CALL OF THE CARDINAL

CALL OF THE CARDINAL

A million dreams burn and shine like stars serenading the distant moon

As I listen to the haunting songs of larks and the nightingales that croon

Swimming beneath the ocean and soaring above the clouds

Dancing on a blanket of snow or building my home on a treetop

But life is a broken winged bird that always trips and falls

Even when a red robin or a cardinal coos and calls

A dim spark sets ablaze the fall colors in the bleak nights

When dreams knock on my door wearing shimmery lights

Life plays a tug of war, a toy with my heartstrings,

Yet the roses smudge bright and good luck they bring

Closing my eyes and waving a silver wand

Sizzling like a meteor and traveling like the shooting star in the blue beyond

Diving into my dreams and cooking up a storm

Embracing my flaws, the ember of passion keeping me warm

Faraway from familiar forests and villages,

Yonder the vast spread of placid lakes, turbulent seas and rivers

Winding roads with twists and turns

Turning a corner with unknown bends albeit in my resolve–firm!

Uphill is the climb, slanting and very steep

Standing defiantly as the Oak with sinewy roots dug deep

Dreams in the wayward wind sail over brooks and glade

Like a butterfly seeking the rose for honeyed nectar on the florid brocade

A sprinkle of dew over mushrooms and clover,

Quivering in the chill yet smoldering with a fragrance of lavender

Dreams are heavenly chants by angels without any feathery wing

Harbingers of promised moonlight and the crimson sun rising

I named it my symphony,

A golden cloud amidst dripping mist and melancholy

Tucked away from all the luster and dazzle,

It glows lambently by the starshine and a mellow candle.

Pic Courtesy: Pixabay

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CHẠ̀WKHRĀW (Chxw̒kh rxw̒)

As usual, at the dot of 8 pm, the Guzheng plays its stirring chords, the haunting notes beginning a slow sweep, rising to a powerful crescendo and alternating with a tranquil ebbing of melody surfing me along the waves of soul-stirring, yet a serene stretch of an hour every day. I make it a point to sit right beside my dining room window to bask in this lulling sound therapy as my neighbor downstairs diligently plays on this zither, oblivious to my admiration. What a luxury it is to have a live orchestra while I savour the last meal of the day. It's a welcome distraction to the otherwise jarring squabbling of the playful neighbourhood children. The Chạ̀wkhrāw of this– that the musical household might move one day is a foreboding thought. Foreshadowing this, deeply ingrained in me is the shattering news I had received upon returning to Singapore after an 8 month absence here. The Ramadan festive season was fast approaching at the end of March but the apar...

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ANAM CARA

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GATOS MEUS QUERIDOS

Chapter 1 Muay The Warrior Cat Muay Thai came to be called so for the feisty and spirited little thing she was, reminiscent of the intense and energetic martial art of Muay Thai . Her bold personality inspired me to give her a name that reflected her sass and vigor. Muay Thai's antics were the stuff of legends. She was a buzz of energy, always getting into mischief and mayhem. Whether she was chasing invisible bugs, leaping over furniture like an acrobat or wrestling with toys, Muay Thai was a force to be reckoned with. Her favorite pastime was "attacking" my hands and feet, using her lightning-fast reflexes and razor-sharp teeth. It was a game she loved, and one that always left me in stitches. Despite her tough-as-nails persona, Muay Thai was also a total softie at heart. She loved nothing more than curling up in my lap and purring contentedly, her eyes gleaming with adoration before snoozing into the deepest of sl...

INSIDIOUS

The car juddered to a halt and refused to budge an inch forward. "Luke, I thought we had a full gas tank and the car was serviced just this weekend…what's wrong?" "I have no idea, Stella…We're in the middle of nowhere and my phone has no signal! But look there. It says 'Baby Museum' on the signpost. Shall we go in and see if they have a landline to get us out of this mess?" "Guess we have no choice. But I'm very uneasy, Luke. I just want to go home and rest. Our baby's due in a couple of weeks." "I'm so sorry, honey. But look at the brighter side. We can check out this place in advance." At the entrance were standees of Tinkerbell and Peter Pan. The lobby glowed with pastel pink shimmering lights. Mannequins of fairies lined the walls. Luke approached the front desk. "Yes sir, we will have it arranged. Meanwhile, why don't the both of you take a tour of our museum?" Stella took Luke's arm and hobbl...

Sangeetha Kamath

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