An Ode to a Maverick Dad

Sleeping quietly
And passing through eternity
That’s how he went one quiet afternoon.
Hardly a sound, so smooth and calm, the way he always was
A maverick until the very end.
But nothing ends,
I know nothing ends,
For him whose spirit is free,
For him who has unquenchable desire to live a life so full with adventures both real and imaginary, almost like a child,
Whose dreams were lived in the lives of those he raised, both daughters and roosters alike,
Whose one goal is not to hurt anyone but help others in his little way.
In riches, he did not have much,
But in stories lived, in battles won, in soaring intelligence, fun, laughter, wit and love,
he had a lot to share.

I see him smiling with his handsome rooster, up there somewhere, contented with the life he’s lived and the memories he’s made.

Tonight, I miss you ever so fondly, my Tata (Father).🌹 

          ~30 Apr 2016, Rowena Isidro, pic by Daniel

Why is Loneliness More Acute at Christmas time?

Source: Why is Loneliness More Acute at Christmas time?

Musings on a Rainy Night

Slumber

but suddenly
i had the urge to write
about nothing, yes nothing,
except to say it is late,
and my lids are heavy now,
lights out, it is late,
good night.

Paper Boat

Paper boats sail
on rainy nights….
Like childhood dreams.

Sunflower

And why is it that when I see those sunflowers
No amount of gloom and sadness can stay?
There are things that make our mundane life
a little brighter, a little chirper.
Like the sun, a friend’s hello, that little smile…
I was sad for awhile, then you came…..

The Sun Never Sets

In memory of my cousin who was gunned down serving his country in January 2011. He was a fearless journalist, a passionate environmental activist whose only mistake was serving the country he so loved…

“The sun never sets
It only hides beyond the mountains
And in times of darkness
It rises again in the hearts of men.”

.

Grace

Grace is a word that has always left me in awe – it is such a big word. As a human being, it is hard to fathom. It is about humility, love, compassion, unmerited favour, a word that is like a gentle whisper yet powerful, releases
forgiveness, liberating and teaches how limited we are. It is about love, identified with real beauty, and describes the giving heart of God.

Grace has seen me through my best days and my worst.  

In times of trouble, I access grace to dig at my innermost reserve to find strength to go through life and survive;
In times of stress,  I turn to find the grace to navigate the turbulence whirling in my head to find peace and quiet repose;
In times of disappointment, grace allows me to smile, understand that I can’t always have life the way I want it and move on.

In happy days,
Grace teaches me to release love to the people around me whether I know them or not, whether they love me back or not;
In times of peace, grace makes me realise the blessings that I have to give me the strength to share it around;
These moments shake me to realise I have received unmerited favour that I don’t deserve;
Grace keeps me grounded that I am not perfect and so can always forgive;
Grace allows me to stop striving, trying, agonising over things I cannot change;
Grace liberates…..it sets me free.

– 5 Jul 15, Sydney

The Magic that is Philly

Such fond memories of Philly…

rowena2020

I will always have fond memories of Philadelphia, lovingly called Philly by its people.
A few years ago, I was assigned in this beautiful city  to do some training and consulting work for a month. I thought I will be so bored and lonely, as I did not know anyone, and expected my work was not going to be fun. I came from Sydney via San Francisco, which was more than 10 hours flight, and then a few more hours to Philly. It was a long flight. I was alone, stayed in a modest accommodation, which was quite an old building yet maintained well. I felt so calm though, just at peace, and surprisingly at home. Maybe it was the historical vibe, the old places, maybe BF (Benjamin Franklin’s good ghost) that made me feel comfortable. But maybe, it was also the fact that I was by myself, the first…

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Excerpts from: ‘Haikus of Despair’

There was a time I used to write dark poems…..I have not in a long while….this is just revisiting some & sharing again….and at the end of it, there is hope….

rowena2020

Some poems are featured in my book ‘The Forsaken Muse, a Woman’s Journey from Sorrow to Hope’.  

Disclaimer: The characters, stories,  & poetry depicted are fictional. Most of these were written from a long time ago.  They don’t necessarily meet the haikus’ strict measures of syllables.

Tragic Love
You are hers, me his
While we think of you and me,
Tragic love we have.

Paper Boats
Paper boats sail on rainy nights
Like childhood dreams.

Your Hand’s Warmth
I miss the touch of warm hands
That give me a sense of ‘home’
I hardly see them now, even
Have they gone cold?

Storm
Dark clouds pregnant with rain
Remind me I need to take shelter.
Being wet and cold
is not a pleasant feeling.

Circular Motion
I go around in circles
No beginning and no end
Until I start to get dizzy
And realise my stupidity.

Box
We move confined…

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One Day I’ll Catch the Sun

********I have related to this poem since I was a little girl*********

“One day I’ll catch the sun
And keep it for my own.
And in a world where no one understands
I’ll take my outstretched hand
And offer it to anyone who comes along
And tells me he’s in need of love, in need of hope,
or maybe just a friend.
Maybe in time I’ll even share my sun
With that new anyone to whom I gave my hand….”

Little street urchins with lovely smiles ~ after I treated them to ice-cream 🙂

This pic was from a Feeding Program for street kids in Cebu.
(Photo taken by one of the kids) ♥♥♥
***Cebu – a beautiful place filled with lots of memories.

Try a Little Kindness

Can we try a little kindness one more time?

rowena2020

Try a Little Kindness 

There is always room for a little kindness,
A little patience. a little love,
That’s what I learned from primary,
I remember those words so vividly.

When someone is unkind to me,
Without a reason I can find,
When I am down, I tell myself
Be patient girl, love covers hate.

Cause how can one be short with you
When what you show is love
What is fair will carry you
What you reap is what you sow.

There is always room for a little kindness
I remind myself over and over again,
When someone is unkind to me,
I remind myself over and over again. 

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Changing

Changing

This is for women, and therefore also for men.
I went away to the islands a few times to think and ‘feel’ about life, and contemplate on where I was and where I wanted to be. If I were to look at myself a few years back, I would not have recognised myself. I will be able to squeeze out a few tears, that much I can say, but the self-examination won’t last for long. There is a change that has happened, and is still happening within me. It’s not complete, of course, I am still ‘work in progress’….but I think I’m getting there.
Poetry featured in the book of poetry called ‘The Forsaken Muse, A Woman’s Journey from Sorrow to Hope’; also featured in Pink Panther Magazine – Issue 12
http://en.calameo.com/read/000214305e3842f8a1b91

Change a blowin’
I can see from afar
Wind in my direction
Don’t know what’s happening,
Just go with it…
The rest will be history in no time
When you look back and say
It wasn’t too bad after all,
The storm passes, the pain is gone,
You realise there’s strength within you,
Untapped and dormant,  but alive and real.
You have given birth to a new self, a new freedom
that is free and unencumbered,
No more fear of losing someone
No baggage, no injustice,
No tears, no hurt.

I am a woman wanting change,
wanting my life back as there’s lots to do.
Out there, there’s a lot of pain
I can do something
From the valley of tears, I hear crying, people dying
I can’t stand not doing…
Listening, helping, that’s my destiny,
I can’t deny, I can’t resist
I was born to do it, else there is no rest!

Change is knocking, can you hear what I’m hearin’?
I can hear the ‘Deep’ callin’
I can hear ‘Spirit’ sayin’,
“Channel your energy to those who are hurting.
You were born for such a time,
All things are new, the old has passed.”  

Change a-comin’
Like waves a-rollin’
Can you hear the gentle whisper?
Just go with it.
To be free and without burden
Is bliss, is joy, is rest.
Have a look at me now,
See the smile on my lips,
The peace I have within my heart,
The people are callin’
That is my life now,
No time for selfish desires
And dreams that will never rhyme.
‘Spirit’ says ‘Yield’,
Yes, I come,
I am in a hurry,
Life is too short to think a lot about myself…
It is not about me, it is not about me.
…..That is my most important change.