Category: Uncategorized

In my yout’…
Head down, workin’ dog like, frustration dammin’ grindstone so deep
I thought laughin’ was impossible…so many miles to go….sleep….well
Then a boss’s question was answered by me, “you see, Hose’ can’t.”
In a lick of a moment, my heart sparked a hope, nope, no, don’t ya don’t deserve it put yer head back down, as query two out of no…
Where an’ I answered so F’n boldly, quick like a squirrel up a tree. A rabbit down a hole, no, a jet zippin’ through the sky, “I’ll go” . “You’ll go?” “I’ll go.”
Then the pause of pauses my heart pumps like leopard on the hunt
The noise inside blows away the silence of the room and somethin’
Hears. “ok, you’ll go”.
Africa. Tanzania. Hotel. Taxi. Swim in the Indian Ocean. Ahh… Kenyan Crew; of two, cute young couple. Coolest Client ever. Puddle-jumper plane, postage stamp grass “airfield” in the brush. Offer of breakfast! (No, please…got to film!) No elephants, don’t care. Great shoot, great shots, wherever we turn. 3 yr old with a bicyle rim and a stick, rolling fun. Dawn, students sweeping the dust to clean the school “grounds” mixes with sunlight creating a magical mist causing gasps. Heavenly. Shower via water, bucket heated, then into a canvas bag upside down with a spout, best of my life.
A year later, Coolest friend ever, formerly coolest client…ever returns to the village and premiers “The Day The Lights Came on” in Ngarembe, Tanzania. Pure kind sweet joy laughter – jamboree as the citizens enjoyed each other on the screen… some their first movie ever. A dream to dream to see to plan to fly to do to enjoy to surprise, to love.

You’re altering my core,
Diminishing my fear and turning it into love like an alchemist.
Your gentle gaze and melting smile shines through endless dark and
stormy nights.
Your wise and tender words work way beyond the intellectual mind.
Science and research are the building blocks and touchstones for you to
reach the brain and heart,
You invigorate every molecule of the soul.
You are the very essence of loving-kindness,
The positive pull we so desperately need.
Awakens every lost attempt to love and be loved.

Pushing through these feelings,
Pulling me from your existence.
Letting go and moving on,
Moving forward and coming back on.

What is passion?
You are only in my mind.
When too much desire,
Breaking me apart every time.
Who to adhere?
You are not here.
Where to begin?
No moment to be seen.

Our love is like a poison,
Breaking us into pieces.
Slowly turning in to serum,
Of promises and illusions.
You are my addiction,
Healing my intention.

But we have this strong connection,
Drawing each other like magnet in both directions,
Pulling in and out with discretion,
Now in doubt for any solution.

How to stop from this obsession?
You wear me out in collision.
Tired of this tireless conjunction,
Thinking to begin halting the passion.
Still afraid living in oblivion.

I am with myself with you,
Not so great without you.
We both know this is not a great move,
For loving you no one will approve.

Maybe this is not a time for the both of us,
See you next lifetime is what I always say to the both of us.
Everything is now laid blocked,
Fate is sealed and locked.

What to say?
We exist in disarray.
Finding what we cannot lay,
Both of us feeling dismay.

Earth and water grow trees below the world up high;
As the day’s end combines air and fire in the sky…

I painted you years ago in complementary hues
Your warm orange sunset and cool trees of blue

No matter the season you always had warm weather
But even in the heat there was an oasis in the desert

Long ago I named you “Sunset with Blue Trees”
Many years later you began sprouting new leaves

I have never gone travelling without a camera in my hand
Documenting all my adventures on a far away land

I remember my former supervisor used to say
The locals see less in their lifetime than I see in one day

A friend of mine began to see new light in his city
After seeing what I see through my photography

He thanked me for showing him the world through fresh eyes
And encouraged me to do more back home as we bid goodbye

Moving into the year two thousand and twenty
I feel I have gained new insight and clarity

Now every time I see a beautiful sunrise
I remember to see the world through fresh eyes

© Copyright Mui-Ling Teh

Mui-Ling Teh – Art | Photography | Poetry | Miniature Origami
https://muiling.com/

[So, it began like]

So, it began like
I have a dream of the
perfect, lovely evening.

So, it began like
Well, hello.
Is this seat taken?

So, it began like
Why it’s for you.
—Thanks—smiling.

So, it began like
I’m looking
forward to
seeing The
Little Shop
of Horrors.
—So am I.

So, it began like
Boy, looks like you
really work out.

So, it began like
Yea, it’s an obsession
with me.

So, it began like
I wish I had such
a problem.

So, it began like
It looks like you’re
quite fit yourself.

So, it began like
I swim, almost
a meditative ritual.

So, it began like
—during intermission—
What’s your drink?
—I’ll have whatever
you’re having.

So, it began like
Vodka tonic with
a splash of grenadine.
—Fine by me.

So, it began like
—later—
stars bursting across
the galaxies—
I don’t live far
from here—I
don’t know why
that popped out of
my mouth.

So, it began like
No worry, I’d like
other things touching
that perfect mouth.

So, it began like
Let’s go
and I’ll make
you a double
at home.

So, it began like
Fine by me.
—eight hours later—
I say: Stay for
French toast.

So, it began like
Well, I could
just stay . . .

So, it began like
Fine by me.
—now twenty-seven
years and counting . . .

Too Early, Too Soon

Green drapes blocked her view.
First cries weren’t heard,
but the chills told her
a part of her was taken
too early, too soon.

Even body-numbed,
the chills came fierce,
coldest inside her
because her 28-week guest
was out
too early, too soon.

The chills a rite of passage,
tearing the veil
between woman and mother.
Crossing that line, no turning back.
Mama’s first
too early, too soon.

Another human,
raw and tiny,
living and fighting in a bright, cold world.
Damn the disease that wrung him
from Mama
too early, too soon.

Where was her prize for passage?
Wrapped in plastic and whisked out
in a box by robed strangers.
Covered faces and pinched eyes
fixing Mama
too early, too soon.

The chills rocked Mama.
Careful strangers covered her arms.
Mama smiled and held still.
The lifetime of pretense had started.
Too-chill Mama
too early, too soon.

stick your tongue out, by Pavel Frolov

what if wearing masks is worse than
isolation
an entire generation short of social
cues

and what if everyone is making a
face
underneath their mask, like a
silly weird crazy
grimace
stretching lips showing
teeth

sticking out your
tongue
means different things in different
cultures
agreement and respect, or
rudeness and disgust, or a sexual
provocation

non-verbal communication
with eyes and eyebrows
gives your forehead
wrinkles

OLD MAN, by Mirjana Grbic

I LL NEVER BE SO CLOSE TO THE SKY
WHILE WATCHING DEEP INTO YOUR EYES
AND ALL MY TIREDNESS WHICH PUSH ME DOWN
WHILE I COUNTING SCARS IN MY MIND
THAN FEELING OF OLD MEMORIES
I DON’T FIND
AS AN OLD MAN WITH NO DESIRE
AS AN OLD MAN WITH THE FIRE
ONE WHO GETS HIM HIGHER AND HIGHER
TO A PLACE WHICH IS A MIRROR OF YOUR FACE
BEAUTY AND SUNGLIGHT TO THE SPACE
LIKE DAY BEFORE AND AFTER DAY
WHEN ALL SHADOWS PASS AWAY
THAN BRIGHTNESS OF YOUR SMILE
JUST PUT ME IN YOUR EYES
AND ALL MY BEING VIBRATING FAR
SO FAR TO A NEW STAR
FOLLOW THE DREAM UNTIL IS DONE
IN THE SPACE
WHERE INFINITE SUNSHINE
FLICKERS TO MOONLIGHT

THE PAINTING “OLD MAN” BY MIRJANA GRBIC

Frank
~ A poem by Robert Evans ~

As I sit here
in your Jacuzzi
on a balmy
Palm Springs night
the sound of your music
fills the air
I take a sip of wine
and think
of how
it must have been
A thousand voices
in idle chatter
the clink of glasses
peals of laughter
spaghetti dinners
made by your mamma
Famous guests
Dean and Sammy
Joey and Peter
Shirley M.
Marilyn M.
Jack K.
Cary
So Many
So Many
And now
as I enjoy
your music
I know…
you will live
forever…
your way