WHAT HAPPENED TO US?

Searching for peace of mind among the fuss
Has left me asking, “What happened to us?”
The one question that occupies my mouth
In a bid to explain why our journey went south
From happy heights to freefalling flatly
Surreal how things suddenly soured so badly

What happened to us? Swore to “ride or die”
Then love burned and evaporated to the sky
Reminiscing to when we were inseparable
Before a sting in our tale ended this parable
Can’t help pondering if our door is fully closed
Hard to shut away all the promise it posed

K.G. says…

Many of us have had relationships and friendships where, at one point, we were certain would last forever – only for it come to an end somewhere down the line. It’s fairly straightforward to understand a bond being broken as a result of a fight, betrayal or irreconcilable differences. Those situations can be explained and eventually accepted.

This poem, however, explores the scenario where we can’t quite place a finger on exactly what went wrong or when it went wrong. It can be frustrating because closure becomes elusive. Lingering doubts or wishful thoughts may remain about whether things are truly over, making it difficult to move forward. Lastly, to clarify, I intentionally spelled “tale” this way (as opposed to “sting in the tail“) as a play on words in order to add another dimension in the context of line 10.

TURN OFF THE TRASH

We are surrounded
by things unimportant
and superficial.
Fed drab “entertainment”
such as celeb gossip
that is trivial.

Turn off the trash,
pick up a book
and listen to news.
Engage your brain
then join debates
to broaden your views.

So-called reality shows
starring fakes acting
for us to believe.
Meanwhile the real world
spins around us,
dizzying the naive.

Turn off the trash,
look for truths
that stretch your mind.
Inspire the young
to stride further
and help humankind.

K.G. says…

Now, we’re all entitled to have our guilty pleasures and there is nothing wrong with that. However if we indulge too much in those things, which serve no greater purpose, we will surely lose sense of the things which actually ought to matter. There’s a risk that society may end up undermining the importance of key issues in favour of immaterial subjects.

Heck, I say “may” but it’s already happening. People seem to be increasingly placing more value on peripheral attractions. This poem intends to urge us all not to take the easy option in terms of what we feed our minds and souls. Let’s endeavour to take stock and accountability in order to enhance knowledge and improve our world. Trash is easy to come across but treasure is harder to discover.

WHEN WE MEET

Convinced that you’re somewhere
waiting to be joined on a cold bed
Destiny shall lead us there
and erase the times our hearts bled

Wonder what it shall be like
when we meet for the first time
How soon will love strike
for our ears to hear bells chime?

Perhaps we shall know right away
that we each stare at a soulmate
Aching for the arrival of that day
when love’s kiss seals our fate

K.G. says…

A lot of people believe that there’s at least one person out there specifically for them; the perfect counterpart. We may at times wonder about what that person is currently doing and liked to think that their life feels just as incomplete as ours until the we finally meet.

Many questions arise when we fantasize about the soulmate we are yet to meet. Who are they? When will we cross paths? How will our first interaction play out? Will it be obvious that we’re meant to be? These thoughts are often fueled by a realisation of loneliness which in turn is offset by the lingering hope that someone special exists for us to find.

NOT EVERYONE IS ME

Not everyone is me and I’m certainly not everyone
They’re supposedly unique but I’m definitely unlike anyone
Compare myself with an animal, you insist?
Well, that creature simply does not exist
Used to want to bed in with all the others
To lay alongside them beneath the same covers
Grew up shy, feeling awkward and odd
Often left playing alone, just me on my tod
Whether to act like they did, sometimes I’d rehearse
How to make myself fit in and lift this weirdo’s curse

Not everyone is me; I eventually accepted
To stay true to myself and not to what they expected
Troubled childhood memories that long haunted me
Banished to the back of mind by a moment’s clarity
This weirdo’s curse may in fact be my blessing
Loving how my peculiar ways leave them guessing
Being all me, all the time remains a work in progress
Thankfully now, I no longer feel hopeless
Perhaps I’m special or maybe I’m just strange
Whichever way they see it, I refuse to change

K.G. says…

Not many of my poems convey my inner most thoughts and feelings from start to finish. In fact when writing, I’m often able to position myself in scenarios and empathise with emotions I haven’t experienced deeply. Don’t ask me how; it just happens somehow.

This piece, however, is different. It’s one of the sincerest expressions of my true feelings. The subject matter has long been a recurring thought in my mind, particularly when I was younger. It’s something I’ve learned to embrace and hopefully it can help others to accept themselves for how they are. It’s perfectly fine to have quirks and be different to everyone else. Being “normal” is so common.

YOUR WALLS

Want to get close to you if you’d open up
Hopes half empty as I try to fill your cup
Round and round in circles but we don’t merry-go
Your walls lock me out like Jericho

Our attraction’s magnetic, though you fear the rust
You’ve been hurt once so you find it hard to trust
Mission impossible due to who you cruised with last
They promised you magic then vanished fast

If only I could have been the very first you chose
Wish we had chilled together before your heart froze
In spite of the warmth I give, it refuses to thaw
Still, your past blinds the potential future I saw

K.G. says…

When writing, I wanted to blend a bit of quirky wordplay in with a piece that has quite a deep tone. The intention was to make the words lighthearted whilst the meaning still hits home hard – i.e. easy on the eyes, heavy on the heart. Most of us have experienced this frustration or indeed been that person frustrating someone else. I, for one, have been on both sides.

There’s a certain sense of helplessness when you’re interested in someone but they’re reluctant to let you in because a former partner mistreated them. It’s like coming across the promised land and being refused entry because the last person they let in urinated on the flowers… [lovely analogy, isn’t it?] Lastly, I realise the Tom Cruise reference [line seven] is somewhat iffy but I still like it so cut me some slack please.

THE ONE I SEE IN DREAMS

You resemble my lover
The one I see in dreams
Can’t envisage any other
As unlikely as it seems

You star in my slumber
So I savour every sleep
Once awake, I remember
Nightly memories that keep

In dreams you were birthed
Then grew on my mind
Heart’s desire unearthed
Eyes scouring to find

You are a wishful prize
Hence why I play my hand
No need to still fantasise
Because here you stand

So irresistible is your appeal
How it fills me with zest
Let us make dreams real
And lay chest to chest

K.G. says…

The first two lines of this piece were inspired by a chat-up line that my friend used. [Yes, it was definitely a friend and not me]. He said, “Hey, you look familiar”, and the girl asked, “Really? Where from?” My friend then responded, “From my dream last night” – complete with a cheeky wink. Sounds ridiculous yet he did successfully get her phone number.

One of my readers interpreted the subject as a spiritual lady of the night (such as the night hag or Lilith) – which I found hilarious and impressively deep in equal measure. From my perspective, I believe most of us have a mental image of what we’d want our perfect partner (i.e. dream girl/guy) to look like. What would you say to that person if you met her/him in real life? If you ever do run into your dreamboat, feel free to use this poem to woo them. Just make sure you invite me to the wedding for playing wing-man!

THINKING BIG IS UN-REGRETTABLE

IN MEMORY OF KENNEDY, 1990-2016

Thinking big is un-regrettable,
so let’s make our impact unforgettable.
As we pass through this world so briefly,
may we not fade away completely.
Though our time on earth is limited,
our imprints can forever be exhibited.
Flesh decays but names needn’t disappear,
in the minds of those who hold us dear.
By touching the lives of our contemporaries,
shall we survive in their memories.
To live on beyond the world we’re bound,
we must leave it better than we found.

K.G. says…

I wrote this as a tribute to a friend I met at university, who sadly passed away at a tender age. I call it a tribute but in reality he inspired the poem; not only because the title was his final WhatsApp status, but also with how he lived. He accomplished a great deal in his short life and set a good example to his friends (including myself) for how we should continue in ours.

He was someone to be admired. Having met him as a fun-loving student, it was a pleasure to see him grow into a mature and considerate young man. Despite not being one to seek the limelight, he stood out with his ambition to achieve the best for himself and willingness to help out others. I certainly won’t forget him and I know his impact has left a legacy on those who benefited through his charitable acts.

PRODIGAL PRINCE

How’s a young prince supposed to embrace his destiny
If the old king isn’t around to bestow a legacy
A prince who knows not what he was born to be
Growing up in the shadows of a throne left empty
Left doubting his birth right to the monarchy
Made to believe his place lies lowly in life’s hierarchy

How’s a prince supposed to know his mother is queenly
If the king isn’t around to rule with her royally
To demonstrate how to treat his future consort properly
Can the prince then raise his own heirs differently
Although his predecessor abdicated so cowardly
He’s somehow expected to battle his demons bravely

A student learns and surpasses his master eventually
But a stem without roots is doomed to wither fruitlessly
Kingdoms fall when kings and queens shirk their duty
Through it all, the kingdom that suffers most is family

K.G. says…

How does a boy learn to be a man without having one to look up to and teach him? How does he understand where he came from if that point of reference isn’t there? The importance of a parent’s presence in their child’s life cannot be understated.

Not everyone is fortunate enough to grow up with the presence of both parents. Without the guiding influence of a parent, the offspring is left to his/her own devices to figure out the tough challenges life presents. Consequently, this often leads to the child making wrong choices and doubting their self and can potentially enable others to take advantage.

TO BE LIKE THE WIND

Oh, to be like the wind
Unworried by a single thing
Drifting through destinations with ease
Coasting and ghosting is a breeze
Surfing the skies in ecstasy
Reducing our idea of free to fallacy

Oh, to be like the wind
Not forced to hold emotions in
Blowing faster when angered
Flies off in a storm, can’t be anchored
Calms the air when feeling gentle
Letting us breathe at a standstill

Oh, to be like the wind
To whistle, to howl and to sing
In all languages, it’s understood
Nature sways in obedience to your mood
Both destroyer and saviour
Carrying our fears and our favour

K.G. says…

Funnily enough, the inspiration for this poem came to me in the middle of a quite mundane task. Although it was my choice to be doing that task, my thoughts were somewhere else entirely. It got me thinking about what freedom really is. It has different meanings to different people. The prisoner, the handicapped, the overworked labourer and even the bored celebrity will all have varying ideals of the types of freedoms they want.

As human beings, can we every truly be free? Will there always be something that restricts us in some form? Perhaps the requirement to co-exist amicably with each other means none of us can ever do what we truly want. Overall, that’s probably a good thing for the sake of humanity.

THE CANDLE

YOU

are the candle
that ignites passion
so fiercely in my chest.

The flickering flame
radiating rays of hope
to brighten my nightmares.

Your scent purifies
the atmosphere around
to arouse my senses.

That enduring fire
warming my nudity
without charring skin.

As your supple wax
slowly slides downwards,
it helps to solidify me.

My brightest light
on clouded nights
when the stars shy away.

K.G. says…

A conscious departure from my usual style of poetry ~~[because I ran out of rhymes!]~~. The structure and subject matter also afforded me the opportunity to be a bit visually artistic. Notice how the verses are positioned in the shape of a candle, with the “YOU” highlighted like a flame? ~~Yes, I think I deserve some accolades for that to be honest!~~

Anyway, who is the “YOU” in this piece? Could it be a romantic interest, family member, friend, mentor or God himself? Well, that’s up to the reader to interpret. Essentially it comes down to whoever is your shining light in moments of darkness. This is an ode to the lights in our lives. Let’s appreciate them.