One lazy , gravity-defying Saturday afternoon

No 5

No 4

No 3

No 2

No 1

Altogether now

Happy Father's Day

Years and years ago, sometime back in the early 90s, I came across a poem in an article in the New Straits Times. There was however no title nor name of the poet that had written it. Drawn by its simplicity and clever use of metaphor, I immediately cut out the poem and have kept it for the past 16 odd years.

I took it out today and like any newspaper clipping kept over a long period of time, mine has now turned yellow, almost brown in fact.... but still intact.

"If there be a garden with blooms aplenty

But not the buzz of a single bee

Be it fresh and bright from morn ' to morn

Yet is it not lifeless without some sound?

For it is the way with Mother Nature

The humming bee completes the overture

So tell me not, dear ladies and friends

That we can live without our men

A day, a week... perhaps we can

But come a month, that is the end

We yearn and long for his caress

With him, we enjoy the comfort of our nest

Without him, ecstasy is never at its best."

****

To F my best bud... partner in crime... "along"...mr fixit...gadget-man...driver...court jester... DVD provider etc etc...

"HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!"

Father's Day dinner at Sunway Pyramid

The Holy Land

About 2 weeks ago, a few colleagues, a neighbour and a friend from primary school left to perform their umrah with their respective families. Seeing a few of them leave and having conversations with them prior to their journey, has left me feeling very nostalgic indeed.

It was exactly a year ago when I too had the priviledge of visiting the Holy Land. And I've often wondered since then, when my next visit would be. Sometimes in quiet moments alone, I'd have flashbacks of my time spent in Madinah and Mecca. I'm reminded of the prayers performed in the two great mosques and the feeling of calm and tranquility felt there. Often I'd find myself wishing I was back in Masjidil Haram, amongst the sea of people performing the tawaf or listening to the melancholic call of the azan beckoning all to perform the solat. I look forward and can't wait for the time when I'm given the opportunity to return to these two holy cities again. And I certainly hope that it wouldn't be too long of a wait.