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Monday, December 21, 2015

A fiery Christmas

A fiery Christmas

By May Kwek

It’s been quite a Christmas
In our expensive Orchard road
Things have been catching fire
It’s a wonder business has not slowed

First it was the Christmas tree
Just sitting by the side of the road
Then in a flash of flame
Its ornaments it did unload

Then it was the décor
Hanging on a street light
First it shone with electric brilliance
And then with crimson light

Third was a poor restaurant
That was somehow set ablaze
Now how did that happen?
The sprinkler I can’t praise

And now do I hear a fourth?
Hidden in a carpark, a flaming pile of rubbish
Perhaps with the wall,
They couldn’t it distinguish

Oh please no more!
This is turning into a bad comedy
Once, twice, I forgive you
But four is insanity

They must have struck everywhere in Orchard road
These mysterious ‘arsonists’
Having hit sky and ground
What else could they have missed?

Ah I see it now
I will shop elsewhere instead
Because the only place not yet aflame
Is I fear, my head!

Copyright © 2015 by May Kwek

Sunday, December 13, 2015

A Christmas Hope

A Christmas Hope

By May Kwek 

Christmas time this year
Comes at the tail of a rather sad year
Many terrible things have happened
And too many of us have lost those we held dear

We have seen bloodshed and violence
Caused by acts of cowardice
We have felt the earth shake
And rocks crumble and break

Waters swelled, the air turned poison
Yet despite all, to carols we still listen
In one more leap of faith
Come this time we still celebrate

Yes we still celebrate
To honour those who could not
Celebrate to show triumph
That hope we’ve still got

For the hope that Christmas brings
Came two thousand years ago
And against such miraculous hope
Modern horrors have no hold

So we will light our streets
And we will deck our halls
We will come in spite of fear
When the church bell calls

And come Christmas Day
Despite the horrors that have come to past
We will grow that hope’s eternal flame
Against which fear’s darkness cannot last

In memory to all who have left us, and a blessed Christmas to those who remain
Immanuel, God is with us

Copyright © 2015 by May Kwek

Monday, August 31, 2015

Respite

Respite

By May Kwek

Spirit me away mind and soul
To a place of sunlight gold
For nothing bades me here to stay
For respite I must fly away

To a quiet glen
In the woods somewhere
Where the tall trees grow
And the air is fair

Where the sun shines like music
Down through gentle leaves
Which to a songless tune
Sways in the breeze

All around is quiet
Content is drunk to the soul
For here life seems steady
Serene and repose

The stream would ripple steadily
And time it would so measure
But here time is different
Each moment is a treasure

Each bird song, each maiden flight
The first of dawn, the last daylight
Is but a moment yet eternity
In this jewel of serenity

This is a place where the world
Would quietly fall away
And leave the recesses of the mind
Where it had often held sway

And the mind quietens
It knows where to go
And that is to the current present
And the moment that it holds

Copyright © 2015 by May Kwek

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Guardian of the night

Guardian of the night

By May Kwek

Guardian of the night
Quickly take your place tonight
Shine amongst the stars so bright
With your soft silvery light

Guide the lost in the darkness’s cold
Keep them in your comforting glow
Shine the path to their home
Or the path they chose to roam

Dance with the stars in the sky
Across the celestial plains, fly!
From there watch the sleeping souls below
And keep them safe, sound and whole

As the star studded sky you tread
Mark every tear that sheds
And show even though you seem alone
You are never ever really on your own

Oh Guardian of the night
Fail not your duty tonight!
To maintain hope in darkness as the earth turns
And the sun once more returns

Copyright © 2015 by May Kwek

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

The False Divide

The False Divide

By May Kwek

A flat stood in a neighborhood
It’s features proud and tall
Compared to all the other houses
The rest seemed really small

The people in this flat
Were all well groomed
They spoke perfect English
And had books in every room

They dressed their children
In the best that money could buy
Everyone was polite
In between every Hi and Bye

I visited this flat and saw its people
Then took the lift down
And spent some time in the coffee shop
In the neighborhood on the ground

The people here spoke Chinese
And in many cases a dialect
They smoked, were terribly crude
Manners, sometimes they lacked

The children were just dressed
But no less happy
But their parents’ faces
Seemed aged by worry

For two places mere meters from each other
In essence they were miles away
Divided not by distance
But in every other way

The flat was all elegance and polish
The neighborhood below, crude
The flat was riches and finery
The neighborhood, poverty and fortitude

One may be inclined to look down
The other, perhaps to look up
After all, poverty and worries
Is a very bitter cup

Yet even when I think of those
Who live in the flat
Claiming they got there by work
And deserve where they are at

I can’t help but suspect
That if I extracted just the soul
Those in the flat and below
Would be exactly the same you know

Copyright © 2015 by May Kwek

Friday, May 29, 2015

The Broken Mirror

The Broken Mirror

By May Kwek

I was walking somewhere far from home
Where you could see the impossible fly
And then something in the gutter
Seemed to catch my eye

A flash of light
I though I saw it there
But when I looked
I could find no source anywhere

Another flash of light
But this time I caught the cause
A broken mirror
Given up for lost

Its edges were jagged and sharp
But it was very bright
The sky in its eyes
Were filled with light

The birds flew merrily
When I gazed into its depths
And songs flowed out like water
When you turn on the tap

Yet it was broken
This poor mirror
And so never seen to be of any use
Forever in error

It was thrown out with the garbage
Left to slowly fade away
Never to ever see
The light and hope of day

But I liked what I saw
In its clear reflection
I brought it home
And polished it to perfection

I smoothed out the edges
Kept the jagged shape
Set it in a frame
But had to hold it there with tape

It hangs now in my home
Bright on the wall
And if I ever need hope or encouragement
I look there and see it all

Copyright © 2015 by May Kwek

Three teacups

Three teacups

By May Kwek

Three little teacups sitting in a row
The first is brown, the second is gold
The third is made of a silver bright
And it sparkles like the moon at night

But what is that compared to gold?
Gifted as it is with the Sun’s glow
But which teacup should I choose?
There’s only one which I may use

The brown teacup is made of homely earth
But admittedly of not much worth
The silver and gold cups sparkle and shine
I must say they look mighty fine

The tea will taste the same in all
So it makes nothing less or more
The design of each is exactly the same
All fit the purpose for which I came

It’s a hard choice I strangely find
Because of the wishes in my mind
Should I pick silver or gold?
But brown will do as well I know

In the end I take the brown cup home
The other two I left alone
Because I know if you did not
That tea in a metal cup is very hot!

Copyright © 2015 by May Kwek

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Teasing rain

Teasing rain

By May Kwek

I hear the wind calling
The skies look quite grey
The world is growing quieter
I think it’ll rain today

The bell chimes are ringing
The air has grown cool
The sky is darkening
And the afternoon too

Surely the rain must be coming
Surely it’s moments away
Soon I shall hear rain drops falling
Like drums beating away

But no, the day passes into night
And gone is the cool air
The skies went from grey to black
But not a drop was there!

Oh it was just teasing me
The dear old weather
Well, it will rain sometime
So I guess it doesn’t matter

Copyright © 2015 by May Kwek

Friday, May 15, 2015

The Mystery of the Night

The Mystery of the Night

By May Kwek

Ah well now it is strange indeed
The mysteries of the night
The light turns to darkness
And the darkness turns to light

There is no frenzy there is no buzz
Things are warm and cozy
And everywhere little children
Wait for a bedtime story

People retreat indoors
There is no need to be out
Stay out too long and others wonder
What mischief you are about

The night brings suspicisions 
As much as it brings rest
The darkness ever blinds our eyes
Putting sight to the test

The air grows quieter
Things start to still
And in the sky the stars twinkle
As they forever will

It is a fog indeed the night
Through which I cannot see
Beyond the ending of a day
Another yet to be

Copyright © 2015 by May Kwek

Thursday, May 14, 2015

The Weather’s grudge

The Weather’s grudge

By May Kwek

Oh how I hate the weatherman
He is so proud
Thinking he can guess my ways
And saying them out loud

Monitoring my every move
Who does he think he is?
I would like some privacy
A real intrusion is this!

And he would predict
What it is I do
I am the weather
I make the rules!

Oh, so yes I hate him
It’s more than dislike
It is a grudge long and deep 
I’ll keep him from being right!

If he says it’s sunny
Well, I’ll make it rain
And if he says it’ll be wet
Watch out! The heat’s quite a pain

And now he says because of El Nino
It will be warm and dry
Right, that’s what you think
Heavens? Time to cry!

Copyright © 2015 by May Kwek

The Weatherman’s reply

The Weatherman’s reply

By May Kwek

I am sorry dear Weather
But whatever did I do?
To watch you is my job
I’m afraid that is true

I have to monitor your every move
Because we don’t understand
How can you be doing one thing
Then change with a wave a hand?

Why would you be warm and dry
Then sudden make it rain
I really don’t get you
I’ll make that quite plain

So couldn't you please
Go easy on me?
And do what I say you would
And don’t begrudge me?

Copyright © 2015 by May Kwek

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Discontent (Rich)

Discontent (Rich)

By May Kwek

Oh they say to be rich
Is indeed to have it all
Luxurious homes, a yacht or two
And money that piles up tall

But every where I tread
I must have bodyguards
In case some kidnappers
Seek to with my money part

Relations are strained
They want me to quickly die
So that during the funeral
They can take the money and pretend to cry

My children are spoiled
They have never known want
And because of this wealth
I can never say “can’t”

Then I hide in my business
It is something I can do
Or hide in wealth and splendor
I can do that too

And forget about my troubles
And all the arguments and strife
And for a moment
Say I have a happy life

Copyright © 2015 by May Kwek

Discontent (Poor)

Discontent (Poor)

By May Kwek

Oh to be poor is a hard life
I for one know it is true
You have never had to worry
About your next meal have you?

What will I do 
About next month’s rent?
If I can’t make it....
Can I borrow someone’s tent?

I wish I could provide a better place
For my children to live
With as many toys and books
As I in my heart would give

Cough, cough, oh dear
I cannot afford to be sick
If I get a sick leave
I might lose my job quick

Then what would we do?
The boss has yet to pay me
Tomorrow I must spare a few cents
To go trouble him for money

But for now let me sleep
For it is late and there I can be
Lost in oblivion
And say I am happy

Copyright © 2015 by May Kwek

Discontent (middle class)

Discontent (middle class)

By May Kwek

So I am neither rich nor poor
I am somewhere in between
I should consider myself blessed
Or so it would seem

But to be in the middle
Is to be squeezed
And seek to go higher
Hoping for release

My boss works me hard
I work long into the night
Perhaps my children
Could recognize me by sight

My ends meet but I have not enough
For the things I want
I want this and I want that
Only the rich can have fun!

And my children run off with their friends
They drift ever further away
Perhaps if I had more time
They would come back someday

Oh if only I could live a bit more
Have a bit of life
Far from this tedious work
And this internal strife

But never mind
A dream is all it shall be
Let’s go to the movies
And pretend we are happy

Copyright © 2015 by May Kwek

Summary of discontent

Summary of discontent

By May Kwek

Well dear readers
Its strange don’t you think?
That despite all their differences
The same tune they sing

Personally I would have thought
That the differences in wealth
Might have mattered as much to them
As the state of their health

But ah it seems we are all caught
In the winter of our discontent
What can I say?
We see things as men

The grass is greener on the other side
So the old saying says
But let’s all cheer up
We still have today

Whether we are near 
Or whether we are far
See things as we hope 
Or see things as they are

Perhaps for a moment in our minds
Examine our troubles and perhaps find
That they are so small after all
And reasons to be happy are much more

At least I find that is the case for me
When behind pessimism’s curtain I occasionally see
And finally look around and say
“What a fool I am let’s be happy today”

Copyright © 2015 by May Kwek

The Haunted Table

The Haunted Table

By May Kwek

It was a liveliest of gatherings that night
Everyone bore a fake smile
And we all laughed ever so cheerfully
And rolled our eyes all the while

But there was always a certain coldness
And the slightest hint of mistrust
Some when they saw each other
Turned either pale or blushed

Still we carried on and faked blindness
Were good friends for the world to see
In all appearances
A group of friends happy

But the chill seemed to grow ever stronger
And faint whispers of doom
Sent shivers down our spines and raised the hairs of our neck
As they danced about the room

Horrid memories seemed to arise
When we saw someone’s face
So we turned away and made believe
That we were in a different place

But when we were entered the dinning room
We could not run but only stare
For the cold formed ice on the table
And there was a ghost on each chair

Copyright © 2015 by May Kwek