is an anthology of introspective poetic
musings that capture the essence of the author’s life journey in “thirds.”
The author believes everyone is a life poet at heart wanting out.
She shares how she uses poetry-writing as a crystallizing process
to unveil authenticity and to invoke others to self-examine their
raison d’être and to harness joie de vivre.

RAMROM RAPS inspires you to:

self-evaluate your life journey to glean wisdom for better steering ahead
tap the power of aligning your authentic self to life choices made
prioritize choices for a meaningful life as different stages in and out fade

PURCHASE online on BarnesandNoble.com or Amazon.com

Also Available on lulu.com
via this LINK if you like your very own copy or to give to someone to enjoy!

a pause
for prosperity applause
just because
countering human tendency to nurse only loss

for it’s plain in human plane
to complain in pain
rather than thanksgiving to celebrate gain

how prosperous
to be able to enjoy friendship pure
through thick and thin together endure

how treacherous
to live out living moments without buckling to pressure
anchored in infallible Rock, a life to treasure

how preposterous
to have health and working for meaningful cause
even without, to rejoice silver linings instead of gathering moss

how marvellous
each uniquely formed and anointed with different gifts
equipped to handle peaks, valleys and rifts

how humorous
just one night
with no curb of rain in sight
we reined in entertainment plight
to montalvo arts center we took flight
to endure 37 shakespeare plays condensed
endorphin released, seratonin dispensed

how amorous
to have noel coward’s insight
to expose lovers’ plight
as “private lives” fight in flight and fright

how prosperous
to have a way out
what upcoming ash wednesday and easter is all about
from jeremiah 29:11 spout “for I know the plans I have for u…
plans to prosper u and not to harm u, to give u
a future and a hope”,
to grope as we slide slippery slope
what prosperous cue

what a delight
what balanced insight
from mustafa akyol
islamo-tribalism in “allah”-in-bible boil
in jan 12 turkey daily news, his opinion rendered oil

source: unknown circulated over internet

protester slogan spotted at kl mosques: “Allah,” they said, “is only for us.”
ramrom counters  “if God is for us, who can be against us? a romans 8:31 verse

what’s it all about alfie
is it just for the moment we live
what’s it all about
when you sort it out, alfie
are we meant to take more than we give
or are we meant to be kind?

source: wiki

and if, if only fools are kind, alfie
then i guess it is wise to be cruel
and if life belongs only to the strong, alfie
what will you lend on an old golden rule?

as sure as i believe there’s a heaven above
alfie, i know there’s something much more
something even non-believers can believe in

i believe in love, alfie
without true love we just exist, alfie
until you find the love you’ve missed
you’re nothing, alfie

]]> http://shirley-kwan.com/?feed=rss2&p=1226 0 http://shirley-kwan.com/?p=1204 http://shirley-kwan.com/?p=1204#comments Fri, 01 Jan 2010 08:01:13 +0000 Shirley http://shirley-kwan.com/?p=1204 a time to reflect
resolutions to eject
choices to elect
expectations to reject

source: wiki
if everyman…

if i am in a land knowing nobody, i can be somebody
intoxicated with toddy and become bawdy lordy

if i had the means bursting at the seams, i’d do wonders it seems
but all that glitters and gleams gets blown to smithereens

if i had that cushy job, i wouldn’t have to mop and sob
hmm, i’d likely end up a slob, a snob or a glob

if i had more, i’d soar and won’t be sore
if i had that talent, i won’t be such a bore, my ego would roar

if i could erase my pain and shame, i’d gain in life game
if i had everything i wish, any excuse is lame, no cause to blame
instead temptations to tame, irk to flame and maim

if only i do away the crutches, i’d rid of my grudges
if i can get away with my fudges, can i live better with them smudges?

for romans 3:23 say all have fallen short of glory
but we can choose a better life story
or choose doomed gory
no matter how sorry
narrow is the way to divine storey
so choose right lorry
to transport back to Glory

ahh…but don’t be bitter
don’t quit..finish the job, God can’t use a quitter
philippians 1:6 promises life sweeter
cos’ our Creator
“..who began a good work in you,
will bring it to completion..” till He’s due

so boldly usher in the new year, keep the ball moving
fulfill your divine purpose, keep on trucking

meanwhile, if only i could be understood
i would not need to brood
the intensity of my humble intent and star
can only reach so far

a miff with if
only brings grief
transform conditional tiff
to unconditional in a jiff
that’s my resolution beef…

” if i were a rich man,
ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
all day long i’d biddy biddy bum.

Lord who made the lion and the lamb,
You decreed i should be what i am.
would it spoil some vast eternal plan?
if i were a wealthy man.”

]]> http://shirley-kwan.com/?feed=rss2&p=1204 0 http://shirley-kwan.com/?p=1195 http://shirley-kwan.com/?p=1195#comments Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:37:14 +0000 Shirley http://shirley-kwan.com/?p=1195 let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start
when u read the Word, u begin with genesis
with the Gospel, His coming was darkness nemesis

source: wiki advent

pbcc bernard lighted second advent
with ancient hail gladdening light chant
shining the Light in john 1:1-5 rant
the reason for the season God-sent

reminding us our beginning Might that was God, Word and Light
today’s service with downunder relatives was joyous delight
after dimsum, we drove to micro center site
the guys caved in on last day sale apple bite

a gladdening chorus indeed
blessed Christ-mass creed

we hymn the Father, we hymn the Son
we hymn the Spirit, wholly Divine
no one more worthy of songs to be sung
to the Giver of Life, all glory is Thine

last sunday we cruised
to another adventus
time to reflect
how we survived 2009 intact

it was breathless for me
the gift of time did flee with glee
raced to connect with past, pause for cause
i pray it earned heavenly applause

2009 was launched with mother etherized to snowy dew
economy gone to dogs, a retrospection cue
a rush to wisely use time gift
to touch lives and life to lift

culminating in “ramrom raps” book
my nib ripped and shook
after trip to europe, africa and asia – just one look, that’s all it took
thank God for His advent, we can be thankful for His mercy to be off the hook

a blessed season to all
all creatures small and tall
no matter how humanly high, short of glory we fall

’tis the season to realize our folly
rejoice in Him and be forever jolly

it’s been said that God’s presence
is more important than presents

christmas is essence
to review “is life futile” in His absence?

]]> http://shirley-kwan.com/?feed=rss2&p=1182 0 http://shirley-kwan.com/?p=1175 http://shirley-kwan.com/?p=1175#comments Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:18:31 +0000 Shirley http://shirley-kwan.com/?p=1175 whoa man
what’s a woman?

a daughter
awaiting for manslaughter?

a wife
to birth life?
a mother to family strife?

a sister
to mister
to minister?

a worker to toil
to till hard soil
to rake in the spoil
to slave to a festering boil?

an article to use
or abuse?

some have the choice
to voice
many get lost in the noise
many suppressed by power-hungry boys
many treated as toys

at end of day it’s a humane issue
how we treat each other regardless of gender to take issue

words are cheap
actions speak deep
golden rule to keep

by according dignity to another
we become a dignified human order

educate the mind and heart
a smart positive start

niew moves ahead
seeking to empower and to educate
for it’s been said:

a hope prism
our mind and heart to unprison

nam’s the vision
niew’s the mission

]]> http://shirley-kwan.com/?feed=rss2&p=1175 0 http://shirley-kwan.com/?p=1164 http://shirley-kwan.com/?p=1164#comments Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:50:02 +0000 Shirley http://shirley-kwan.com/?p=1164 hey heheh hay
did u know there’s a national dictionary day?
whimsical ramrom to get underway
carpe diem tellitslant clay to splay

yesterday was splendid display
of going with the flow, come what may
jkap intent to bike on this side of the bay
turned out a different play
rummage through the closet to see what treasures lay
revive mac performa 578 in box left to decay

it booted, it’s alive
into mac’s drive let’s dive
darn it, where’s the mouse
a search to arouse
give up but let’s not grouse
head on to “weird stuff” old parts to browse
eureka, for one dollar we got the mouse
wait, get haircut before we head back to house

it works
jk smirks
old mac game fun lurks
for young turks

the afternoon was lost
sim city dried and died without water cost
and biking became lost cause
while taipan gets busy, mousakka and lamb dinner to boss
and moi, her “yellow face” to gloss
david hwang intertwines real with surreal with applause

“[you] take words like ‘asian’  and ‘american.’
like ‘race’ and ‘nation,’
mess them up so bad
no one has any idea what they even mean anymore.’

today revelled playing tetris on the mac 
had a revelation attack
whoa, life’s alot like tetris game
the trick is to focus on the flame
to keep alive and max score
to fit the pieces life throws at you galore
take the time in easy levels to plug holes and correct flaw
go slow to keep low
cos later, u will reap what u sow
as bricks fall at faster clip, you’ll need to go with flow
don’t let the faster music your game blow
stay cool as snow

yea, eventually we die, game over
but till then, stay sober
daniel had logged highest score 10093
after some practice, i ranked # three

tetris
simple rules for life bliss
revelling with elation
a tetris revelation

life throws at us controllable and uncontrollable pieces
ah – the secret of not going into pieces
until one ceases
need to figure how to run the race
to obtain prize, run at the “right” pace
and reserve a place
for life thereafter in outer space

ruminating last night’s preview of “tell it slant”
portrayed poet emily dickinson blunt
raw wounds open, poetically uncut
dejected emotions ejected from her heart
such vulnerabilty exposed with flair
“you cannot solder an abyss with air”

drizzle dickinson with melodious music clues
joan mcmillen’s licks dress emily’s blues
giving guilt a lilt on how she ticks with a kick
sharmon hilfinger’s brilliant script sync’d oblique

ramrom’s entry leans
lopsided logic gleans
the paradox of the doctor to our ills
spirit resides inside us that heals or kills
spills or seals
freezes or deals

it seems i am going retro
riding on current life metro
directing energies at activities that got me here
powering the cistern in reverse gear

a backward forward momentum, putting back in the jar
alma maters of sorts benefit from my gusto rah-rah
from education institutions, corporations to places and people touched
volunteer mentoring, alum rep, board member, ex-schoolchums cheerleader and such

with poetry lording new circular rings
fresh synthesized introspection it brings
my hands actioned by head and heart bathed in baca springs
to garner new feathers for worn-out wings

on tuesday pondered on evolving hpaa board mission and roles
on wednesday, sifted pearls of wisdom from panel of 4 ceo’s
at thursday’s synergos event, we treaded gingerly on global ethics issue
come tgif – let’s have a fno bbq -  way overdue

on saturday, knee healed for tracking woodside hills
to experience  aristophanes’ comedy thrills
with god dionysus to hades a-wandering
dead poet euripides vs aeschylus to retrieve back to athens after a bard-bantering
judging and weighing their words and tease
the “art poetic like a pound of cheese”

there we go again, retro back to the starter fuel of this blog
ramrom is indeed cheesy fog to unclog

finish off the week
no longer weak-knee bleak

with lydia, judy and ml to wrap up the day
dining at “wrap this” food play
head for mission city coffee for “strings of comedy”
fred pinsocket starts off release of rippling rhapsody

hondasprocket
in retro socket

time to go to bardmart
fill the cart
with words smart
throw a dart
be profound to confound
play sound to propound

august was a month of walk
around country club with christine to stalk and talk
a month of birthday parties to chalk

neighbor joy turns 80
bey turk and cs both beyond 50
GGG moonyit around the globe on fatt-fatt nifty

reunions abound
annual intercon gathering this time around
27-year catchup chirpings with melody found
a month of new and old unravellings astound

yesterday i saw double
removing stones in the yard did i huddle
my muscles did grumble
to linda’s hot tub bubble did i tumble
floating on margaritas, seeing 2 sistahs did i crumble
then off to cupertino park did i rumble
to watch shakespeare infamous fumble
comedy of double trouble

amidst backdrop of flying geese and sunset glow
antipholus and dromio twins intertwine blow after blow
while lydia and i on endorphins gloated and floated
with picnic meal of rillettes, pluot, okra and noodles digested

august a montage
of cozenage
28 “years have i but gone in travail”
now strumming life’s lyre

wednesday is crescendo peak of my week
starts with pbcc international group crowd to seek

followed either by shoreline walk and lunch
or rinconada water punch
then sit down emails and volunteer matters to crunch
before i know it, taipan’s culinary dinner delights to feast and munch

http://hubblesite.org/  permission granted

but today -something special- the stars had in store
with grace selecting for sharing, verses 5-7 in psalm 84
let ramrom unfold and tell u more

⁵ blessed are those whose strength is in You,
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

⁶ as they pass through the valley of baca,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.

⁷ they go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.

there was discuss and sharing around verbs of “set” ,  “decided” ,  aka choosing
choosing to bless, choosing to heal, choosing to get out of pity party of own choosing for losing
recalling 2006 asilomar retreat lessons of moving from peacekeeper to peacemaker
choosing to let go, surrender to higher power to resolve, reconcile, and takeover

baca is hebrew for weeping, tears
ironically, baca is dry from clogged fears and lacking cheers
till we choose to make it a place of springs of divine drools
along with heavenly showers converting arid baca to valley of refreshing pools
to float and wade through tribulations from strengh to strength
till earthly journey ends and afterlife track starts before God in Zion at eternal length

priceless sharings poured out from our spouts
i priced the sharing, so symbolically swam today 84 routes
lots to chew on
timely light shone
source

God didn’t mean for chewbacca to travel solo forlorn…

cyber-surfing led me to a pulitzer-prize winning herman wouk
his “write a page a day..it will add up” quote
my mind awoke with that spoke
crossing 200 entries mark, ramrom  record just broke

a wellspring sprung by pbcc bernard’s abel epiphany
set me reconnecting reconfigured pieces of reflections litany

ghent altarpiece detail -  source: wiki

abel’s life was cut short, slain by cain
with enoch, it was God to retrieve and gain
however with noah, others died, whether avenged, revenged, or in vain

a stark “everyone dies but not everyone lives”,  what sane bane
bernard resurrecting the purpose of our mortal life pain
those who keep the faith, whether martyrs or with sin stain

i was entertaining my spirit on the piano with old  hymns of past
eureka blast of journey paths was cast

fueled by a youth group in action with bay area interfaith org
bingo, i spot how a win-win of ymai with senior center can be forged
in addition to a “90-day deadline to publish” blind courage lodged

fueled by taipan’s “como agua  para chocolate” lunch outpouring
home-baked beans, belgian beer, blutwurst and hollandaise sauce over eggs on toast zing

ramrom singing
we have a love, a love you don’t find everyday
followed by david cook’s “this is the time of my life” as i compose this, 96.5 fm radio waves play
thank Heavens, lurking dragons to slay

crooning along with mariah carey
who knows what miracle
u can achieve
when u believe

it only takes a spark to get the fire going
and soon all those around
can warm up in its glowing

took swee from rome
a trip to hometown roam
a connects b
b connects c
c connects d
and e-f-g, o gee

soon  class74 network gets busy
then came a tsunami of emails across the seas

cyberspace is wide expanse
but arghh, there lurks better sense
to unite and park lost&found memories in one place
and ride the tsunami together with mellowing feisty grace

so our rendition of georgygirl  got birthed
filled with great hope and mirth
to harness the special talents we once were and now wear
our dreams to share
our unique souls to comingle and bare
what collective purpose shall we seek and care to bear?
we have no time to sit and stare
let’s rock the world while we have plenty to spare

hey there, georgy girl
there’s another georgy deep inside
bring out all the love u hide
and oh, what a change there’d be
the world would see
a new georgy girl!

with a purpose larger than us to make the world better, i dare
by george, we got it,
the rain does fall mainly in the plain
a nice dilemma, i do declare…

there must be 27 ways not to leave your lover
27 reasons to hang on to the 4-leaf clover

1.    for we’re destined God’s gift and blessing to each other
2.    for together, we can travel further

3.    for great eats to snare and share
4.    for lows along with highs to bear

5.    for fresh-brewed expresso 27 years straight
6.    for home-cooked meals our tummies to satiate

7.    for as complementary opposites, we opened up more options
8.    for mustering only the “best” decisions

9.    for cautious caring – yea, don’t mess with his date
10.  for 24×7 consistency and loyalty, but don’t u be late

11.   cos’ we can’t get there alone
12.   cos’ you’re shrewd to the bone

13.   cos’ we can count on u to raise jk right
14.   cos’ we can agree to disagree in a fair fight

15.   cos’ we harmonize more than we terrorize
16.   cos’ you’re the responsible surprise and prize

17.   cos’ without your touch, the garden won’t bloom
18.   cos’ the grass gets cut and weeds are doom

19.   cos’ bills somehow get paid
20.   cos’ things get done without words being said

21.   so we have to stay stuck, together we cluck
22.   so we depend on each other to increase our buck

23.   so we can better live out our callings and dream
24.   so we can fill and overflow life’s brim

25.   so we can extend blessings and give to others more
26.   so we can divine purpose together soar

27.   so looking forward to new chapters to score and roar…

so, join ramrom to celebrate and positively brood
let our souls sync and sing in marley mood

bob marley spotted in essaouira, morocco

i wanna love u and treat you right
i wanna love u every day and every night
we’ll be together with a roof right over our heads
we’ll share the shelter of my single bed
we’ll share the same room, yeah! – for Jah provide the bread
is this love – is this love – is this love
is this love that i’m feelin’?

and…

one love, one heart
let’s get together and feel all right
as it was in the beginning (one love)
so shall it be in the end (one heart)
give thanks and praise to the Lord and we will feel all right
let’s get together and feel all right

1 samuel 7 revealed “mizpah” this past sunday
used by brian morgan in context of imploring us to examine our idols to slay
mizpah, a place referenced in old testament, also meaning “watch”
idol choices made which our lives could botch
mizpah – an emotional bond between people who are separated
includes bonds that death serated
cross-ref’d in genesis 31:49 which quotes “may the LORD watch between u and me
when we are absent one from the other”, to protect us from temptations glee

today, i picked up “emoonah”, hebrew for “faith”, explicated by marcus borg
in his july 1 2009 article in  “explorefaith” dot org

faith in a greater power that watches over u
my synthesis of “mizpah emoonah” hue
to reflect upon one’s choice of life rudder and pew

source: wiki

how befitting, a michael jackson croon at time of composing over 96.5fm koit impact
“u and i must make a pact
we must bring salvation back
yes – where there is love”…and mizpah emoonah,
He’ll be there, i’ll bet my mullah

ramrom morphing dare to bare…
He’ll reach out His hand to u
u must have emoonah faith in Him in all u do
just call His name and He’ll be there…

He’s always there to comfort me and u
’tis wise to build one’s world of dreams around Him
i’m so glad that i found heavenly dew

He’ll be there to mizpah-protect u
with an unselfish love that respects u
just call His name and He’ll be there

mj, rock your soul in the bosom of abraham…..
God bless thee, u “suffered” in entertaining the whole world
rest in peace eternally, away from worldly twirl
away from earthly mayhem…

the neighborhood seems to have gone to the ravens
sinister-looking blackbirds cawing that descend from dark caverns
i’ve been noticing them crows hovering since economic meltdown last year
triggering superstitious feelings from lurking memes of fear

learned about memes from wayne dyer’s “excuses begone”
like viruses, bad habits and excuses that replicate, infiltrate and spread, like nuclear bomb
according to richard brodie, author of “virus of the mind”
mind memes “have already infected governments, educational systems, and inner cities”, humanity is in a bind
“leading to some of the most pervasive and troublesome problems of society today,
youth gangs, welfare cycle, deteriorating public schools, growing government bureaucracy – such dragons hard to slay

today was a sad day for 2 stars
farrah fawcett returned to venus and michael jackson to mars

so ramrom reflectively sings
an extract from prav’s world “time has wings”
“…we’re here for a little while, we’re only passing by
time has wings and the golden moments quickly fly…”

so excuses begone
don’t be forlorn, let bygone be bygone
so goes the saying “we are what we eat”
“all that we are is the result of our thoughts” a buddhist doctrine repeat

so be alert and aware, harken to dharma of the soul
get aligned, contemplate and let thinking unfold
like dan caro, think possibility, not succumb to meme limitation
keep the faith, play your cards without intimidation
be willing like virginia woolf to “arrange whatever pieces come your way”
“make it work” the infamous tim gunn mantra play

take responsibility for your action and passion
conquer richard lipton’s biology of belief, pay the right attention
when u change the way u look at things, the things undergo mutation
“we are not victims of our genes”, so climb to a higher cove
to materialize “unlimited capacity to live a life overflowing with peace, happiness and love”

“live as if you were to die tomorrow.  learn as if you were to live forever.”
“lives, like money, are spent. what are you buying with yours?”
respectively, mahatma gandhi and roy h.williams implore

wisdom according to mark twain
catch his thought train
“20 years from now u will be more disappointed by the things u didn’t do
than by the ones u did do. so throw off the bowlines. sail away from the safe harbor
catch the trade winds in your sails. dream…discover…explore.”

more significant “…those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
they will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint….”
so be like the eagle in isaiah 40:31 to soar and life score

as psalm 16:11 turns to the Lord to claim
Thou wilt show me the path of life; in Thy presence is fullness of joy;
at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore”

’tis simple trust and obey – exhort your Creator and Him adore
it’s a ramrom circular caw
go, yield to Divine to conquer your dharma, sharpen your saw

…a little bit of this, a little bit of that
it doesn’t take much to get life-fat
a little bit of laughs, a little bit of pain
i’m tellin’ u it’s all in the game of life to tame

down pintxos with zurito and txakoli
an array of choices to make, resist or glean
how to lick life’s pintxos platter clean
cuidado – excess of obsess yields consequences of sin

in 2 weeks, we covered 3700 kilometers by car
from lyon to nice, san sebastian, barcelona, millau, avignon afar
our soul re-awakened to what could be had
to not think through “what next” will be tragically sad

when we still have the chutzpah to om-pa-pah
eyes to see, marvel in awe, ooo la lah
ears to listen, tastebuds to sample and baste
tongues to twist and culinary delights taste
legs to walk and pace from place to place
minds sharp enough for local haunts to trace
arms to hug and embrace hospitality grace
get lost to be amazed in love’s labyrinth maze

when we get on each other’s nerves
more than we enjoy each other’s serves
when travel yields more bruise
and becomes a chore, opt for cruise
before resorting to a nursing home noose
if u can, dwell first in chocolate mousse
before oblivion snooze
that’s when we sit on our buns
soak in and stare at rise and set of suns

someone sent me a story some time ago
now retold with ramrom modification glow

there were once 2 brothers who lived on the 75th floor
one day the lifts were not working so stairs they had to claw

after struggling to the 25th level, panting and tired
they decided to abandon their bags quagmired
they continued on and struggled to the 40th floor
then younger brother started to grumble, tempers soar
and they continued to squabble
all the way to the 50th floor as they wobble

they then realized that they have only 25 levels more to climb
decided to stop quarreling and continue climbing in peace sublime
they silently climbed on and reached their home at long last
each stood calmly before the door and waited for the other, the key to cast
but lo and behold, their realization told
the key was in their bags left on 25th floor cold

this story is reflecting on our life…
many of us live under the expectations of our parents and friends, “their success” to strive
we seldom get to do the things that we really like and love while subjected to so much pressure
by the age of 25, we get tired and decided to dump this load of measure and stressure

we then enter next third of life slogging and dream ambitious wishes and scheme
but by the time we reach 50 years old, we start to lose our vision, dream and steam
we began to feel unsatisfied and start to complain and criticize
we live life as a misery as we are never satisfied, potential unrealized
reaching 50, we realize that we have little left for complaining anymore
and we try to walk the final episode in peace and calmness but sore

we think that there is nothing left to disappoint us, only to realize that
we could not rest in peace because we have an unfulfilled dream that could be had ……
a dream we abandoned 50 years ago
but ramrom declares,….. say it isn’t so….

for the last third of one’s life should be the best chapter to boldly  scribe, tow and glow
and i thank God for His blessings flow
what a wonderful world…

wouldn’t you know we’re riding on the marrakesh express
wouldn’t you know we’re riding on the marrakesh express
they’re taking me to marrakesh
all aboard the train
all aboard the train……

finally reunited with our wine
unshackling ourselves to prune the vine
aging over 10 years in erwan’s cave
now we shall revel the last laugh
c’est ne pas grave

hey dude, don’t be afraid
to imbibe and good times raid
we have found nirvana and liberated the slave
now go and rave, no need to $ave
we took a little trip to st nazaire les eymes hometown
first stop was de nardi’s boulangerie  for croissants golden brown
to accompany confitures de marie-francoise, don’t forget crispy crust baguette
a table aussi – mf’s homemade yogurt, le petit dejeuner is perfectly set

there was music playing everywhere
the music came from within my heart

how did it happen
how did it start
i only know that we fell in love
i guess the answer lies up above
and so we sing , yai yai yai, ya ya ya yai yai, of golden years a-teaming
and as we stomped through route national thorough-fare a-gleaming

it’s all coming back
montage of gastronomic livery attack
fond fine friends to re-tack
a sojourn yielding slack for bric-a-brac

go to grenoble market, pick up gourmet grub
fix rendang curry, partake melange of amuse-guele our stomach to rub

jambon persille, fromage de tete, moules, anchois et pied de porc
mingle them morsels with 1993 barbaresco to hit the spot
wok-fried courgets-carotte-chou bathed in garlic, taipan’s curry over basmati spiked our langues
soothed by roquefort, st marcellin and reblochon swivelling in aged nebbiolo, our tongues tingled and sung

finished meal with marie-francoise strawberry delight
oh, a stroll through bois de biviers lightened our stomachs to snooze well through the night
strawberries, cherries and an angel’s kiss in spring
our summer wine is really made from all these things
take off your silver spurs and help us pass the time
and we will give to u summer wine
oooooooohhh summer wine

when i woke up the alpine sun was shining in my eyes
awaiting homemade pate, tripe, poulpe et cuisses de grenouilles to feast and prize
stay tuned for further emission of joyous sights and sighs
as we foray chemin de vie, unveiling truths and highs…

from lou holtz
american football coach
2008 college football hall of fame he did encroach

quotes he,
with sting of bee:

“ability is what you’re capable of doing
motivation determines what you do
attitude determines how well you do it”

so then
ramrom to append and apprehend

what shapes our attitudes?
a whole array of values and rectitudes
me thinks its attributes
are embodied in the beautitudes

wiki: beautitudes, russian orthodox icon

shifting to a different altitude
just got off phone with canuck goon and gleaned this platitude
befitting the place we find ourselves right now
trying to redefine and refine retirement with a bow

the magic acronym for this enlightened phase
is “ski” – spending kid’s inheritance with grace
and be mindful to direct praise
to Providence who owns it all anyway, the rightful place

so next blog entries shall bemuse
adventures of  “gone ski-ing” to amuse

l’chaim
a ramrom chime

ski-ing, rather… for real…check below

first seed to sprout
“things are different now” song with jini to spout

rush to lunch
with my www buddy with mai-tai punch

then bingo to enjoy
as part of celebrating 90th birthday of friend of neighbor joy

then off to bullis and catch up with email and hp alumni activity
came home to a surprise dinner with my gno buddies

ramrom’s intent now to busy
an entry to celebrate with bc
intertwined souls seeded in the seventies
paths crossed in hargreaves and asc
reunited again across analog figments sea

ramrom morphing touch upon public domain circulation
“the seed” purely for entertaining introspection

a successful business man was growing old
it was time to choose a successor bold
rather then choosing one of his directors or his children on this matter
he did something different and called all the young executives to gather

“it’s time for me to step down and choose the next ceo,’” he said
“i have decided to choose one of u” to take over the stead

the young executives were in shock
but the boss continued suspense to rock
“i am going to give each one of you a seed today
– a very special seed” i must say

“i want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today
with what you have grown from the seed i have given u, to display
i will then judge the plants that you bring
and the one i choose is the next ceo to spring”

one of the man named jim
went home and excitedly, told his wife the challenge with gleam
she helped him get a pot, soil and compost
and he planted the seed with fervor utmost
watering it every day and watch to see if it had grown, like a good host

after about 3 weeks, some of the other executives began to spout about
their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow and sprout
jim kept checking his seed
but nothing ever grew despite all the feed

4weeks, 5weeks, 6weeks went by
still nothing to jim’s eye
by now, others were talking about their plants that were meilleur
jim didn’t have a plant, he felt like a failure

6 months went by – still nothing in jim’s pot
he just knew he had killed his seed, not a promising spot
everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing
jim didn’t say anything to his colleagues, however taunting

he just kept watering and fertilizing the soil
he so wanted the seed to grow, not turn out a spoil
a year finally went by, time’s up for the competition
all the young executives brought their plants to the ceo for inspection
jim told his wife that he wasn’t going to take an empty pot
but she asked him to be honest about what happened – good, bad, not or rot

jim felt sick at his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment
but he knew his wife was right, all he can hope is atonement
he took his empty pot to the boardroom, disheartened but without sigh, no groan
when jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown
that the other executives had sown
they were beautiful – in all shapes and sizes, jim felt alone

he put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed
a few felt sorry for him, some consoling genteel rebuff
when the ceo arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young execs
jim just tried to hide at the back behind the backs

“my, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown,” said the ceo
today one of you will be appointed the next ceo”, the only one in the know
all of a sudden, the ceo spotted jim at the back of the room with his empty pot
he ordered the financial director to bring him to the front, to be put on the spot

jim was terrified… he thought, “the ceo knows i’m a failure! maybe he’ll have me fired!”
“what had happened to your seed?” – to hear the answer, the ceo aspired
jim told him the story as he perspired

the ceo asked everyone to sit down except jim
he looked at jim, and then announced to the young executives without a whim
“here is your next chief executive! his name is jim!”, he beamed

jim couldn’t believe it, he couldn’t even grow his seed
how could he be the new ceo?, the others plead

the ceo piped
as the time is ripe
“one year ago today, i gave everyone in this room a seed
told u to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today” was all i need

but the blunder, he admitted with thunder
tearing the baited silence asunder
i gave u all boiled seeds; they were dead – it was not possible for them to grow
all of u, except jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers, what a nice show

“when u found that the seed would not grow, u substituted another seed
jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it, indeed
therefore, he is the one who will be the new chief executive!” he splendidly decreed

and what’s the moral behind this story, you ask?
ah, ramrom relishes this task

if u plant honesty in your life, u will reap trust
if u plant goodness, u will reap friendship robust
if u plant humility, u will reap greatness
if u plant perseverance, u will reap contentment to immerse
if u plant consideration, you will reap perspective
if u plant diligence, you will reap success to give
if u plant forgiveness, u will reap reconciliation
therefore be careful what you plant now, pay attention
for it will determine what u will reap later the contention

“be not deceived; God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” galatians 6:7 docked

happy birthday to bc and i
here’s a knowles shaw joyful refrain to wrap up and tie

sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
we shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

still basking in the delight
of the party last friday night
so wonderfully fed
so warmly cared
a divine time had
with special friends bred
thank u most
to timtee host
for the birthday toast
l’chaim – together we coast!

now still relishing “jang su jang” korean sunday lunch treat
then we got intro’d to “kyo po” supermarket before home retreat
there we sampled “soondae” for the first time
a blutwurst stuffed with dangmyeon, an acquired taste sublime

wiki

also rewinding last night’s treat with gno subset
indulged in “the way of the world,” a restoration comedy act

now indulging myself on mother’s day to do what i love best
to reflect, refract and put connecting dots to test
as i whimsically weave patterns with witty  zest
if it hits pithy prolific crest
it deserves ramrom repose rest

unlike a 1corinthian13 love
“the way of the world” expresses a different kind of dove
william congreve, a british playwright bloke
a brilliant entanglement of relationships he stroked
all the world’s a stage players bearing names their characters evoked
pray tell, what does mirabell, petulant, wishfort, foible, fainall, waitwell satirically invoke?

the ludicracy of contracted love, his penmanship spoke
the shallowness of pursuing worldly love to poke
consumed in deception and infidelity like addictive coke
diving deep to expose sallow motives, congreve eloquently stoked

in “way of the world” love is but a transaction
a gaming attraction and distraction
scheme a contraption well
dicey dance of dowry to ink, coffers and egos to swell
infidelity and love under pretense
instead of true armour of intense d’amour incense
there are strings attached
pockets not hearts to be matched
schemes upon wishfort to be hatched
and hatch a patch to oust fainall wretch

recoiling pearls from sir walter scott
in epic poem “marmion”, famous stanzas sought
“o, what a tangled web we weave
when first we practise to deceive!
but when we’ve practised quite a while
how vastly we improve our style”

indeed the way of the world
around deception twirl
temptations abound and swirl
beguiling mind and heart to curl

ah, sabbath
rejuvenating rest and rebirth
to dabble in rhyming mirth

melina mercouri crooning…
“and if u make it on a bleak day, a freak day or a week day
well u can be my guest
but never ever on a sunday, my sundae, the one day
i need a little rest”

connecting to genesis 2:3 a-swooning…
then God blessed the 7th day and sanctified it,
because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made

(sally’s shot in wee perth garden)

a man stopped at a flower shop to order flowers for mother’s day
to be sent to his mother who lived two hundred miles away

as he got out of his car, he noted a young girl sitting on the curb sobbing
“what’s wrong?” he asked, his heart a-throbbing, his mind absorbing
“i wanted to buy a red rose for my mother
but i only have 75 cents…a rose costs two dollars” she muttered

the man smiled and said, “come on in with me…i’ll buy you a rose.”
so he did  just that plus ordered his own mother’s flowers, nothing verbose

as they were leaving, he offered the girl a ride home
“yes, please! u can take me to my mother’s dome”
she directed him to a cemetery, placing the rose on freshly dug grave loam
an epiphany with aplomb, the man back to the flower shop did roam

he cancelled the floral send order, it was clear what to do
picked up a bouquet instead, mother’s love to rightly woo
driving two hundred miles to his mother’s house, love in person to coo

to all mothers out there, a happy mothers day moo!

wiki

forgiveness, today’s verse-i-hung
auf deutsch, es ist verzeihung
forgiving pains self-inflicted
forgiving pains upon others afflicted
forgiving disdains and restraints that constricted

sun shone gloriously today
bidding me back to water play
rinconada pool finally got new boiler heater
oh what a welcome greeter
to dip in waters 81 degrees fahrenheit
past dips have been a 60 degrees cold bite

extra sweet
gave myself a chico treat
that mother blessed me
guiltless glee
a magnifique mother’s day-cum-anniversaire gift u see

tomorrow i literally go take a hike
with lin and helen, rancho trails we like
then looking forward to ending day in party delight
blight takes flight

no more brood, get in the mood
for life is indeed good

watching tina turner now
verzeihung to take a bow

what’s love got to do, God’s got to do with it
1 corinthians 13:13 of “faith, hope and love…the greatest of these is love” bit hit
i’ve been thinking of a new direction
but i have to say
i’ve been thinking about my own protection
it scares me to feel that way
echoing job 9:2 “how can a man be in the right before God” but to obey

synchronized intent captured in robert frost’s “pasture”
what a delight to hear it captured in song gesture

“i’m going out to clean the pasture spring;
i’ll only stop to rake the leaves away
(and wait to watch the water clear, i may):
i sha’n't be gone long…..

sara teasdale’s “life has loveliness to sell”
rang a timely tinkling bell
“for one white singing hour of peace
count many a year of strife well lost”, signalling grief to cease

my favorite – only voices and cathedral ceiling acoustics
with closed eyes, i drifted with “shenandoah” rolling gymnastics
most surprising to hear bob chilcott’s billy joel rendition
of “and so it goes“, here’s a snippet of experienced perdition

“i spoke to u in cautious tones
u answered me with no pretense
and still i feel i said too much
my silence is my self defense
and every time i’ve held a rose
it seems i only felt the thorns
and so it goes, and so it goes
and so will u soon i suppose…”

cresendo ending saturday
with duke ellington’s “come sunday”
and mercer-arien “come rain or come shine”
a perfect finish to a musical evening divine

“heaven is a goodness time.  a brighter light on high.
do unto others as u would have them do to u.
and have a brighter by and by…..

i believe God is now, was then and always will be.
with God’s blessing we can make it through eternity…”

“you’re gonna love me, like nobody’s loved me
come rain or come shine
we’ll be happy together, unhappy together
now won’t that be just fine
the days may be cloudy or sunny
we’re in or out of the money
but i’m with u always
i’m with u rain or shine”

just what i needed Lord, so sublime
grime and slime
washed away, no longer mine
we will be fine