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?
I've had just enough time to... listen to the sound of falling leaves...
Taken one chilly morning in the backstreet of The Rock, Sdyney
Leaves
fall
The
speed of tears
Smash
the ground
Silently
splash
Quivering
echoes
Through
silent streets
The
Giant cries
Tears as
many as leaves
Catching
the mournful wind
Through skeletal
branches
Till nomore leaf is left to shed
Then deadly
silence
Winter
is here to stay
Sometimes
you are sad. You may not be able to point out a single incident or even a
number of incidents that are making you sad. They may have some effects but you
know they should not make you as sad as you are. You are just sad. Stop looking
for the reasons. Indulged in it for a while. A sad movie, a sad story or a
sentimental song. Or a chat with an old friend, a long walk in the park, an
evening by the sea. Do whatever works for you. Sadness prepare us for happier
times. Just don't lay on It for too long. It may get so comfortable that you would
not want to get up again.
I've had just enough time to... be thankful for leaves
Taken in the garden village of Sungei Buloh, Malaysia
I was in the
town of Sungei Buloh (River of Bamboo) shopping for orchids before the Chinese
New Year. In those old less enlightened days, this place was used to isolate a
leper colony from the general populace. A vocation was needed for these displaced
people and in an ironic way, growing flowers and plants was the profession
chosen for them. Now it is a thriving town engaged predominantly in the
gardening business. The city has expanded and engulfed the area making it a very
valuable real estate. Now, those once shunted lepers and their descendants are
not only businessmen and women but also millionaires putting a final irony to
the Town of The River of Bamboo.
Everyone
was looking down because there were flowers in glorious bloom everywhere. On
both sides of the small lane, on every multiple racks, in every stall and
corners, any space that can be squeezed in, flowers of all varieties and colors
and forms smiled back at you. But my attention was up, at that wondrous spread
of rain tree branches and the millions of tiny leaves blinking at me. Whenever
the wind stirred, a few shook themselves from the branches and floated down in
an erratic but graceful dance to join the other fallen leaves on the roof.
I love
flowers but it was the leaves that talked to me that day. And leaves always reminded me of that sad song
叶子yèzi (Leaf ). I
heard that haunting voice as I stood by the road shoulder looking up feeling
deliciously sad while boisterous trading were happening all round me. And what
made it even more poignant is that I will never hear her singing a new song
again. '阿桑' (Ah Sang) had a hard life. She was discovered
singing in a pub and “Leaf” made her famous. Just when it appeared that Life is
finally giving her the break she deserved, she quietly left the entertainment
scene. Not long later, the world was shocked to learn that she has succumbed to
breast cancer. She was only 34.
叶子 Leaves
阿桑 Ah Sang
叶子是不会飞翔的翅膀 Leaves are wings that cannot fly
翅膀是落在天上的叶子 Wings are leaves dropped in the sky
天堂原来应该不是妄想 Heaven is not wishful thinking after all
