunshine

A cool wind dances in the air

and plays with the morning mist

its breath is cool and sweet

like a breath of spring

The autumn in the sky

gradually disappears in sleep

it would appear again

when the hours have slipped

But for now it goes

with a memory so sweet

as the earth welcomes us

back to the morning dream

The Rose's Thorns

The Rose's Thorn

By May Kwek

If I could pick a flower

of which I could praise

I would pick a rose

but not for beauty I say

But for its stems

hard and strong

so far from a lily's

willowy form

And for its thorns

which are so hard to touch

red from many

careless grasp

Anyone can see beauty

in the form of a rose

but often for its flower

and its sunshine glow

But not for its stems

and nor for its thorns

these we detest

with disdainful scorn

How easily we forget

the importance of these!

And care only for its beauty

the flower beyond reach

For the stems and the thorns

though treated with unfair scorn

protects this lovely flower

so that it lasts long

So don't praise the rose for beauty

for that does not last long

but for its strength through adversity

which would help it carry on

Pages

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Friday, December 30, 2011

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Monday, December 26, 2011

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Monday, December 19, 2011

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Friday, December 16, 2011

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Friday, December 9, 2011

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Saturday, December 3, 2011