Playing Mad Libs with Sherry Blue Sky

Safe and in seclusion
the life of the elusive llama
like monks in the mountains

we ponder

meditate upon
so much destruction
time to  reflect

is to forgive enough?

the beautiful life
transcendent
inspiring humanity

compassion

gratitude resides
in the corner 
of my heart

no longer in retreat




Words by Sherry and ninotaziz

_____________________________


Brian, I answered your call over at dVerse.

Sherry over at Stardreaming with Sherry Blue Sky and on the hardworking team of Poets United is convalenscing from surgery. But she responded to my call of words. Do drop by her blog to cheer her up. Actually, she most likely will end up cheering you. That's just the kind of person she is!

Her words for me
Llama , monk 
Meditate , reflect , forgive 
Beautiful, transcendent, inspiring
Corner,  retreat

Sherry in Canada, me in Malaysia  - now that's a cross Pacific collaboration, for sure!




39 comments:

  1. Ninot - this is simply wonderful!!!!!! I am so neuron-deprived right now it is amazing I could think up any words! But oh, what you did with them is wonderful!!!!!

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    1. Thanks, Sherry. Your words were simply wonderful.

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  2. oo great question in that...is to forgive enough...and esp in contemplating the destruction....gratitude resides, no longer in retreat is very cool as well...nice...

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    1. Hi, Brian! Well, conventions, treaties and carbon tax are not enough!

      Great prompt. Trying to do one on music next...

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  3. Ninot Ma'am!
    Been to visit Sherry! She's taking it all in her stride. Your posting is perfect, Ma'am! Nicely!

    Hank

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  4. "Is to forgive enough?" <- I love this. So thought provoking. Love the topic of gratitude showing- this world tends to hold back this thinking its weird or weak but to me - humility is a strength :)

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    1. Dear Gretchen.
      With the words Sherry gave me, it is naturel to come up with a heartfelt piece. You are right, Gretchen, humility is such a powerful force, and gratitude gives one such strength. This was second nature to Asians, but now things are changing.

      I am mulling tunes in my head, trying to write something for you. I love music of so many genres...lady gaga to beethoven...we'll see ...:-)

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  5. Replies
    1. Thanks, enjoyed yours too. Still wondering about your niece's book.

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  6. You were given some cool words and what you did with them is beautiful! I'm so happy I clicked your link. I usually pick links at random, but I read some of your comments on other people's posts and decided to check out your blog.

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    1. Thanks Heidi. I was lucky Sherry was game! Her surgery is just over, and still she had time to drop by. Her lovely words were inspiring.

      Hope to see you more often, and thank you for making your way here!

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  7. Well done. And I especially liked:

    "gratitude resides
    in the corner
    of my heart

    no longer in retreat"

    Madeleine Begun Kane

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    1. Thank you Madeleine! And congratulations on your limerick adventure and anniversary.

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  8. Meaningful and lovely weaving of words by you and Sherry ~ I specially like the line about reflection on forgiveness and gratitude ~ Happy Sunday ~

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    1. Thank you Grace, I think this is what I learn from Sherry - gratitude is the best.

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  9. is to forgive enough..? i like your question in this...had tea last week with a korean monk, talking a bit buddhism with him and reading it from that point of view now.. cool work with the given words

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    1. I remember your Korean Monk in Berlin, Claudia. I feel it's important to have a larger perspective - it helps in an inclusive solution. Don't you think?

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  10. Beautiful as always and what a nice collaboration!
    "is to forgive enough?" is a lovely line. Sometimes forgiveness alone cannot efface consequences and resolve ongoing problems.

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  11. Gratitude no longer in retreat. I liked that. I went with a song, but if i was thinking, I should have asked you for some words. Another day maybe. Very kool use of the prompted words. Always enjoy your voice and creativity.

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    1. Thank you Henry. At the risk of being accused of quid pro quo, I must admit I do enjoy yours too - especially those brilliant videos!

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  12. Yes, great usage of Sherry's words..a wonder she is with us today ;) I like the llama and monk images and the meditating zen mood here ..

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    1. Only from Sherry would you get llamas and monk and gratitude. You are right, katy, she is such a darling.

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  13. ...ah, sometimes i just want to be like the monks in the mountains... not weighing too much from this destructive world... silence - wise enough response to to an angry mind... forgiveness - always in abundance for an angry heart... i like the connection with the elusive life of the llamas which heightens the contemplative mood you set here... definitely enjoyed the read... smiles...

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    1. I have some friends who have become monks - and I admire their focus. Monks in the mountain...what a force of healing thoughts.

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  14. Replies
    1. Gratitude - such acceptance would surely help in this world of want, Laurie.

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  15. I really like what you have done. You make a good pair with writing. What fun!

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    1. Thanks Renee, we can do this together anytime. Just give me a tinkle here...

      Perhaps Brian has started something here:)

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  16. Ah, indeed, songs, smells and even activities can trigger the memories and emotions locked hand-in-hand with these triggers. Unexpected great joy .

    Nicely captured

    I did not catch how you speak fluent french -- your Father?
    Do you have another interview link telling us more about you?

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    1. Hi Sabio!

      Sadly, I do not speak French fluently at all. I struggle at French poetry. Glimpses of phrases would come up, or thoughts in English would inspire a French poem. While a poem in English can take me anywhere from 3 minutes to 3 hours, poems in both Malay and French would take me at least a day to finish. If you notice, I only write short French poetry to limit mistakes. Ha Ha!

      I took up French while studying in Canada many years ago, and continued back here in Malaysia. On Sundays, my daughters and I sing along to French songs on youtube.

      I have had interviews on radio and tv here, unfortunately I do not have the recordings - mainly on my work and books to preserve Malay Hikayat and legends - not as a poet. But no, not on the blogosphere!

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    2. Darn -- I'd so like to read an interview -- wait, maybe I should start some on my blog some day -- maybe in the fall. Would you sign up?

      When you speak of Hikayat do you mean the "Hikayat Hang Tuah"?

      Thanx for the story about the French -- that is sort of the way it is with me and Japanese -- though I was fairly fluent at one time.

      Again, I will be ordering your book for my daughter. Thanks for the recommend in the e-mail!

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    3. PS, how are you using "Rideau"? I looked it up -- it means curtain or areas of Ottawa Canada that use the word. So I couldn't figure it out. Thanx

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    4. Just a clarification, apart from the 2010 interview by Poets United, no there are no newer interviews on the blogosphere.

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  17. When I say Hikayat, I mean Malay Hikayat or Malay legends, one of which is Hikayat Hang Tuah. Malay legends have been around for hundreds of years, and from the 17th to 19th centuries have been painstakingly written in manuscripts in Jawi. Today these manuscripts reside in 151 museums and libraries worldwide.

    Some favorites are Hikayat Malim Deman, Hikayat Awang Sulong Merah Muda and Panji Semirang. The most well known is the Sejarah Melayu, or the Malay Annals - which is more historical in nature, recording the history of the 15th and 16th century Melaka Sultanate.

    Thank you - I hope your daughter likes NAGA. It was my first novel. I hope she is above 18! There is also a write-up on Malay Literature at the end of the book by one of the leading professors on the subject, my mentor - Prof Ding Choo Ming.

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    1. By the way, I love Hikayat Hang Tuah. Hang Tuah is a malay hero - an admiral, from the Melaka Sultanate era.

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  18. The Rideau River runs through Ottawa where I was living for four years. Those were formative years. In the spring, it was lovely just sitting by the river, and in winter, WOW, rock concerts were held on the iced over river. I skated on that river!

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  19. On the interview - ask me again in the fall!

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