An Epulaeryu to Ice Kachang

Living in, or surviving in, a tropical country entails eating cold desserts. And so I have depended on them since I was a child.

Ice Kachang is a Southeast Asian resident’s answer to a hot day. A chilled, colourful mountain filled with grass jelly, green jelly, red bean, corn, and a chestnut-brown local fruit known as attap chee, it comforts the soul and beats the heat. Top it off with condensed milk, and one comes up with a sweet treat that ignites the tastebuds.

Enjoy this Epulaeryu dedicated to Ice Kachang. An epulaeryu, for those not so familiar with this not-often-used poetic form, is a short verse that has food as its primary theme.

An Epulaeryu consists of seven lines in total.

Syllable Count: Each line follows a specific syllable count:
- The first line has seven syllables.
- The second line has ten syllables.
- The third line has seven syllables.
- The fourth line has seven syllables.
- The fifth line has ten syllables.
- The sixth line has seven syllables.
- The seventh line, also known as the “dessert line,” summarizes the feeling or experience of the food and contains seven syllables.

Here is one.

A vibrant icy mountain,

Red roses, kindling love, line its peak

Green foilage dots its ridges

Yellow sunset teases edges

Warm, white river covers its rolling stones

A rich, brown, crown at its peak

One climbs and reaches heaven.

The Clock

The Clock

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

The Clock. An infernal object that heralds stress, deadlines, commitment, the finite, and a deadline.

How do we set the clock so that we can manage all that we associate with it?

A Clock

Object of Angst

Its hands move restlessly

Always circling in a hurry

Endless

A Clock

Hands push

Strong and send blood pumping

My veins fill up, turn green, popping

Head aches

Arms should lay by the side

when everything is needless or

trivial.

Tough task

A Clock

Must set

Hands to push at the times

When a boost is needed and apt

Needed

A Clock

Must rest

Its hands lay by the side

When everything is needless or

Trival.

Shadow

If you are a sibling, you’d find being a shadow of your brother or sister rather familiar. Despite your achievements, you’re somehow never able to compare with him or her.

Being a little shadow is a painful feeling. You feel as though you don’t count for anything or are capable of doing anything well in the eyes of others.

If the feeling of being overshadowed overwhelms you, remind yourself that you have skills that surpass the person who casts a shadow over you.

Everyone has weaknesses as well – keep in mind what you can do, and focus on your strengths. Keep your goals doable and realistic. Be kind to yourself and don’t compare yourself with others – you do you. Challenge the negative self-talk and know that you can forge your own path.

Enjoy these cinquains.

Little

Shadow cringes

In the corner of the

Huge legs of another big form

That block

Little

Shadow must come

Out of the dark and grow

Big like the huge form which covers

Itself

It knows

What its small hands

Can form with its fingers

And craft with the palms that it knows

To form

Little

Shadow now big

Stands proud beside the form

Of its bigger, taller sibling

As proud.

Wilting Wallflower

I’m quite certain that all of us would say that they have been on the receiving end of ostracism. I don’t deal with it very well, since it is a deliberate action against someone who does not deserve it.

Ostracism is emotional abuse. It is difficult to pinpoint and harder to handle because it is subtle.

Managing ostracism is a complex process. It is difficult to do so, especially when one is a wallflower.

Seeking support is important, as is assertive communication. People who ostracise wish to communicate negative perspectives of another person, so wallflowers need to maintain healthy perspectives of themselves. While they need to forgive, they must seek inclusion elsewhere.

Enjoy these freestyle verses.

Wallflower

Wilting by the door

Shedding petals

Lagging stem

Wallflower

Needs strength

Of the fertile soil

Of all seeds sown

Gentle flower

Needs the strength

In supplicant stem

To stand

Wallflower

needs extend

Stem and leaves

Opens its petals

Embrace.

The Oversized Shadow

Shadows can be overwhelming. You may feel as though you don’t have the right to protest in view of it’s sheer size. If you’ve a friend who has a shadow that overwhelms you, it’s time to step into the light.

Being overshadowed by others is never a comfortable feeling. You feel that you have so much worth, but it’s hardly ever your turn to make good or shine.

What should we do if a shadow becomes too big for its black boots? We assert ourselves in no equivocal terms. Besides learning to say no, we can say how we feel about being constantly overwhelmed and set our boundaries.

Enjoy! It’s free verse day.

Shadow

Too large

Looming over

Envelopes

Completely

From within

Its murky

Depths

Step into

The light

Shadow has

No line

With boldness

Clearly define

Many hands push

Force one’s form

Out of Shadow’s Misshape

Into light’s grace

One’s form turns

And learns

To lift

A hand

Out

No.

The Crown

All human beings want to be on top of things. At times, however, we need to release that tight grip. Here’s a villanelle that offers some advice.

He who wears the crown

Holds rein over place and time

He can claim to own

A relic so precious

He holds it firmly in his grasp

Fear when it shakes, cautious

His fingers loosen their grip

The ache they feel assuaged

Mind filled with worry lest they slip

Clasp loosened when he tries

And gets others to hold it up

Gets them to hear his cries

Clasp loosened when he discovers

Why he needed the crown

Sets his mind to assuage, handover

The crown is never lost

But he needs to set his mind to find

Must sync with what he needs the most

And not fear Taunt’s cost.

My Favourite Food

My Favorite Food

The food of my life is pizza. From the classic Margherita to those with exotic combinations of ingredients, there always seems to be one which is new and delicious. Its texture and flavour are second to none, and it’s simply impossible for me to resist a freshly cooked slice. I have many memories associated with eating pizza, from birthday parties to special occasions. The smell of the hot and savoury toppings combined with melted cheese is an indelible part of my childhood. The most important part of pizza, however, is the dough. It’s one thing that separates a good pizza from a great one. A freshly made crust should have a crispy exterior and a soft, fluffy interior. It should be light, yet flavorful. A great pizza maker knows how to make the perfect crust every time I bite into one.

Toppings are an indispensable part of my favourite dish. I love experimenting with different combinations of ingredients, from traditional Italian herbs and spices to more adventurous choices like prosciutto, artichoke hearts, and truffle oil. No matter what toppings I choose, they always seem to work together perfectly.

Finally, the sauce is what ties it all together. It can range from a light tomato base to a thick, cheesy blend. No matter what the recipe calls for, I always get excited when I see that famous red and yellow circle on my pizza box.

Pizza is not just a dish to me; it’s an experience. From the smell of the dough cooking in the oven to the first bite of that hot and savoury slice, pizza is something I look forward to every time. It’s a comfort food that I can always count on to make me feel happy and satisfied. There’s nothing quite like pizza, and I’m sure it will always have a special place in my heart. That’s why it will forever be the food I crave.

Eagle

The eagle. A bird that knows no limits. A bird of majesty, courage, honesty, communication, and freedom. Enjoy these haiku (each is a sentence).

Bird of prey has spirit

That knows no bounds and limits

Always flying free

Bird of prey has zest

For life at its best

Ever teems with life

Bird of royalty

Soaring in its majesty

Life at the apex

A bird of courage

Ever spreads its endless wings

Flies with abandon

A bird that speaks

The intentions in its mind

Mighty nest to show

A bird of freedom

That soars the limitless skies

Never stops flying

Joined Hands

Photo by Zeynep Gül Ceylan on Pexels.com

Hands joined

In humble thanks

For the warm joy of life

And a full, firm cup that runneth

Over

Hands joined

In humble thanks

For an end to the Strife

Swallowing, plaguing our fine world

Our lies

Hand joined

In humble thanks

For all the yellow roses

And the lovely pink blossoms we

Treasure

Hands joined

In humble thanks

For the rooms in many

Hearts, with their doors always swinging open

To us.

A Day in the Life of an ADHDer

A person with ADHD will find the phrase “it’s all in the details,” a difficult one to read. Enjoy.

She threw her heavy, book-filled bag onto the rickety rattan armchair and kicked off her shoes. A flick of the switch, and the computer came on. She glossed over the piles of students’ work, marking each with angry red crosses. Her daughter rushed in, carrying mountains of groceries into the kitchen and hollering “Mum, you’ve left the car doors open!”

She dragged herself to school the next day and faced a sea of expectant faces in class. After she returned its work, it asked “Ms. Lim, why is only half the script marked?”