Just taking another look at Life

Oh I recall waiting at a joint -
Full of happy chatty young people,
I remember wondering where each would be,
And what they'd be doing, a year or two away...
For, unlike you happy young people -
I love to just sit in my quiet corner,
And watch the world buzzing around -
On each busy buzzy day, and wonder...
But now I've stopped wondering -
I know the answer: that Life is transient, and tomorrow might not be ours...

Making memories

I remember how dad used to do it -
Bring the family on picnics most weekends...
Hiring his friend's station wagon -
Bringing the whole brood for a dip in the sea...
I remember how I took over the task -
As the children were growing up...
We would all look forward to the school breaks -
To go on picnics, to camp and to dip in the sea together...
 There's a joy in recalling those nostalgic moments shared -
I just wonder if someone would do it for me one day...

Sharing your life

I'ld love to share your life,
I surely would -
The things that you love, the things that you do...
I'ld love to love the people that you love - And would love to meet those that you care for...
 For loving you means loving everything that is part of you -
Loving you means feeling blue whenever you are blue...
Taking pride in sharing your knowledge and your skills -
And finding out and learning to master those that I don't know...
Loving you is to be there for you, in times of trouble or loneliness -
In sickness or in health - if ever and whenever you need me...

If you can't beat them, DON'T join them!

If you are sick  - don't sit around and mope, If you feel your muscles ache - don't push off the mop...
If you are feeling the blues - don't get the tissue box -
DON'T! DON'T! DON'T!
For if you give in to your moods -
You'll feel like wallowing in self-pity forever...
If you feel stiffness in your muscles -
You'll want to laze longer than you should... So, rest if you must, my dear friend -
But it would be better to laugh in the sunshine...

"Yesterday is past, today is reality, tomorrow is a mystery..."

Yesterday is past - we can't change it - Tomorrow is a mystery we can't predict... But today, is here and real - so live it -
For we won't be able to feel it once tomorrow comes...
Like many, I've gone through bitter yesterdays -
I won't harp on them coz they are past and gone...
And I can't just sit and wait to live for tomorrow -
Coz I might not be around to solve that mystery tomorrow...
 So I'll just live through today as it comes - And leave tomorrow to take care of itself...

Looking at life from both sides now

When we are happy - 
Life seems like a bed of roses...
When we are healthy -
Life seems so detached from hospital beds... But when we are down or in trouble -
Life seems to be so tedious a job to get through...
When our health seems to be in the red - Life seems to take a totally different turn... For suddenly life seems so precious -
How could we have treated something so fragile so carelessly...?

Just take a look around us

When we are waiting with time on our hands - 
We tend to look around us and let our eyes wander...
We tend to study the people coming and going - 
And perhaps wonder what life has in store for each...
 Today, as I sit here waiting, and watching - My thoughts wander off far, far away...
I wonder if all of us would be waiting here, still -
And sitting around waiting, still, a year or two from now...
 For life is so fragile, and our fate so unpredictable -
That I can't help but wonder: where each of us will be tomorrow...

Finding tranquility in Life

Life has its ups and downs -
Its laughter and its frowns...
Life is like a merry-go-round -
One goes through each phase as it comes around...
One might at one point feel it's the end of the world -
But wait, the next turn might put one back on Cloud 9...
One might feel it's unjust and unfair to have to go against ones will -
But wait, things might just work out with big surprises, one can't deny...
So let's just take things as they come, one day at a time -
And savour the flavours of each experience, as it comes...

You took my breath away

I recall the times when I just stood there - By your side, mesmerized by the lovely sight...
I'll remember the scene, for many years to come -
Just standing there, and gasping in awe, at your beauty...
Imagine standing barefoot on the golden sand -
Imagine taking a breath of the clear, crisp morning air...
Imagine the rising sun in all the shades of red and gold -
Imagine the sparkling diamonds cast on the lapping waters...
For I've always done this, whenever I miss my homeland -
And let the tranquil beauty calm my spirit, sooth my soul...

"Tomorrow... And tomorrow... And tomorrow..."?

Tomorrow speaks of the future -
And to me the future is full of hope...
Hope for a useful life of happiness -
Doing the things I love to do: serve...
For I would love to be able to give, generously -
As giving would bring joy to starving hearts...
I would love to be able to serve, tirelessly - As being of service to other brings joy to oneself...
 So dear God, let me have the strength and energy -
That I may be able to give my best and do what's best...

Today is here to stay...?

Today is a beautiful day - 
Though raindrops fall from the gray sky... To me it is clear and bright and sunny -
Coz it reflects the joy in my heart...
For today my mind is full of happy thoughts:
Thinking of all the happy things that you've said...
Recalling happy memories of beautiful places -
And lovely sights that we have shared together...
So let me always have a day as beautiful as today -
When my heart is full of joy and expectancy...

Yesterday once more...?

When yesterday was such a good day - 
We could not help it but to wish for yesterday...
For a yesterday that would bring back all the joy -
A yesterday where you were there smiling at me...
When yesterday was filled with mirth and laughter -
Who would not wish to relive that joyful moment...?
When yesterday was filled with carefree moments -
Who would not want it to be yesterday once more...?
So let me have the nostalgic memories of yesterday -
So that the joy of living by your side may last a lifetime...

Our paths would have crossed in mid-air

If I'm flying southwards heading for home -
And you're flying northwards away from home...
Then our paths are bound to cross -
At one point or other on the journey...

I wonder if my heart would miss a beat -
Knowing that you're passing by beneath...
And if yours would have skipped a similar beat -
Knowing that I'm passing by above or beneath...?

Well, whatever it is, our hearts would surely know -
When to flutter a wee bit or do a little flip flop or a leap frog...

Feeling happy

Today I wake up feeling happy -
Happy that I'm going home, at last...
Happy that I've had a great time, amid great company -
Happy to be flying home to my homeland, and to you...

It sure feels good to be on holiday -
To see new sights, hear new tales...
To catch a whiff of some strange new aroma -
And to taste the flavours of some exotic dishes....

For it brings me great pleasure to remember them all -
Some day when you are not here - or when I am gone...

Love is what I feel

Love is what I feel - 
When I think of you...
Your loving eyes, your warm smile -
The way you look at me and smile...

Happiness is what I feel -
When I'm with you...
Your funny tales, your many escapades -
And your songs fill my heart...

So I'll just think of you  when I'm lonely -
And remember you whenever I'm sad...

It's impossible

"It's impossible to tell the sun to leave the sky -
Is just impossible... Definitely impossible...!"
Coz they are meant to be there - together -
Traveling side by side ... together...

The sky and the sun - they are inseparable -
And they complement each other...
For, when the sky is gray: the sun is nowhere to be seen -
And when the sun is smiling: the whole sky is covered in gold...

So it's impossible to tell the sun to leave the sky -
Coz they are meant to be there together, forever...

A day to remember

Today I saw the most beautiful sunrise -
From a different stretch of the same beach...
Today my heart was filled with the greatest joy -
For having shared the same beautiful sunrise with thee...

It was a day of uncountable pride and immense joy -
To see beauty in every branch on every tree...
And to see little crabs scampering from hole to hole -
Fills me up with a joy beyond compare and my heart with glee..

So wake me up at the break of dawn every day -
That I may rejoice in having shared another sunrise with thee...

Purple roses for a friend

I turned and lo and behold: 
Purple roses are what I saw!
Roses come in all shades I was told -
But never had I come across these...

I've seen them in shades of pink,
And yellow and white and even maroon and blood red...
I've been given a bunch of sky blue roses -
But never, ever, had I seen them this purple...

So never, ever, think something is impossible -
Till you see for yourself that nothing else can be done...

Four hours

Four hours is a long, long time to wait -
But I will willingly, patiently, happily wait...
If at the end of that long wait, I'll get to see my friend -
I'll willingly, patiently, happily wait... And wait...

It is said that a third of our life is spent waiting -
For the bus, for a meeting, for a meal, for latecomers...
The list goes on and on as some even have to wait -
And toss around for sleep to come...

So waiting is not a problem for me - 
I'll just sit quietly here and wait for you...

Watching the world go by

I love to just sit back in my cozy little corner - 
And watch as the world hurries by on skates and on wings...
I love to study each face, each countenance to see
If they express boredom, joy, anger, patience or eagerness...

I cast a look around every few lonely minutes -
And scan each corner of the place for signs of change...
And see those who come and go, and those like me -
Who are sitting here still, engrossed in their work or tale...

So waiting is a game to test one's patience -
Waiting is a pleasure when the subject is worth the wait...

Making memories

I would love to make a collection of memories -
Of the happy moments spent with you;
For they are the things that I would love to recollect -
When I'm sitting old and all alone on my lazy chair...

For the time may come when we are both too old -
To recall those happy loving moments together:
The joy we had, and the wonder of discovering -
The immense love that we have for each other...

So I would like to have this bundle of joyful memories, ready -
 Lest either of us should need to refresh a fading memory...

Smiling back

I love to write to friends when I think of them -
Telling myself they'll write back when they can...
I love to just think of beautiful moments shared with them -
Laughing so joyously, basking in their jocund company...

I love to make friends happy by showing that I care -
And telling myself it's worth taking that extra mile or two...
I would love to be the one they'll think of and miss dearly -
Whenever I'm not around or far, far away from home...

Finally, if i may say this: I would love to sit back and watch 
The whole world smiling - so I could smile back in return...

Joy to the world

Joy to the world: yours and mine - 
That's my wish to you, me, myself and mine...
For happiness shared is doubled, sorrow halved - 
That's what I hear, that's what people used to say...

Today I met a simple lady:
She's very plain, nothing spectacular, it's easy to see...
But the pains that she took in making your day great -
Makes her special - and far from being just a plain Jane!

She blesses her patrons - in lines that rhyme -
And rattles off (in Hokkien!) fluent as a matchmaker...
As she moves from table to table, promoting her wares -
And stops by each table, to shower her blessings...

So may God bless this kind soul and keep her safe - 
That she may go on blessing all who come her way...

Life is never a bed of roses

I have finally come to accept this:
That life is never a bed of roses...
For many a time when I feel that life is filled with happiness -
I have to face the reality that sorrow is also part of life...

So it is up to us to make the best of things,
Up to us to find happiness in the midst of sorrow...
That we may go through life full of hope for the future,
And find happy moments in life as we go on, strife after strife...

Hence it is up to us to lay the rose petals to lie on -
For life is truly never a bed of roses for anyone...