"What Lies between Earth and Sky: Why we must question the reason why we try" -- a poem by Bulukani Mlalazi

Here at Verses Of The Inner Self, we're all about encouraging each other and blessing each other through faith. I was incredibly pleased and uplifted to know Bulu, my mate from church, had been in the process of writing his own poetry inspired by God as he was walking across a bridge one day. "The inspiration of words just came to me in an instant, and then I started to edit the poem in bits and pieces". Bulu said. "Yeah", I nodded, "That's how a lot of poetry is written mate, they can be precious things, and they need careful crafting". I think it's just amazing how God can drop flashes of inspiration into your head in unexpected ways. I think the essence of this poem is really genuine and uplifting, and I have no doubt that people can learn a lot from these wise words Bulu has crafted in his poem, "What Lies between Earth and Sky: Why we must question the reasons why we try". In a world full of distractions, one can get caught into the business of society, work commitments, all these worldly things that we oft depend; yet, they are exactly that, a distraction from God's eternal love. We must not forget that we are citizens of heaven, not to get caught into the sins of the world, that we may seek 'those precious gifts from above' that fills our lives with true joy.

I recently had been going through an experience like this, that Bulu had captured in the poem below. Over the last month, or two, I had been so focused on getting my second book done, I had lost the unending love and grace that God had on offer to me. That month was spent entirely writing and not socialising with God's people, though the manuscript was completed in time, I had really missed companionship and had gone through a stage of spiritual dryness. Safe to say, I feel as though I have become a lot closer to God's presence over the last few weeks, as I have enjoyed the company of many of God's children whether it be in camps, chatting with friends over coffee, at church, etc. I'm ready to feel your awesome and eternal love again God :)

Thank you for your wise words Bulu, I truly feel blessed to have read this piece, and I'm sure many others will appreciate it too!

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever" Psalms 107:1

"Don't Waste Your Singleness"... Really enjoyed this bit of wisdom!

Haiku Month

Performing haiku in last year's Nimbin Poetry Festival, I made some valuable connections with people in the Australian creative writing scene. I was contacted via this blog for a sample of the haiku that I read. Then today, I stumbled across some delightful banners that showcased some of my work as part of the "Haiku Month" at Co-West Coworking+Writing Studio, a real delight to be featured amongst some of the masters of the haiku craft including: George Swede, Hakusuiro, Shiki, Zuiryu. Here are some pictures of the banners :) I'll write what Co-West Coworking+Writing Studio said about each banner above each picture...

Haiku month at Co-West - starting with the work of Vuong Pham...

Day three! Thanks Vuong. He read this haiku at the Nimbin Poetry Festival...

Day 4: ... from George Swede

From the masters of the craft...

SHIKI

Enuff said...

The last one for the month - exquisite and immortal...

Lastly, I saw this banner while at Nimbin-- one of my favourite Bible verses in Psalms:

"The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." -- Psalm 23: 1-6

Do not boast, for it is the grace and gift of God, give glory to Him...

Snapshots

As part of the "Friday Fences" blogroll, I've taken a snapshot of my backyard fence:

This picture of my backyard fence has some history to it. In the foreground is an old chicken pen fence that has been unused since our chickens have left us; it now serves as a sort of trellis for some sun-aspiring vines. The fence in the background is the fence dividing ourselves from the neighbours. Coincidentally, they too have chickens, and, sometimes the odd one flies over to graze our yard. The trampoline has been unused for years now, it takes me back to childhood when we'd laugh ourselves silly just jumping on it. And also a memory of bouncing on it with my brother at Easter, and we were talking about how Mum used to buy us presents in the form of video games whenever we got certificates of Merit at school. How Mum tried to encourage us in our education, and my brother and myself agreed on not to ask for more video games, because back then, we were poor... really poor. As the first generation of migrants from Vietnam, you can imagine all the sacrifices my parents made. Wow, I didn't realise I could say so much on one picture. So the saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words", but I better stop there, otherwise, the words won't stop!

I find it lovely that nature is harmonising itself through the years in this photo. The old trampoline is now a sleeping place for my cat, Ramsay, during the day so he can sunbake. The old fence and chicken pen fence is now like a trellis for other plants. On a similar note, my favourite words are "trellis", "petrichor", and "halcyon".

Here's a haiku I wrote a while ago, it appears in my first collection, Refugee Prayer:

our conversation
leans into the trellis...
bursting buds

I submit this haiku as part of the Carpe Diem blogroll.

I hope you enjoyed this flashback post, I'll leave you with a verse from the Bible that spoke to me today: "He reached down from heaven and took hold of me; He pulled me out of deep waters" -- Psalm 18:16.

Love Poems

E.E. Cumming's poem, "i carry your heart" describes well the emotions and experiences I'm feeling at the moment towards someone special. Hmm, I'd best keep it captured in this poem I've written, "All Our Bones & Dust". I'm not the most articulate person in expressing emotions face to face. I'm more of an introverted poet, who captures those emotions and experiences in writing form. Here's a beautifully crafted video of E.E. Cumming's poem, "i carry your heart":

Vivid dreams

I've recently been having these vivid dreams; I'd wake up at times during the night: 2am, 4am on a consistent basis during the weekdays. Last night I had such a luminous and vivid dream of stars/meteor showers. I wrote a haiku in my head about it afterwards:

meteor shower
       one wish
            follows another











I also remember seeing a shooting star at Christmas Eve last year, it was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. Here's another haiku:

Christmas Eve
a shooting star points
the way home

"Ohhh", "Ahhh", you daffodil fields of beauty.

:-D

2013 Conference - HAIKU NORTH AMERICA

So my workshop, "Performance Haiku and Senryu" got accepted to be presented at this year's Haiku North America Conference in August on the QUEEN MARY cruise ship at Long Beach California. A true privilege and I'm deeply humbled to be chosen to present to renowned people in the modern haiku global community. Slight issue with financial purposes though, I'll have to pay for my flight there, and for a room in the cruise ship. This will be a great learning experience and I really love the thought of giving back to the haiku community so they can grow in their art.

Check out the QUEEN MARY in all her beauty:

Now, a chance like this doesn't happen very often to experience the world. Receiving the funding for the trip and its expenses to the QUEEN MARY in California would be possible, but I would have to look into applying for some funding grants. It's totally possible, now, but the tricky part is to focus some time to getting some funds. Leap well, Vuong.