Wishing one and all a blessed and resplendent lunar year of the Dragon.
Category Archives: nature
Blessings Abide
Wishing one and all a splendid new lunar year of the Rabbit filled with blessings and abundance. Featuring the vibrant painting by Yang En-Tien from Mouth and Foot Painting Artists.
Déjà Vu
Déjà vu is like files that were
Pre-saved into your memory at
Different points in your life
As you go along, you will meet them,
And you will find them familiar,
As if you have experienced them before
And as you depart from them,
They seem to be signposts telling you
Things are as they are meant to be.
Live
When I live, I will live;
That when I die, I will die
So I may again live.
April Landscape Photo Challenge: Bridge
To join what is separated –
One side from another
One people from another
One perspective from another –
Is perhaps what this thing
We are in together is.
(Photograph Location: Singapore)
On Math, Variables And Constants
He sidled up from behind and peered over my shoulder as I busily scribbled at my desk.
“You are doing Math?”
“You gave me a fright. Yes, I am. Why?”
His grin quickly changed into a look of seriousness when I turned around with a scrutiny of evaluation. He let out a cough at my gaze of suspicion before continuing.
“Well. ‘Y’ is indeed the question.”
“Ehm.. why?”
It was starting to feel like we were pulling neverending puns on each other.
“You know how there are variables in Math equations, represented by letters like ‘y’ and ‘x’ and et cetera?”
“Uh… yeah…?”
“And how usually the value of ‘y’ changes with the value of ‘x’ or vice versa?”
“Umm, yea?”
Was it going to be a revision of calculus? He let out a chortle, as if reading my thoughts at that moment.
“Now, you would say these variables are affected by each other, won’t you? In whatever way they are related.“
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Now, consider the constant in a relation, sometimes abbreviated endearingly as ‘c’. It is an important part of it, but yet it remains unchanged, regardless what happens to either or both variables.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
I was getting more and more perplexed. He must have noticed, and thus let out a reassuring grin before continuing.
“So, assuming both the variable and the constant in a relationship could take on positive values only. The variable could still result in a negative result, but the constant always positively amplifies the outcome. That right?”
He continued, looking at me, still smiling.
“My Math question for you today is: assuming you are a positive value. Would you choose to be a variable, subjected to the fluctuations of other variables, or would you choose to be an unwavering constant?”
He gave me a bright grin, then sauntered away, whistling.
I think I know my answer.
Pruning Trees
This has been on my mind for a while now, since I saw the tree outside my apartment undergo some major pruning. I had felt sad, but I guess there’s more to rejoice.
“What’s going on?” I cried, rushing out into the garden.
He had a ladder against a tree and was at the topmost rung, perched and holding a saw, gazing up into the leafy arms. On the ground lay several piles of leaf-sprouting branches.
He saw me standing arms akimbo below and waved down at me, yelling, “I’m pruning the trees!”
“But why? They looked so beautiful with their crowns of green,” I pouted. “Now they look all ugly and bare!” I looked at the stumps of nothing against the bright blue skies and felt upset all over again.
“I feel like the trees have wasted all their efforts growing themselves out.”
“Yeah I know; they were glorious weren’t they?”
He came down from the ladder and stood beside me, looking up at the stumps too. “But pruning has way more benefits that outweigh this temporary ugliness.”
“Well yeah… I suppose…”
He glanced over at me sulking and laughed.
“Well, pruning helps to remove deadwood that hampers trees from growing to their best potential, and also helps to shape them and redirect their growth.”
He leaned the saw gently against the tree, then continued, gazing kindly at me.
“When they grow better, and in the right directions, they become healthier. At the same time, risks from falling branches are reduced while yield or quality of flowers and fruits are increased.”
“Yeah… I suppose you are right,” I replied grudgingly.
“That’s what you can look forward to. But it will take some time.” He patted me on the shoulder and winked. “But I assure you, it will be a magnificent sight to behold.”
And so I wait, for that magnificence to unfold.
Castle
Canter to a halt, quiet
Still air laden; the leaves they whisper
Of martyrs and legends;
Blood once spilled where
Poppies grow, and silence that
Falls ’round the castell old;
Take me to the maiden, bound
To the dark night; take me in place
Of purity and light.
(Photo location: Eilean Donan, Scotland)
Daily Prompt: Skewed
We hold beneath our
Skins, skewed perspectives but
Forget that, sometimes, like
All things in nature, they
Require balance.
Awl and Scribe 