Nature Sketch - A poem about the twelve apostles in Victoria, Australia

Gazing in awe I stood in rapture

At the wondrous sight mine eyes captured

Beholding its panorama – what beauty!

Away my breath it took with its majesty.

My numbed senses were hereupon thrilled

Heightened still as the southern winds chilled

Which had then teased and ruffled my hair

Now induced shivers without much care.

O could mere words ever suffice to define

The enchantment of this spectacle so fine

Which hath once resided in my dreams –

A realm where the silent sentries reign.

            *          *          *          *

IFor the full poem, click here to check out my book.)

(Poem written by Jimmy Tan around 1995-1996)

Poem based on Colossians 1

In Him we live and move and have our being
All things included - living, non-living
Christ in us, the mystery is thus revealed
On the day we awake, our soul is stilled.

(Composed in November 2011)

A nonsense poem on food :)

Tiramisu, O Tiramisu
Tastes so good, and oh so cool!
Makes me wanna drool ~~~
Over you!
One plate ain't gonna make me full
Gimme instead two!
*yum yum*

Pasta oh lovely pasta
Tastes as good as pizza
More filling than roti prata
Can eat until you see stars
And can hardly walk afar
*burpie burp*

Cheesecake oh my dear cheesecake
Say cheese if you wanna partake
This cake, for goodness sake
Please smile before you take
No say cheese, no cake
Nothing is free in the make
Not happy, go yourself bake!
*CHEESE*

(Written somewhere around 1996)

Deafening Silence

Silence gives me words to write,
Exploring its hollow voice,
its impalpable implications.

My voice, jarring to my ears
In the midst of stillness
That mocks at me,
Leaves me mystified
baffled
confounded
Deepens my embitterment
confusion
unease

A word could speak several things.
Silence speaks uncountables,
unmentionables,
Drowning the sea of words
With its deafening turmoil.

(Written around 1996-97)

Victoria - A Trip Down Under (Magazine article)

 This is my contribution in Geosphere magazine 1996/1997 issue. A slightly higher resolution version of the pages of the article is available upon request.

 

MacRitchie Reservoir, Singapore (7 November 2011)

The following photographs were taken using my Panasonic Lumix FZ7 digital camera (6 megapixels).

MacRitchie Reservoir, Singapore (7 November 2011 afternoon)

 

The five photographs above were taken with my Sony Ericsson Elm mobile phone camera (5 megapixels).

1 Corinthians 13 - Rearranged as a concrete poem

The following poem is adapted from the New King James version of the New Testament in the Holy Bible.

                               Love suffers                   long and is

                                       kind; love does not       envy; love does not

                                   parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave

                             rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks

                             no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the

                        truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,

                       endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are

                            prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues,

                              they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will

                                 vanish away. For now we see in a mirror, dimly,

                                         but then face to face. Now I know in part,

                                             but then I shall know just as I also am

                                                     known. And now abide faith,

                                                          hope, love, these three;

                                                                 but the greatest

                                                                       of these is

                                                                            love.

MacRitchie Reservoir, Singapore (5 November 2011 evening)

Still waters and pastel skies

An Inspiring Quote

Many of us love witty one-liners, especially those that are inspiring and memorable. I have a few favourite ones, such as “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away”. This quote may sound clichéd to some people, especially if they occasionally receive mass emails from well-meaning friends and acquaintances, sharing PowerPoint presentations that feature captivating photographs captioned by words of encouragement, including this particular quote.

I remember the first time I read this quote at the end of an inspirational PowerPoint presentation some years ago, I thought that it was an apt description of what life is all about. However, the quote did not immediately sink into my memory, perhaps because it is not a direct quotation from the Bible and I tend to pay less attention to anything that is not from the Bible. “After all,” I would reason to myself, “only the Bible is God-breathed and refreshes our spirits, unlike man’s words.”

Nevertheless, after having read this quote a number of times in inspirational PowerPoint presentations, I began to meditate on it, and I now see it as a revelation from the Lord that each day is a gift from Him. I also realise that a revelation does not have to be based on actual verses from the Bible. For example, Eugene Peterson’s quote “Learn the unforced rhythm of grace” is a paraphrase of Matthew 11:28-30, and it is recognised by Christian ministers as inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Knowing that each day is a gift from God has changed my perspective of life. I am learning to cherish moments that bless my heart, such as the presence of my loved ones, or the beauty of nature around me, or simply “God-moments” – whether in my family, church or workplace – that remind me of the awesome love of my heavenly Father. My heart’s desire is to live a long, good life and experience heaven on earth on my way to heaven.

(Written in May 2010)