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[instruth]

AUTUMN RENDEZVOUS

Autumn taking off to a rendezvous

Winter comes with a stabbing cold

I’m just as lonely as you are so blue

Spring returns with blossoms untold

Summer, to unfold a splendrous new

©Johnny J P Lee

29 April 2024

A Gogyoshi Poem (5)

Photos, J. P. Lee

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THE STORY OF MY LIFE

The story of my life

is no different from yours

We share the same story, you and I

Our entire life on earth is one long story

There is a beginning, there is birth

and the end is yet to come

Life begins with a cry

one big cry after an expulsion

The cry of life, our life at birth

the loud sound of living

one big scream at being alive

for we need to breathe

we must breathe to stay alive

We scream, so as to be heard,

“Hey! I am here. Listen to me!”

Times passes, day by day

minute by minute, moment by moment

moving onward, moving forward always

Thus, you and I must move on

moving on with the passing time

or both of us will become stagnated

A stream will stop flowing

when it is all clogged up, collecting

and accumulating much rubbish,

till the blockage is cleared

How to clear it, and start living again?

For a start, hold on to your regrets

Recall them, and remember them

I have an important point to make here

REGRETS are vey much alive,

they remain alive and are still alive

so long as we hold on to past mishaps,

to mistakes, errors and guilt of sins

Living in regrets is a lot of wasted time

for we are still locked in the past,

crippled, and paralyzed

Weep for them, release them by tears

It’s time to cry again, release them as fuel

as energy, as power to propel you onwards

to catch up with the time you have lost,

the time you have spent wasted, regretting

Release them so as to enable you to rewrite your story, your true story

our one true story

Then you and I will no longer be held in captivity by deception of unworthiness,

of poor self-esteem and by great fear,

by the stalling of time to attend to regrets

For there will be no more regrets

to block the pathway of our life journey

that will take you and I forward

to the realm of eternity

Therefore, when fate smiles on you

always smile back, but hold on to it

so you can give that smile away

to someone who really needs it

For a smile is worth nothing

until it is given away

That charity of smile is the beginning

of the rest of your life, a new beginning

without regrets, only the desire to live,

and continue living all the days of your life

©Johnny J P Lee

28 April 2024

Photos: J. P. Lee@

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RENDEZVOUS

Rendezvous

in the meadow

I await

your coming

patiently

©Johnny J P Lee

27 April 2024

A Gogyoshi Poem (5)

Photo Credit J. P. Lee

[instruth]

FANTASIES HELP TO CURE

Fantasies becoming timely liberators

Memories and emotions that one hides

Pain, fears, hurts and other agitators

Adventurers, explorers, freelance guides

Mediators, intercessors, or imitators

Journey to the past when trains delay

Futuristic trips, dreamier than imagined

Desired solutions gone obsolete today

Taming wild minds presently undermined

Lost, and torn between right and wrong

Found, the bitter taste hard to swallow

Spitting out the cure and just tag along

Next fantasy is mud in a puddle to wallow

Take the risk and charge like a blind bee

Hit the horn and get poked by the antler

Set the rules, simple, confidently to be

Hurt not the environment nor another

Ah! don’t hurt yourself while you’re at it

Fantasize the body thrills in mind and will

To the sky, sea or land, free to flip and flit

Roam the plains, run, jump, climb the hill

Let everything go, be weightless and float

No burden, no baggage, no heavy load

Stretch, be flexible, expand to the bloat

Conquer, over the bridge, walk the road

©Johnny J P Lee

27 April 2024

A Gogyoshiren Poem (25)

Photo Credit J. P. Lee

[instruth]

“How Do You Spend Your Free Time?”

Feeling free and easy

With time on your hands?

Get busy, don’t be lazy

Lend your ears and hands

Be observant, be attentive

Enter within, be connective

Feel yourself, feel for others

Judge yourself - bends, corners

Don’t come to conclusions

Make no assumptions

You don’t know the inner thoughts

of others, you think you do, but not

The amount you weigh is what you get

Leave all judgment to God, don’t forget

If you have no sin, cast the first stone

Let God be God, you be you, you alone

You are with God, if you do not sin

You are God then, if you have no sin

Live by the sword, and die by the sword

Live by the word, then speak God’s Word

© J P Lee

26 April 2024

A Gogyoshiren Poem (20)

Photos Credit, J. P. Lee

[instruth]

WHY NURSERY RHYMES?

Why nursery rhymes

why or why?

in the nick of time?

cry and cry

Rosemary to Thymes

Why nursery rhymes

to a soothing lullaby?

to stitch a time?

Oh, don’t you lie

Do tide or time?

A traditional rhyme

in poems or in songs

for a child in his prime

at where he belongs

as church bells chime

Popular cradle rhymes

in sequels, and in plays

Mother Goose in sublime

Tom’s Thumb on display

by a Pied Piper’s crime

A penny for a dime

asleep to buy a dream

honey in exchange for lime

la la sounds or a scream

on the stage to a talentime

By birth or by origin, define

hidden meanings keep a score

make a guess or do a refine

Boom! You just hit the core

Bye bye, o sweet valentine

Wind, strings, beat the drums

the music plays on and on

recite, sing, tap, blow and strums

the nursery rhymes dance on

chirp or whine, only a baby hums

Notes and verses rhyme

by history or by stories

shadows to play a mime

release by their memories

always, time after time

© J P Lee

26 April 2024

A Gogyoshiren Poem (40)

Photos Credit, J. P. Lee

[instruth]

The Gift Of Life In Daily Living

The gift of life in our daily living

comes with death and forgiving

to the fullness of its reality

by a rich experiential quality

in its entirety, to peace even in strife

Truth is the whole foundation of life

Humans are not without innate support

or care, for help comes in fortified escort

We are born to be free, freely unchained

in fear, to come alive and breathe again

We are equipped with life’s necessities,

however problematic, in life’s complexities,

senses in body, intellect of soul and mind

the will of spirit, and emotions combined

through daily interactions, interferences

We learn as we grow with experiences

We are capable to work at our feelings

that tell us we are well alive and living,

and we can stand united to rise together,

not indifferent to the suffering of others

These are corner stones, building tools

we use them to survive unless we are fools

Feelings are neutral, merely messengers

as initiators, to keep us out of dangers

to live well, for we have reliable teachers

Our experiences become our masters

to help build up our defenses, in conquest,

the hunted becoming hunters at their best,

the weaklings learning to become brave,

expanding, to ensure we will all be saved

© J P Lee

25 April 2024

A Gogyoshiren Poem (30)

Photos Credit, J. P. Lee

[instruth]

A TIME TO CHEER

A time to cheer

blue sky is clear

till dusk appears

and spring is here

sweet love endears

church bells all hear

I let loose my fear

sit and sip beer

in tattered wear

so very much freer

I run with the deer

troubles to steer

meet with my peers

the way we were

recalling the years

wild men and queers

put on high gear

wrestle with bears

nature’s laws adhere

welcome, joyful tears

©Johnny J P Lee

25 April 2024

A Gogyoshiren Poem (20)

Photos Credit: J. P. Lee

[instruth]

Everyone Needs Some Consolation

Everyone needs some consolation

a little understanding, a little care

a helping hand, a bit of attention

to be noticed, so you can share

whom you can give your smile

Even it be for just a while

It’s worth nothing until it is

given away freely to one

who has not, has none

Be sensitive to the needs

of another who is alone

who wants a little companion

to help make visible the unseen

- the hope in times of desolation

and make visible the face of God

©Johnny J P Lee

25 April 2024

A Gogyoshiren Poem (15)

Photos Credit: J. P. Lee

[instruth]

AN INNATE VIRTUE

an innate virtue

a gift of the self to oneself

something more than nobility

that no man can give

and none can take away

it is in the heart of everyone

for it grows within oneself

speaks to and stays with the self

to protect one’s integrity

to love and to cherish

it cannot be bought

for it is priceless

Man will die to preserve it

for it is more than life itself

and that is Honor

©Johnny J P Lee

24 April 2024

A Gogyoshiren Poem (15)

Photos Credit: J. P. Ler

[instruth]

DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL

Prayer helps me to overcome

all failures, deceits and fear

I close my eyes to be lifted home

as usual, to every one who’s dear

plonk! I find myself in a free fall, hark!

A resounding voice, “yourself be told”

unexpectedly, everything turns dark

the cathedral where I pray out my soul

indeed, my soul is out in the eerie park

from within the deep abyss I’m consumed

A black bird perches in vastness of night

over the dark water, giant waves resume

I am stranded, wandering alone in fright

oh! scrawly figures falling, tall black trees,

casting shadows and throwing punches

I cry our, o blessed mother, help me

call your angels, save me from munches

light comes through above the tall trees

a breath of invisible air frees me from fear

My neglected soul calling me to intimacy

©Johnny J P Lee

23 April 2024

A Gogyoshiren Poem (20)

Dark Pictures, elegyforadream

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BACK TO YOUR SELF

When there is a need

The drawer is drawn

A pair of gloves

When the pot is hot

A feathered coat

When the air is cold

When chores are done

All back to the closet

When a horse tires

It is rested

When labor is completed

Workman is tasked with more

Instead of being discharged

and getting paid

Before leaving the house

Always look to the sky

There are signs

That tell you the truth

To show you the way

Back to your self

©Johnny J P Lee

23 April 2024

A Gogyoshiren Poem (20)

Photo Credit J. P. Lee

[instruth]

The Inky Depth Of Poetry

The inky depth of romantic poetry

As hard courage guides the pen

Thick, as in a wooded forestry

Greens camouflage the den

Frown for such a greenery

Before the artist starts to paint

Palette of colors woos the brush

Braves to kneel, knighted as saints

Wielded swords, enemies be crushed

Ladies and gentlemen, dames & swains

As the pen is mightier than the sword

Blood from the wounds turn inky blue

Timely reinforcement is sent by words

Peace is restored by a conquest true

Deaths of soldiers, we can ill-afford

©Johnny J P Lee

23 April 2024

A Gogyoshiren Poem (15)

Photos Credit, Unsplash Images

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Still I Wonder

I wonder why

I wonder now

Looking to the sky

Still I wonder how

No reason why

In prison now

Far too shy

To tell you how

Loitering high

Freedom, wow!

Hit the ground, that’s why

Ended in a cage, now

Don’t talk to me

I will talk back,

My way to be

©Johnny J P Lee

23 April 2024

A Gogyoshiren Poem (15)

Photos Credit John Lim

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WRITTEN ON PAGES OF BLUE

Reading from pages of blue

Torn from an old autograph book

Flows a poignant line or two

Stirring rhymes in corners and nooks

Living words from a hidden alcove

Pledges of true friendship and love

Carved and signed in thickets of tears

By the wishes of ones who were dear

So that if ever the lands, seas or dimes,

Through the undenying passage of time

Shall ever dim the mindful thoughts in me

Your golden hand from these living pages

Shall again imprint in me a lasting memory

In a moment of passion in soulful rampage

In delicate intimacy, softly tenderly tame

Remembering unto calling out your name

With hopeful dreams, preciously sustained

Recollection of sweet intimacy as retained

On these pages of blue, shall be contained

©Johnny J P Lee

22 April 2024

A Gogyoshiren Poem (20)

Photos Credit J. P. Lee

[instruth]

ON MY OWN

On my own when I was seven

orphaned, fostered to rich parents

at a mansion with a big plantation

only child adopted, status devotion

a pretty girl, pony tailed, gently sweet

Bubbly, smile a lot, small dainty feet

loved, pampered, soft red hair with curls

cuddly, tender, precious as a rare pearl

a favourite among guests, visitors too

relatives, friends, invited or out of the blue

At seventeen, young men lined as befits

to impress me with their charms and wits

including neighbors, just to mention a few

sons of my parents’ friends, and nephews

I was blessed from poverty to self worthy

I married at twenty two to raise a family

to an eligible kind and handsome bachelor

only son of my father’s brother, the elder

My son continues the name of the family

Edward l, Edward ll and I am Blessed Emily

©Johnny J P Lee

22 April 2024

A Gogyoshiren Poem (20)

Photos: Unsplash Images

[instruth]

FLOWERS COME IN SIX BASKETS

Oh! Lovely flowers come in six baskets

Will you think of me Monday to Saturday

One for each day till we meet on Sunday

when I am left with a dollar in my pocket

to buy us an ice cream to slurp together

©Johnny J P Lee

21 April 2024

A Gogyoshi Poem (5)

Photos, J. P. Lee