| Oasis [message #83] |
Fri, 02 May 2008 16:53 |
 eunicekwok
Messages: 6
Registered: May 2007 |
Junior Member |
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Oasis
Burying ourselves in our daily toil
We seldom notice the beauty around in the world.
Tick-tots of the clock become our heartbeats,
Its rhythms we follow to the dot on our feet.
It was like a dog chasing after its own tail,
Round and round the daily loop is our common tale.
Head down, back bent,
Our bodies are tense.
Tiredness consumes our vitality,
Reflecting the cruel fact of our mortality.
A haggard look with dreary eyes,
Little time to question why.
Your arrival has made more acute the time pressure,
As we juggle more at the expense of leisure.
You are dragged into this mill of daily churn.
Competing for attention, you have to wait for your turn.
Your daily routine has to dovetail mine,
Allowing only for behaviour which is fine:
No messing around with your food,
Co-operation when your teeth are brushed too,
When we are in a hurry, there is no running away,
No more arguing when Mummy has had her final say,
And going to sleep when it’s time for bed,
Or there will be no kisses on your forehead!
You always get excited on the announcement of a trip out.
Fetching your shoes and coat you are as swift as a trout.
You fill the car with giggles and musical hum,
Believing that the trip will bring lots of fun.
But half of the times you are disappointed,
As fun is not the purpose of the trip appointed.
Even though you bring along your favourite toys,
Shopping is not something you enjoy.
You smile no more being tied up in the pushchair
And shops are stuffy without much fresh air.
After a while, you fret about not walking,
But the clock is ticking away for car parking.
With a failed attempt to orchestra a family nap,
One Saturday I took you out for an afternoon walk.
For once, there was no time pressure
You could enjoy your stroll at leisure.
Behind you I trudged along with tired feet,
Still regretting about my aborted plan for sleep.
In sharp contrast your little footsteps were light,
Your smiles spoke of a heart full of delight,
For the simplest things under the sky:
The flowers, the shades, and the colours all captured in your eyes.
Even with your limited speech, you praised generously
As if saying to me, “Wake up and look around joyously.”
You are never discouraged to expect,
Welcoming whatever comes next with no suspect.
Arrogant we are in believing
Only one way is knowledge flowing.
Habits are the blinkers we wear over our sight,
Blinding us from seeing alternative sources of light.
Your simplicity confronts our rigidity,
Like an oasis you bring freshness and creativity.
Capable of marching forward in confident strides,
Your heart is open to discern all goodness in life.
You, the little one, have valuable lessons to teach
If only we will give the time to pause and read.
© Eunice Kwok 2002
(12 May 2002)
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