Trust is a difficult gift to give, and once broken, nearly impossible. The heart is a precious commodity that we have to keep locked. 

However, there are entities that we cannot live with, yet cannot live without – human beings. How do we decide when we can give away the keys to the heart to them?

These cinquains have the answer. 

Locked heart

Only opens

When it joins another

That speaks the truth with open doors

And beats

Locked heart

Only opens

When it joins another

That does what it says it will do

Today

Locked heart 

Only opens

When it joins another

That says ‘sorry’ with truthfulness

And thought

Locked heart

Only opens 

When it joins another

That respects another’s rights to

Silence. 

We sometimes envy the people of Japan or Finland. Both countries have received the honour of being the happiest places on Earth.

We can be like them, because all of us encounter little dollops of joy everyday. A refreshing chocolate ice-cream stick. Fresh coffee in the morning. A sudden hug from a family member.

What can we do to maintain a consistent outlook of happiness? The task is sometimes onerous, but with an attitude of gratitude, focusing on the present, cultivating positive relationships and caring for oneself, we can stay joyful (at least most of the time).

Enjoy these rhyming couplets.

Chocolate ice-cream that melts the heart

Ground coffee that makes brain smart

Bowl of noodles, soft, well-formed

Hug from a friend that keeps us warm

Dollops of joy that we keep

With heart of gratefulness sweet

Thoughts on the now that stays

And on the heart that always prays

Joined with minds that with you think

And with kindred spirits, with you in sync

With the self always in mind

Smile on face will live to shine.

Happy days all.

This being April Fool’s Day, and having just encountered a relative who has been manipulated by his teen daughters to do their bidding, this post is an apt one.

Wearing the fool’s cap is not only silly but a painful discovery. No one likes to find out that they’ve suffered fools or been one.

Avoiding the cap means taking the pains to educate oneself, verify and discern.It means trusting your instincts, being assertive and learning from one’s mistakes. Enjoy this little sonnet.

The fool’s hat, not one to wear,

A loose, poor fit;

Silliness beyond compare,

Needs knowledge to omit

The fool’s hat, a sneaky cap,

Trust of self to shun;

Follow the heart, a foolproof map,

For the protection of one

The fool’s hat, a cap disdained,

One has to firmly throw;

Freedom once again obtained

When to it a ‘no’

The fool’s hat, needless accessory

Lest friends look, laugh, scoff, chafe, so unnecessary.

Our lives will have periods of darkness,and these are definitely overwhelming.It is sometimes hard, or even impossible, to navigate them.

But there is a light in the dark, a spirit of hope that burns like a steady candle flame that never dies. We keep it burning with an attitude of gratitude, setting realistic expectations, and limiting exposure to negativity.

Enjoy these cinquains.

Candle

A light that burns

Eternally in a 

Room enveloped in darkness

Blackness

Candle

Hope that springs forth

In pitch black darkness of

Unwantedness that pulls strongly

Resists

Candle 

Light inspires

With thanks that strengthens hearts

A mind that is real and a hope

of YES. 

Worry. This annoying entity often makes its presence felt at the worst times.  The subject popped into my mind as I gazed at the dark clouds that are a huge part of year-end weather.

Now, we can’t stop dark clouds from gathering but we can prevent them from affecting us.Here are a few humble suggestions.

Overcast

sky

Dark not of

Our own

volition

Dark clouds

Douse

The senses

pleasure

Clouds

Will depart

When our minds are 

On the white ones

Behind

Pains be taken

To pay the white

Fluff heed

Charm the soil,

No negative seed

Shelter from

The rain and woe

With souls of same mind. 

This is, unfortunately, a too-familiar scenario. We are often convenient scapegoats for others who are on the receiving end of questions or blame.

Oh, no one wants to be a goat. One is vulnerable prey. But there’s a tool that a goat has that can be a nuisance to predators – a pair of horns that it can use to defend itself. 

How does the scapegoat use those horns? Being aware of the situation, being calm yet assertive, and simply caring for oneself is the way to go. 

Enjoy these senryus. 

Unknowing scapegoat

Open and vulnerable

A delicacy

Knowing scapegoat

Its horns ready to lock with

Predators so sly

Knowing scapegoat

Horns steady and assertive

Jab at the unjust

My Chinese ancestry and love for things meatless prompt me to pay tribute to a favourite Chinese delicacy, savoury spring rolls. 

These delights, filled with turnips, carrots, or bamboo shoots, complete many Chinese meals. Flavorful and utterly delightful, these are 24-hour snacks. Yes, we literally eat them at any time of the day. Though vegetarian, chefs fry deep them in hot oil, so they are best eaten soon after frying. 

Enjoy this sonnet to spring rolls.

 All rolled up, crisp, they crackle

White shreds atop orange strips

On the tongue, so palatable

Once bitten, saliva drips

Rolls now merged with lava hot

A taste at once unforgettable

Looks, without substance, it is not

A delight, if forgone, is regrettable

Dish for breakfast, lunch or dinner

Not far from slippery tongue

For want of roll, will not be thinner

But for satisfaction is well won

Crisp spring rolls, a snack delight

For a taste, one will take flight. 

Many of us jump the gun when deciding what another party is like, coming to erroneous conclusions owing to a person’s appearance, background, or speech. In short, we stereotype often because we have to do so fast, or on the spot. 

While not jumping to conclusions is difficult for these reasons, it isn’t a great move. Misunderstandings ensue, of course, some of them volatile. 

Enjoy  these  free verses

Gap

Too wide

And long

To clear

Gap

Stop.
Look. 

Before

the leap

Gap

Cannot

Decide

How wide

Gap

Mind

Needed

Before

Clearing

Gap

Ask

How wide. 

These are not the typical questions that one should ask oneself.:

1) Who are you when your skeleton is exposed?

2) How do your bare bones appear?

3) Are you true to yourself?

4) What is the state of your relationships with others?

5) Does your skeleton charm, or does it scare and harm?

Enjoy Bare Bones, a string of Cinquain.

Bare bones

Their form exposed

Clink together in a

Dance, traipsing to Songs

of you

Bare bones

Their form exposed

Their clickity -clack sounds

Truthful tone

Ringing

Bare bones

Their form exposed

Joining together in

Odd synchrony to play the songs

of truth

Bare bones

Their form exposed

Form a skeleton that

Cannot walk unless all the bones

join together

Bare bones

Their form exposed

They come together in a dance

Either a sight that charms the eyes

Or scares.

Everyone has been involved in situations in which deciding whether to speak up or keep silent is difficult. Saying what you must is a challenge when there are alterations between a mother and a sibling, between a boss and a coworker, and even between oneself and someone else.

Suffering in silence is definitely not a solution. But when is it the right time to say something?

Let the circumstances, the effect of your words, empathy, and 

the relationships between the parties decide how you should respond. Enjoy these cinquains.

Fingers

Affixed to lips

Should slip off and mouth part

When a room is clearly in view

To you

Fingers 

Affixed to lips

Should slip off and mouth part

If they should touch hearts in places

That matter

Fingers 

Affixed to lips

Should slip off and mouth part

If they should touch the mind and sway

In sync

Fingers 

Affixed to lips

Should slip off and mouth part

If they should align souls and pull them

Astride.