desiderata.english
For late-comers, plus bloomers like Moses Foo & Co. to desiderata2000.BC, this is a DDC-free Post as is the standard set by desiderata.english columns on Sundays the first 365 from this cyber-home's birth on one Ides of March, this host dedicates as one of three major objectives the promotion of Exquisite English, especially via Poetry.
My kindred spirit whose name lends to one half of my longed-for I-LAND's signature, valued at RM20million, off Terengganu, Malaysia, or off Queensland, Australia, it's left to be seen, but I know for sure sweetspirits will be there as a pioneer marketing agent.
spirite
DES
tination
is aimed at providing an haven for all Blogger friends and Esteemed Readers who warm up my abode, initially via cyberspace, some graduating to terrestrial mates at G7 meets -- I believe we are better now than before we met. When one is in "higher" company, we all get lifted to a new plane, and all participants would turn out to be better citizens of the social and civil society kind. KIND.
Malaysia can safely boast of infrastructure to rival the best of the industrialised world consisting of the so-called developed nations, yes, those who are deemed to have arrived, both in physical stature, and satisfying generally accepted in the modern civil society criteria.Indeed, at one time, Petronas Twin Towers earned the distinction of being the tallest such building in the whole, wide world. But socially and mentality-wise, our citizens are still very far from First World status, we must humbly acknowledge.
Bloggers, and serious civil society campaigners, especially writers, have an important role to play in pushing NegaraKu along towards achieving First World status, whether by 2020 or 2030, or 2040, it is incumbent we play our part. Especially if you agree the Fourth Estate -- chiefly represented by the mainstream media in Malaysia -- defaults on its role of being an agent of information provider of the truth of happenings in Malaysia, and being an agent of change for progress in fostering a a civil society. This is the opinion well articulated by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamd, whom Desi often begged to differ on many national issues, but on the role of the old and new media (Bloggers are a substantive component of the latter), I am in full agreement. Just as I often traded barbs with my good friend, Sdr Din Merican, a strong supporter of the good doctor who was his mentor, we agree to be agreeable in our disagreement. An ethos well propounded by VOLTAIRE via this credo: "I may disagree with what you say but I will defend, to the death, your right to say it."
Shamelessly extracting from my maiden book, "Midnight Voices" and Other Poems, here are some memorable quotable lines, can? If the trumpetist among the Seremban Philharmonic refuses to blow Desi's horn, one has to resort to blowing one's own trumpet...
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In his Foreword, Din Merican generously wrote: "I value his book for his views about te future of our country in 2020 and recommend it to you. He said it clearly that "For Vision 2020 to be achieved in the holistic sense "...the soul and character of the nation msut progress in unison and tandem" (with the physical, and economic, development of the country). He believes that poetry will have a significant role in the "civilisation" of Malaysians.
Now quoting myself from the concluding paragraph -- is that plagiarism?:
"Malaysians may do well to heed this wise observation from Thoughts on Virtue by one of history’s great thinkers, Charles Darwin (who propounded the ‘Theory of Evolution’ in his opus, “Origin of Species”):
If I had my life
to live over again,
I would have made a rule
to read some poetry
and listen to some music
at least once a week….
The loss of these tastes
is a loss of happiness,
and may possibly be injurious
to the intellect,
and more probably
to the moral character.
I conclude with Bell’s recall in his Introduction (p.7) to Desiderata that Ehrmann once told an interviewer: “At De Pauw I contracted a disease which I have never shaken off. The disease was idealism. Because of it, I did the thing in life I wanted to do – Writing.”
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Back to my Aussie mate who inspired the adopted combo-name of that Island in the Sun,today's Post highlights a poem which readily recalls the lyrical beauty of a musical poem -- essentially how I define a "song" composed in traditional rhyme and rhythm that maketh the heart soar -- made famous by James Taylor, though I prefer the version by CAROLE KING; maybe my soft spot for women, or ladies,showeth. NO, not under-aged gals, for I don't hail from Malacca. I am a Furongite (this does not qualify as Da Desi Code, as Furong is Chinese for Seremban, my hometown), a good neighbour. Who works hard, like a cowboy/cowgirl, for his money, and honey.
Now, so here's a poem that the kind host of sweetspirits.blogspot.com wants to share with us on a Beautiful Sunday.
"Hi Desi
:) smile eh ? I just logged by to share a poem with thee
Love and the seasons
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Spring
A sudden softness in the wind;
A glint of song, a-wing;
A fragrant sound that trails behind,
And joy in everything.
A sudden flush upon the cheek,
The teardrop quick to start;
A hope too delicate to speak,
And heaven within the heart.
Summer
A riotous dawn and the sea's great wonder;
The red, red heart of a rose uncurled;
And beauty tearing her veil asunder,
In sight of a swooning world.
A call of the soul, and the senses blended;
The Springtime lost in the glow of the sun,
And two lives rushing, as God intended,
To meet and mingle as one.
Autumn
The world is out in gala dress;
And yet it is not gay.
Its splendour hides a loneliness
For something gone away.
(Laughter and music on the air;
A shower of rice and bloom.
Smiles for the fond departing pair---
And then the empty room.)
Winter
Two trees swayed in the winter wind; and dreamed
The snowflakes falling about them were bees
Singing among the leaves. And they were glad,
Knowing the dream would soon come true.
Beside the hearth an aged couple rocked,
And dozed; and dreamed the friends long passed from sight
Were with them once again. They woke and smiled,
Knowing the dream would soon come true.
cheerz tcz
By sweetspirits, at 10:45 PM
And this poem resonates wit this sweet refrain from a queen:
Singer: Carole King
Album: Tapestry
Song's name: You've Got A Friend
When you're down and troubled
And you need some loving care
And nothing, nothing is going right
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
You've got a friend
If the sky above you
Grows dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind begins to blow
Keep your head together
And call my name out loud
Soon you'll hear me knocking at your door
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
Ain't it good to know that you've got a friend
When people can be so cold
They'll hurt you, and desert you
And take your soul if you let them
Oh, but don't you let them
You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
You've got a friend
IMPORTANT DETOUR after late breakfast:
I just came back from harisibrahim.wordpress.com and jelas.info -- two Bloggers' homes you should visit today being Blessed Sunday.
I left this short comment for my former campaign manager, R Selvarajah, to whom I said at CON BF (short for "continental breakfast", not DDC!) at Men Kee: "I am more Malaysian Indian than you in outlook though you look it in skin colour -- I would have gone to Jalan Ampang this morn if I had your four wheels, and if I been just your 30-year-old age; I am under-age, friend, yet I've eaten more Roti Chinai and dyal curry than thee."
"ylchong Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
November 25, 2007 at 1:37 pm
haris: well articulated.
Nat Tan: salute thee for counterpart (Desi's present correction @1.45pm: counterpoint), both truly progressive Malaysians in the vein of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King as proponents of Civil Disobedience when the ruling government turns oppressive.
Both you too are fine examples of what discourse and agents for change should be,in the fine tradition espoused by VOLTAIRE: “I may disagree with what you say but I will defend, to the death, your right to say it.”
And just as the test of the pudding is in the eating, BOTH nat and Haris were there — though in different capacities (I’m commenting at 1.33pm Sunday), Nat as Y&A Malaysian individual full of ideals and gumption, and Haris as responsile Bar Council member observer. Desi was there in spirit with thee, with a prayer too. I was there in Person on Nov 10, and it was a milestone for civil society promoters, above race, creed and colour, also gender and age.
p
e
A
c
e
:)
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