"The sharp knife of a short life

I've had just enough time..."


- "If I Die Young" The Band Perry


I see Beauty in many things. And like the ghosts that only speak to you if you notice them, they tell me wondrous tales. With my camera and my thoughts, I captured these as faithfully as I can to share with you. And by doing so, they gave me the reasons. And though the thousand reasons may not all be sweet and some indeed bitter; they are still reasons to live. Come to think about it, that is Life, isn't it?

Thursday 31 May 2012

What Is Green To You?





I've had just enough time to...   ponder green.


Taken from the top of a concrete silo in Cilegon, Indonesia of two shades of green.



The green of growth, vibrant
The green of decay, slimy
The green of spring, refreshing
The green around the gills, ailing
The green of apple, juicy
The green of jealousy, bitter
The green of nature, abundance
The green of inexperience, stumbling
The green of jade, virtuous
The green of money, corrupting
The green of balance, harmony
The green of light, go!
The green of love, Aphrodite
The green of bile, virulent

Apple, asparagus, chartreuse, fern
Forest, harlequin, honeydew and lime
Mantis, shamrock, olive, mint,
Pistachio, spring, teal and pine

The cloak Muhammad wore
The altar cloth of Catholics priests
The quetzal plumes on top Aztec chiefs
The beer drank on St. Patrick's Day
The singular colour of Libya’s flag
The virtue of China's jade
In the Rising Sun, eternal life is said to
Contain strings of green's thread

But,
What is green to you?



Monday 28 May 2012

Part II - The Monkey Wearing Its Suit of Armour.




I've had just enough time to...   see the monkey wearing its suit of armour


Taken in the same temple in Kathmandu of the monkey wearing its chain of armour.



The Monkey wrapped itself in chain
Invisible
Only to itself

And the others wonder why
It so willingly
Wears its burden

But the monkey feels safe
In its chains
Of armor

That was how I found the monkey
In the temple
Still wearing its chains
A century after



Saturday 26 May 2012

Part I - The Monkey Holds Its Thorny Fruit.




I've had enough time to...   see the monkey holding the thorny fruit


Taken in a Hindu temple in Kathmandu, Nepal. The monkey was still holding the fruit when I left.




The monkey holds the thorny fruit
It hurts its hand
But it won’t let go

It does not know what to do
Except it desires it
And it knows not why but

The Monkey holds on to it obsessively
And its blood
Stains the floor

That was how I found the monkey
In the temple
Still holding the fruit
A century after



Thursday 24 May 2012

While Daddy Is Cooking.




I've had just enough time to...   see Daddy cooking.


Taken in a busy street in Kathmandu, Nepal 


While Daddy was cooking
I was looking at the blond
And the blond was looking at God
And God was looking at what’s cooking on the stove
We were all looking
Except Daddy who was cooking




While Daddy was cooking
The street musician was playing
The man in the mask was staring
And Life passes by on either end of the street
They were all busy
Except Daddy who was doing the cooking







Monday 21 May 2012

In Praise of Shadows.




I've had just enough time to...   sing the praise of shadows.


Taken in my favourite hotel in the historic city of Malacca, Malaysia



If you understand shadows
You will appreciate its silence
Its floating softness
Its fleeting forms
That tells a richer story
Than sharp edges

If you appreciates shadows
You will wait with patience
For it to reveal
The nature of its dances
That takes you dancing along
Through their illumination




The object is true
The shadow is not
If you believe that
You live a world only of light
And have no reason
To praise the nature of shadows


Saturday 19 May 2012

This Is A Call To Arms!




I've had just enough time to...   question the call to arms.


Taken in my favourite hotel museum in Malacca, Malaysia.



This is a call to arms!
Weary soldiers, pick up your swords
And fallen shields
Leave your fallen comrades behind

Brace yourself for the onslaught
Though your weary arms refuse to obey
Steel your heart and plunge your steel
Into the heart of your fallen enemy






This is a call to arms!
Defend your country
Defend your brothers
Defend your family
Defend your pride
Defend your manhood
Defend your belief
Defend your religion
Defend your creed
Defend everyone
Defend everything

But…
Who is there to defend me?

_______


Fight For The Kingdom Bound For Glory
Armed With A Heart Of Steel
I Swear By The Brothers Who Stand Before Me
To No Man Shall I Kneel
Their Blood Is Upon My Steel
Blood Is Upon My Steel

Call to arms - Manowar








Tuesday 15 May 2012

The Reason For A Scarecrow




I've had just enough time to...  ask a scarecrow


A drive by shooting of the innocent scarecrow in Lebanon



Does a scarecrow scares crows?
If not, why have a scarecrow?
Having someone to look after the crop
Does it give you comfort?
When you know it does not do the job?
The birds are not fooled
To them it as a joke
To think they will be scared
By something as stiff as that

The birds knew
And the farmers too
The scarecrow is there only for show

The farmers can tell you
The birds too in their twitters
That there is a purpose to it all
A tradition that ought be followed

The scarecrows beg to disagree
The reason is that they exist









Sunday 13 May 2012

Pisces Cannot Swim




I've has just enough time to...   swim outside the boundary


Taken in the Maeklong Railway Market Bangkok of fishes uniquely presented for sales




Pisces caught in a vice
Unable to escape.
Out of its element.
Boxed in.
Where is the dream?

Out of ocean
Out of water
Out of space to swim
Out of a land to be free

Is this world an illusion?
Or is it a dream?
Is reality written in the stars?
Or is it sold two for twenty?

Rule by emotion
Kill by cold steel
Misjudge the tide
The water retreat
Pisces are left
Floundering on the beach

_____________


Some times my life it seems like fiction 

Some of the days it's really quite serene 
I'm a living proof of all life's contradictions 
One half's going where the other half's just been 

And I'm a Pisces fish and the river runs through my soul 
I'm a Pisces fish and the river runs through my soul
George Harrison - Pieces Fish





Thursday 10 May 2012

I Don't Know (The Equation of Life)




I've had just enough time to...   answer with "I don't know"


Taken during a lecture in Dongguan, China when I don't know the equation



I don’t know the equation of Life
Presented on the white board
To the last two decimal
Neat and tidy
My mind is blank
My emotion in turmoil
Everyone were nodding their heads
But mine was violently shaking
“Life is a formula!”
But mine doesn’t equate!

I follow the rules
I read the books
I listen to the experts
And experts don’t lie
Do they?
They show me the path we should take
They have a shortcut
Only experts can make
When I asked why?
I got an “F”
And shown the door

Now I cannot be an expert-like
I’ve lost the Equation of Life
No certificate, no certificate
Condemned to die

_______ 

I don't know what you smoke or what countries you've been to
if you speak any other languages other than your own
but I'd like to meet you
I don't know if you drive if you love the ground beneath you
I don't know if you write letters or panic on the phone
still I'd like to call you all the same, if you want to, I am game.

Lisa Hannigan - I Don't Know







Monday 7 May 2012

Mount Bromo Part II – Sitting at the Edge




I've had just enough time to...   sit down and enjoy the view.





Taken of Mount Bromo in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park while standing at its edge.





If you are too close to the edge, don’t stand
Crawl if you have to
Let your pride be the only one to fall
The one who brave the edge
May be the most foolish one of all

Better still, take a seat
Why climb a hill if not for the view?









Saturday 5 May 2012

Mount Bromo Part I – Standing at the Edge




I've had just enough time to...   stand at the precipice.



Taken at the edge of the live volcano - Mount Bromo in Java, Indonesia.




If you stand too close to the edge
Above all, don’t lose your balance
But if you are about to fall
Try falling where the support is
The other way is down the deep precipice
And that would be the end, wouldn’t it?

But better yet don’t stand at the edge
That is a dangerous place to be.







Thursday 3 May 2012

The Back of A Business Woman is Made of Steel.




I've had just enough time to...  admire the back of strong women.


Taken on the strong back of a business woman in the fruit market in Hanoi.



An old bicycle
A few plastic pots hanging
A metal rack
Holding a few green plants
She is in business.

The back of a business woman is made of steel.



Another strong back and strong shoulders too. Can you carry those weights throughout the day?



Her back may have bended double from age and weight over the years but hers is the strongest back of all for she carried her entire family on it. And she is still doing it.






Tuesday 1 May 2012

Reaching Out Just To Touch.




I've had just enough time to...   reach out...


I saw this plant in Taiping Park reaching out over the water.



Reaching out
Over the water
Across the distance
Over time and space
Stretching out to touch
With the tip of a finger...
Reaching out to touch you

Won’t you reach out too?

_______

Lately I’ve been hard to reach
I’ve been too long on my own
Everybody has a private world
Where they can be alone
Are you calling me?
Are you trying to get through?
Are you reaching out for me?
I’m reaching out for you 

Rock Therapy Queen + Paul Rodgers Reaching Out





In my shoes, just to see
What it's like, to be me
I'll be you, let's trade shoes
Just to see what it'd be like to
Feel your pain, you feel mine
Go inside each other's minds
Just to see what we find
Look at shit through each other's eyes
But don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful, oh
They can all get f*****.
Just stay true to you
So don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful
Oh, they can all get f*****.
Just stay true to you

Beautiful - Eminem



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