Dashed off a few quick, unedited verses, the first done after reading about the Hunger Games controversy, and the second after getting a conditional offer from the University of Warwick (whoo!) Of the latter, fingers crossed that I do alright in the IELTS!

Also, I may be a wee bit addicted to this title formatting, even if the way it kind of goes all the way to the right is a bit obnoxious, whoops.

Recently, I find that I just can't stop looping this - why are so you catchy, darnit whyyyyyyyyy. この音楽を止まること　をできないから～～～ああ、こまった？

paint the world;

they asked me to paint the world
gave me a paintbox
and told me
'pick a colour'.

how silly.

don't they know that
there are too many colours in the world
for one dull shade?

the joy that crests within my heart;

The joy that crests within my heart
flares hot, ichor within my veins
burns gold the roads for bliss to dart
unfettered by the churlish reins
of manners or its counterpart
their tangled tails of pale restrains
bind nothing that is any part
of fervid rush, that glee that rains
and drowns all thought; emotions dart
cavorting with, down in my veins,
the joy that crests within my heart!

Experimental poetry time, and a hat-off to e e cummings, whose awesome poetry is forever awesome.

sky flowers;

Sometimes, when I look
up
           up
                   up

(just    long enough)

the sky becomes flowers
white-sun blooming in my eyes
and the canopy green grass
with roots that grow into
the strange colour
that wraps,
a cool embrace around the world.

The cloud-petals are too far for me to touch
but if I could, I'm sure they'd be
so
      (soft)
the whisper of a cotton skirt around ankles

that is, if we could all walk
    in
the sky.

Summer and a Day;

They saw us blithely waltzing past
together down young lovers' lane
And wonder if the bloom would last
Before our hands do grasp in vain
I told them, soft, my love will stay
for a summer and a day.

The laughter, rung within my ears,
as merry as the mockingbird
rang long, as if through all the years,
A stranger thing they'd never heard
The cold will soon hush those who stray
for a summer and a day!

But they who jeer know not the land
Where autumn auld knows no demesne
The palms that Spring, warm, from the sand
Will not by fickle winds be slain
No sleet shall nip the petals gay
for a summer and a day

The sun in his bright dappled bow'r
And moon in dreamy cloudbank bed
From frost and snow will never cow'r
or be by winter's chill impaired
They dance the feckless jig of May
For a summer and a day

The boughs that hid our tender trysts
bow low in shades of ever-green
And tides that limn'd our paradise
pay homage to my heart's own queen
For queen is she! in full array
For a summer and a day.

So let them call us fools by name
For fools know well that sunny shore
Where seasons cease their childish game
Apollo holds court ever more
On such a isle, we'll love, I pray,
For all summer and a day.



An attempt to try my hand at Romantic poetry, while working in a tropical climate theme unknown to the Romantic poets methinks. I tried, Wordsworth, I really did.

After church today, my brother and I went to catch 'Ghost Rider 2' in cinemas. Yep, this movie:


This poster showcases the coolest thing about this movie: the bike.

Go ahead and judge me - I'm unapologetically unrepentant about my movie choices. There are movies you watch to feel introspective and thoughtful over, and there are movies you watch because of how terrifically awful it is. Plus, we caught the first Ghost Rider movie a few years back and thoroughly enjoyed laughing our heads off through that; why not repeat a fun experience?

So we forked out our money for a movie ticket each, figuring we'd be paying for more campy effects, hilarious lolz, 30-second-baddie-killings, Nicholas Cage trying to look emotionally compromised and the occasionally cool bike shot or two. Ghost Rider 2, obliging as it was, went and surpassed all our expectations by being even MORE hilarious, exaggerated and over-the-top that we'd expected. And that's not even counting good ol' Nick Cage. Best RM12 we'd ever wasted, seriously. ♥

( Honestly, where does one even start with this movie? (Here there be spoilers) )

So in short? I paid to watch a campy movie with cheap thrills, exaggerated characters and a plot so thin, it's practically non-existent.

And I was totally not disappoint, hurrah! From the sudden beginning right down to the ridiculously abrupt ending, 'Ghost Rider 2' delivered on every count. That's not exactly a good thing, but hey, it's still fun, brainless entertainment.

Now, if you'll pardon me, I need to go and wonder how a Ghost-camel would look like as a mode of transport.

This is massively backdated, but it's been awhile since I've posted about pretty much anything. With the (relatively small) amount of beef I had with this particular event, I figured it was was worth a post in itself. C:

Anyway, on the 10th of February, my brother and I headed down to the Pavilion, KL to attend the Nokia Lumia phone launch. The event was to, well, launch Nokia's first-ever Windows phone, and promote the newest additions to their handphone line-up: the Lumia 800 and 710. My brother, techygeek he is, is still waxing eloquent about the non-lag interface, the Windows operating system and built-in GPS (although he does grouse about the state of the Market app currently). I'm not particularly savvy when it comes to phone specs and functions though, so I'll glaze over the specifics and apps and jump right into the event itself.

Now, we could have waited for the phone to hit stores before we went out and bought it -neither my brother and I particularly enjoy queues, humidity or boredom and as a general rule, one is bound to suffer from at least one of the above when looking to buy a product at a launch itself. But Nokia, wily people they are, know very well how to offer incentives:




First 100 people, you say?



As Boromir could have potentially said if he were living in the 20th century, one does not simply pass up a chance to get a good free headset. Toss in a sleek, ergonomic (and also free!) mouse and yep, we're totally there. The force of freebies-love is strong in this one.

New phone (and headset and mouse) in mind, we drove to the Pavilion with the intention of braving the sun and massive hordes eager to get their hands on the new phone.

( But wait, what horde? )

Before you ask - no, I haven't been to any funerals recently. But the thought of a friend attending one, foggy memories of Chinese funerals and errrr, intense gaming led to this.

a lament;

A moment of silence, reverent.
Solemn chants, accompaniment
for the too-recent bereavement.

Round and round,
teddy-like, with the joss sticks
clutched close; no sound
jars the steady wicks
that flicker nervously.
One step, two steps,
our mourning clothes drawn tightly
around our careful feet.
This is how we greet
that unspeakable time.

Burning paper money, the smoke
stings our eyes.
Somewhere, someone cries,
hidden in a room, coccooned by arms.

Let me throw my face to the wind
and protest this polite pretension!
Let me be undignified in my grief
Throw off the shackles of elegance
and scream, insensible
for one who can no longer cry
at the insult done to her!
Let me rip the sackcloth, beat my chest,
curse and profane,
and be lost in madness.
Just for a while.
Just for a while.

Let them stare.
Nothing appalls death.
Such amusing acts we must put on
Our austere anguish,
Our ineffectual tears,
Our useless rage,
all ineffectively rallying
against the inevitable end.

1:50AM, and Studio n.7 by Pino Forastiere. Just my immediate thoughts, in true rambling fashion.

a song well met;

I heard your song today
filtering, quiet,
from behind the countless pixels
that keeps me from you.
A strand of melody that bridges, concrete,
the gap where ocean and land and sky and sea
should have endeavoured to keep us separated.
I don't know your name, or where you are from
or who you are
but I know that you are.
Your hands carefully pick
sparse and strung out, a story
that sings in sighs,
falling on my ears,
staccato and legato dancing, partnered, in an silent room
that sings of wisdom
and the weariness that wears it, pale as a shade
knowing too much
that sings of melancholy
that shade of a grey day
in just the way that I have met it
or I would not be writing
this.

As per usual, when the new year creeps in, so does my birthday. I didn't get a chance to make a wish over a cake this year (lunch with mom/dinner with friends make up for that!) but in true-blue birthday fashion:

This 24th year, God willing, I hope to finally get started on doing my Masters (hopefully in the UK). I hope I can keep up the service I'm currently doing in church. I hope to have a year that I can look back on, rich in memories and worthwhile experiences.

I have my fingers crossed that I'll meet new people, but keep in touch with the friends I already have.

I hope I'll have the courage to face whatever changes God may see fit to throw at me head-on, and accept changes in myself as well.

I hope my family and I will remain in good health and protected. Eye on the sparrow, arms around us.

Most of all, I pray I'll learn to accept myself for who I am, and know (consciously and unconsciously) that being different isn't always a negative thing. No matter what others may think about me, as long as I'm content and satisfied with my lot, that's all that matters.

(blow out the candles)

(tuck the wishes in the wax and wisps and smoke and cake)

(it's a new year.)

Amen.





Thank you guys so much for being there, always. ♥

It's that time of the year again, guys - the closing end of 2012, and Christmas Day! I've been lazy in posting again, but seriously, I'd kick myself if I miss posting on such a significant occasion. As I grow older, I find that Christmas is starting to seem a lot like every other day...and why shouldn't it? It isn't the day itself that is special per say; a lot of the cheer is generated via televised/radio programs and movies to put one in the mood. Heck, if we want to get really technical about it, we're not even celebrating on the right date!

But the events associated with the day itself, that's the reason why we're celebrating. That's why we're even able to sing and be joyful - peace on earth, goodwill to man, all those promises of hope and joy? Salvation and eternity? Bought for us by the child born in a manger in Bethlehem on a quiet, ordinary night.

(Thanks to the birth though, the night was anything but ordinary, but the Jews didn't know that yet, did they? xD)

Of course, Christmas carols and gifts are nice and good, but well, John 3:16, guys. John 3:16, always. ♥

Merry Christmas, everyone/Happy Birthday, Jesus!

And to all a good night. ♥

Got the snatches of a few lines when washing out the world's grossest rice pot (seriously) and rolled with it. Gotta love those random 'wtf-inspiration' moments.

I like the rhyme scheme of this one. May edit/clear it another day. In other news, procrastination is still alive, whoo!

but quietly, that shop stands;

There is a shop, weathered and old
A little off the way
Quiet, decrepit and cold
To eyes it might waylay.

Once, it was bright with paint and dreams
Lit up on Opening Day
Yet now, though wrought with human whims
Its calm knows not decay.

Through sales and flops, messy bank loans,
The ever-changing name
The shop made out of brick and stones,
The shop remains the same

Inside, the owners, staff and some
patrons walk to and fro
The shop watches the people come
Watches the people go

Stacked high on shelves patterned with dust
Amongst the lifeless wares,
Some greedy lust, a dash of trust
A pocketful of cares.

Oh, if these walls could just but speak
A single word or more
I'd gladly pay for what I seek
within this kindly store.