i did my smooth and slow arms swaying in a park in front of the house. The arms were at shoulder distance and height; they swung together freely and leisurely; the mind just observed the calm surroundings, aware of the scenarios of ups and downs, but letting go of all thoughts and not holding on to them. With good footing in the balance , the posture and body self adjust, if needed.

The nasal in and out breath were even and calm. A senior janitor was sweeping the fallen leaves with a bamboo garden broom and rake. After some effort he appeared out of breathe, and stopped to take his drink and medication. He swept his golden trash into compose bags, and carried them to the roadside to be ferried away by another worker. He snapped a picture of the work done, and said he had another five small gardens to complete. He did not sweep or blow his trash into the drain. With delight in my heart, I wished him “Selamat Jalan” (Happy Going or goodbye or Happy Roads Ahead in Malay)

A whiff of wind blew , and more foliage fell , more yellow disheveled than greens, but it would be work for another day….The cycle repeats, the compose return to the roots to enrich the trees, and the job is secured, and maybe not him….

foliage fell, gold

treasures trashed, into compose

whiff of wind, breathless

Note:

Thank you Sadje for the October 25th Poetry Challenge

Instead of forwarding a mail from the web, I write my own greetings to friends every morning, just more personal touch.

Good morning. We drove to Central Park for our Qikong Arm Swaying group exercises. Half way through the exercises, I experienced sharp biting sensation iny left thigh..I noticed there was a few black headed ants in their long march near my legs. If I were at home, I would exterminate the whole army, for I would consider them as pest, not to be tolerated in home. I moved away to avoid them, for I am the intruder , not them. In the park, I could not take off my longs to check. I did it at home. I flipped my clothing a few times. There was no ants, only two specks of dirt. Moreover the skin was intact, no sign of recent invasion. Goodness, what insect had bitten me? Probably none. Perhaps it was my association, or my sub conscious desire to undress.

My nephew , a young engineer responded to my above posting with two haiku, as below:

Ants in morning park
a phantom bite on your thigh,
mind stirs, not the skin.

Perhaps no bite came
just nature’s gentle whisper,
waking thought within.

I respond to his haiku in haiku thus:

bitten by mere sight

wiff of wind, perfume perfuse

minds miam to ease pain

Y.C. KAN WROTE:

Palm fronds sway and greet

Tell tales of climate changing

Listen, the rustle

This is my response:

flood, quake, tsunami

roar and wreck with wrath and ruin

foliage fury

Notes:

Yesterday we drove to Sekinjiang, Malaysia, to visit our fishing and padi fields. Mr. YC Kan wrote to me that he had problem posting his comments on my post. Today, after my dental consultation , and home with my computer, I reposted both haiku in my blog.

It was drizzling this morning. . We did our arms swaying under the shed,

and took this picture after the exercises..

calm, still but noisy

fronds, ferns , trees,, own tales to tell

observe, feel the flow