Climbing West Of Lotus Flower Peak by Li Po

Amongst the grandeur of Hua Shan
I climb to the Flower Peak,
and fancy I see fairies and immortals
carrying lotus in their
sacred white hands, robes flowing
they fly filling the sky with colour
as they rise to the palace of heaven,
inviting me to go to the cloud stage
and see Wei Shu-ching, guardian angel
of Hua Shan; so dreamily I go with them
riding to the sky on the back
of wild geese which call as they fly,
but when we look below at Loyang,
not so clear because of the mist,
everywhere could be seen looting
armies, which took Loyang, creating
chaos and madness with blood
flowing everywhere; like animals of prey
rebel army men made into officials
with caps and robes to match.

Bringing in the Wine by Li Po

See how the Yellow River's water move out of heaven.

Entering the ocean, never to return.

See how lovely locks in bright mirrors in high chambers,

Though silken-black at morning, have changed by night to snow.

... Oh, let a man of spirit venture where he pleases

And never tip his golden cup empty toward the moon!

Since heaven gave the talent, let it be employed!

Spin a thousand of pieces of silver, all of them come back!

Cook a sheep, kill a cow, whet the appetite,

And make me, of three hundred bowls, one long drink!

... To the old master, Tsen,

And the young scholar, Tan-chiu,

Bring in the wine!

Let your cups never rest!

Let me sing you a song!

Let your ears attend!

What are bell and drum, rare dishes and treasure?

Let me br forever drunk and never come to reason!

Sober men of olden days and sages are forgotten,

And only the great drinkers are famous for all time.

... Prince Chen paid at a banquet in the Palace of Perfection

Ten thousand coins for a cask of wine, with many a laugh and quip.

Why say, my host, that your money is gone?

Go and buy wine and we'll drink it together!

My flower-dappled horse,

My furs worth a thousand,

Hand them to the boy to exchange for good wine,

And we'll drown away the woes of ten thousand generation!

Amidst The Flowers A Jug Of Wine by Li Po

Amidst the flowers a jug of wine,

I pour alone lacking companionship.

So raising the cup I invite the Moon,

Then turn to my shadow which makes three of us.

Because the Moon does not know how to drink,

My shadow merely follows the movement of my body.

The moon has brought the shadow to keep me company a while,

The practice of mirth should keep pace with spring.

I start a song and the moon begins to reel,

I rise and dance and the shadow moves grotesquely.

While I'm still conscious let's rejoice with one another,

After I'm drunk let each one go his way.

Let us bind ourselves for ever for passionless journeyings.

Let us swear to meet again far in the Milky Way.

Alone And Drinking Under The Moon by Li Po

Amongst the flowers I
am alone with my pot of wine
drinking by myself; then lifting
my cup I asked the moon
to drink with me, its reflection
and mine in the wine cup, just
the three of us; then I sigh
for the moon cannot drink,
and my shadow goes emptily along
with me never saying a word;
with no other friends here, I can
but use these two for company;
in the time of happiness, I
too must be happy with all
around me; I sit and sing
and it is as if the moon
accompanies me; then if I
dance, it is my shadow that
dances along with me; while
still not drunk, I am glad
to make the moon and my shadow
into friends, but then when
I have drunk too much, we
all part; yet these are
friends I can always count on
these who have no emotion
whatsoever; I hope that one day
we three will meet again,
deep in the Milky Way.

2nd Version

Beneath the blossoms with a pot of wine,

No friends at hand, so I poured alone;

I raised my cup to invite the moon,

Turned to my shadow, and we became three.

Now the moon had never learned about drinking,

And my shadow had merely followed my form,

But I quickly made friends with the moon and my shadow;

To find pleasure in life, make the most of the spring.

Whenever I sang, the moon swayed with me;

Whenever I danced, my shadow went wild.

Drinking, we shared our enjoyment together;

Drunk, then each went off on his own.

But forever agreed on dispassionate revels,

We promised to meet in the far Milky Way.

Drinking Alone by Li Po

I take my wine jug out among the flowers

to drink alone, without friends.

I raise my cup to entice the moon.

That, and my shadow, makes us three.

But the moon doesn't drink,

and my shadow silently follows.

I will travel with moon and shadow,

happy to the end of spring.

When I sing, the moon dances.

When I dance, my shadow dances, too.

We share life's joys when sober.

Drunk, each goes a separate way.

Constant friends, although we wander,

we'll meet again in the Milky Way.

Li T'ai-po

Stress Proof Person by Priscilla Ravane

To soft gentle sounds from nature

To dialogs that sustain relationships

To music lifting the heart and soul

To angel choirs boasting the spirit

Of the whole person, the still,

Small voice within, the conscience form,

The color, the form, the silhouette

Of things concrete, the light radiating from

The sun, moon and stars, the grandeur,

The beauty of the whole creation

The innate goodness of a person

The softness of pussycat, the smoothness

And roughness of a flower, the grains of rice and corn

The delicate skin of the baby,

Radiating innocence

The forgiveness sown and reaped

The coolness of the water quenching thirst

The tenderness of tap on the shoulder

The sweetness of a friend’s smile, love

Lightening the load, lifting the heart

Acholi Land! by Okema Leonard, Uganda

Acholiland oh acholiland,

The once happy mother of proud warriors,

To you we wail,

For redemption from the fangs of terror,

The terror that bleeds us white,

The terror that siphons your blood

that runs in our veins,

Lambs without a shepherd we remain,

Driven away from you into the darkness,

Mama we yearn for an end to our misgivings,

Oh! Acholiland,

Do you hear us when we call out to you?

When our cries run our voices frail,

When wantons hunt us, your children down,

The harmony you taught us is no more,

Your children have learnt the little art of

unleashing terror,

Unfortunately on your very siblings,

Pain is all we feel and grim is what we see,

Blood is what we pay for being your children,

Oh! Mother, spread your wings and redeem

us, to rise and shine again.

A Friend by Keno

I've still been searching

And long have I waited

For someone to like me as me

To laugh with, To cry with

To be just beside with

A friend that's who I need

To fight with, Make up with

To know that you need them

Believing that they need you, too

To walk hand in hand with

To argue to talk with

A friend that's who I need

And even though

I make mistakes

And never do anything right

A smile, a hug

Can change all that

And everything will be alright

Someone who'll share

All my dreams and ambitions

Someone who'll love me as me

I need this person

Someone to rely on

A friend that's who I need

A friend that's who I need

Kids React to Bullying

http://www.youtube.com/v/Xre8zZ_B8Mk?version=3&f=standard&app=youtube_gdata

Marriages Are Made by Eunice deSouza

My cousin Elena

is to be married

The formalities

have been completed:

her family history examined

for T.B. and madness

her father declared solvent

her eyes examined for squints

her teeth for cavities

her stools for the possible

non-Brahmin worm.

She's not quite tall enough

and not quite full enough

(children will take care of that)

Her complexion it was decided

would compensate, being just about

the right shade

of rightness

to do justice to

Francisco X. Noronha Prabhu

good son of Mother Church.

The Sea by Kahlil Gibran

In the still of the night

As man slumbers behind the folds,

the forest proclaims:

    "I am the power

    Brought by the sun from

    The heart of the earth."

The sea remains quiet, saying to itself,

    "I am the power."

The rock says,

    "The ages erected me as a monument

    Until the Judgment Day."

The sea remains silent saying to itself,

    "I am the monument."

The wind howls

    "I am strong,

    I separate the heavens from the earth."

The sea remains quiet, saying to itself,

    "The wind is mine."

The river says

    "I am the pure water

    That quenches the thirst of the earth."

The sea remains silent saying to itself,

    "The river is mine."

The summit says,

    "I stand high like a star

    In the center of the sky."

The sea remains quiet saying to itself,

    "The summit is mine."

The brain says,

    "I am a ruler;

    The world is in those who rule."'

The sea remains slumbering saying, in its sleep,

    "All is mine."

About Khalil Gibran

Me (Aku)

When my time comes

I want to hear no one’s cries,

Nor yours either

Away with all who cry!

Here I am, a wild beast,

Cut off from his companions

Bullets may pierce my skin

But I’ll keep on,

Carrying forward my wounds and my pain,

Attacking,

Attacking,

Until suffering disappears

And I won’t care anymore

I want to live another thousand years

Translated by Burton Rafeel and Nurdin Salam

LANDSCAPE by: Carlos A. Angeles

Sun in the knifed horizon bleeds the sky,

Spilling a peacock stain upon the sands,

Across some murdered rocks refused to die.

It is your absence touches my sad hands

Blinded like flags in the wreck of air.

And catacombs of cloud enshroud the cool

And calm involvement of the darkened plains,

The stunted mourners here: and here, a full

And universal tenderness which drains

The sucked and golden breath of sky comes bare.

Now, while the dark basins the void of space,

Some sudden crickets, ambushing me near,

Discover vowels of your whispered face

And subtly cry. I touch your absence here

Remembering the speechless of your hair.

GITANJALI (Song Offerings) Rabindranath Tagore

1

The child who is decked with prince’s robes and who has jeweled chains round

      his neck loses all pleasure in his play, his dress hampers him at every step.

In fear that it may be frayed, or stained with dust he keeps himself from the world,

      and is afraid even to move.

Mother, it is no gain, thy bondage of finery, if it keeps one shut off from the

      healthful dust of the earth, if it robs me of the right of entrance to the great fair 

      of common human life.

2

Where the mind is without fear and head is held high;

Where knowledge is free;

Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;

Where words come out from the depths of truth;

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection.

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert
      sand of death habit;

Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action-

Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

3

On that day when death will knock at thy door

What wilt thou offer to him?

Oh, I will set before my guest the full vessel of my life – I will never let him 

     go with empty hands.

All that vintage of all my autumn days and summer nights, all the earnings 

     and gleanings of my busy life will I place before him at the close of my 

     days when death will knock at my door.

Heal Our Land lyrics Jamie Rivera

If my people will humble themselves

Humble themselves and pray

If they seek my face and humble themselves

And turn from their wicked ways

[REFRAIN 1]

I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins

I will hear from heaven and heal their land

 [CHORUS]

Lord, heal our land

Father, heal our land

Hear our cry and turn our nation back to You

Lord, heal our land

Hear us oh, Lord, and heal our land

Forgive our sin and heal our broken land

Lord, we vow our knee, we humble ourselves

Humble ourselves and pray

Lord, we seek your face and humble ourselves

And turn from my wicked ways

[REFRAIN 2]

Father in Your mercy, forgive our sins

Father in Your mercy, come heal our land

[Repeat CHORUS twice]

[CODA]

(Lord, heal our land

Father, heal our land)

Hear our cry and heal our broken land

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Please Be Careful With My Heart Lyrics Jose Mari Chan

Verse:
If you love me like you tell me
Please be careful with my heart
You can take it just don’t break it
Or my world will fall apart

Chorus:
You are my first romance
And I’m willing to take a chance
That ’till life is through
I’ll still be loving you

I will be true to you
Just a promise from you will do
From the very start
Please be careful with my heart

Verse II:
I love you and you know I do
There’ll be no one else for me
Promise I’ll be always true
For the world and all to see

Love has heard some lies softly spoken
And I have had my heart badly broken
I’ve been burned and I’ve been hurt before

Verse III:
So I know just how you feel
Trust my love is real for you
I’ll be gentle with your heart
I’ll caress it like the morning dew

I’ll be right beside you forever
I won’t let our world fall apart
From the very start
I’ll be careful with your heart

Chorus II:
You are my first (and you are my last) romance
And I’m willing to take a chance
(I’ve learned from the past)
That ’till life is through
I’ll still be loving you

I will be true (I will be true) to you
Just a promise from you will do (only to you)
From the very start (from the very start)
From the very start (from the very start)
From the very start
Please be careful with (I’ll be careful with) my heart (your heart)

Lift Up Your Hands lyrics Basil Valdez

Lyrics to Lift Up Your Hands:

Life is not all that bad, my friend, hmmm

If you believe in yourself

If you believe there's Someone

Who walks through life without you

You'll never be alone

Just learn to reach out,

And open your heart

Lift up hands to God,

And He'll show you the way.

And He said, 'Cast your burdens upon Me

Those who are heavily laden,

Come to Me, all of you who are tired

Of carrying heavy loads,

For the yoke I will give you is easy

And My burden is light,

Come to Me and I will give you rest.'

When you feel the world

Is tumblin' down on you,

And you have no one

That you can hold on to,

Just face the rising sun

And you'll see hope,

And there's no need to run

Lift up your hands to God,

And He'll make you feel all right.

And He said, 'Cast your burdens upon Me

Those who are heavily laden,

Come to Me, all of you who are tired

Of carrying heavy loads,

For the yoke I will give you is easy

And My burden is light,

Come to Me and I will give you rest.'

Sing Me Your Song Again Daddy Jose Marie Chan

Sing me a song again, Daddy
Sing me a happy verse.
Teach me those clever lines you sang
As you carried me on your shoulders.
Sing me that hymn that you so loudly
Sang in church with mom.
Sing it again to me and fill me
With all your words of wisdom.

Comforting words of love when I
Would get home from school in tears.
Somehow your songs have stayed within me
Down through all the years.
Once when my younger heart was broken
Your shoulder was there to cry on.
Sing me those songs I know will linger
Long after you have gone.

I am standing at the threshold
Of a chapter in my life
I am asking for your blessing
As I’m about to be the wife
Of a man I know who loves me
And I’m proud to be his bride.
Dad the time has come for me to leave your side.

So, sing me a song again, Daddy.
Sing me a lullaby.
Wrap me inside your arms, Daddy,
‘Though this is not goodbye.
Your songs will live forever
In my heart. When times get rough
The ones I’ll most remember
Are your songs of love.

JOSE:

Your songs will live forever
In my heart. When times get rough

CHERI:

The ones I’ll most remember
Are your songs of love.

Lead Me Lord – Gary Valenciano

Lead me Lord, lead me by the hand
And make me face the rising sun
Comfort me through all the pain
That life may bring
There's no other hope
That I can lean upon
(Chorus)
Lead me Lord
Lead me all my life
Walk by me, walk by me across
The lonely road that I may face
Take my arms and let your hand
Show me the way
Show the way to live inside your heart
All my days, all my life
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/g/garml ]
Refrain:
You are my light
You're the lamp upon my feet
All the time my Lord
I need You there
You are my light
I (just) cannot live alone
Let me stay
By Your guiding love
All through my life
(Chorus)
Lead me Lord
Lead me Lord
Even though at times
I'd rather go alone my way
Help me take the right direction
Take Your road
Lead me Lord
And never leave my side
All my days
All my life
You are my light
You're the lamp upon my feet
All the time my Lord
I need You there
You are my light
I (just) cannot live alone
Let me stay
By Your guiding love
All through my life
You are my light
You're the lamp upon my feet
All the time my Lord
I need You there
You are my light
I (just) cannot live alone
Let me stay
By Your guiding love
All through my life
All through my days
Lead me, Oh Lord
Lead me Lord

Glossary

HAIKU - a simple typical Japanese poem of unique 3 lines seventeen syllables pattern. It has no rhyme, no meter and its purpose is to communicate the feeling of a single moment through using images/mental pictures. It sketches a quick picture of a scene from everyday life by using a “kigo”(seasonal word) that suggests/hints the feeling being conveyed. It is noted for its brevity, beauty, intensity of emotion being conveyed and the use of nature to convey a passing moment in life. Here, noble subjects are treated indirectly with delicacy of touch and tenderness.

EUPHONY – is the use of a pleasant, harmonious-sounding combination of words, especially in poetry. Since poems are meant to be read for full enjoyment, their sound should ne pleasing to the ear. The sound should be musical. The musical sound is achieved by the repetition of syllables and phrases.

TANKA - a classic Japanese verse form expressing intense emotion in 5 lines comprising 31 syllables following 5-7-5-7-7 syllables pattern. It is a brief but beautiful poem that describes strikingly beautiful scenery that appeal to the senses. They originally developed from songs. 

The Tame Bird was in A Cage

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)

HE tame bird was in a cage, the free bird was in the forest.

They met when the time came, it was a decree of fate.

The free bird cries, "O my love, let us fly to the wood."

The cage bird whispers, "Come hither, let us both live in the cage."

Says the free bird, "Among bars, where is there room to spread one's wings?"

"Alas," cries the caged bird, "I should not know where to sit perched in the sky."

The free bird cries, "My darling, sing the songs of the woodlands."

The cage bird sings, "Sit by my side, I'll teach you the speech of the learned."

The forest bird cries, "No, ah no! songs can never be taught."

The cage bird says, "Alas for me, I know not the songs of the woodlands."

There love is intense with longing, but they never can fly wing to wing.

Through the bars of the cage they look, and vain is their wish to know each other.

They flutter their wings in yearning, and sing, "Come closer, my love!"

The free bird cries, "It cannot be, I fear the closed doors of the cage."

The cage bird whispers, "Alas, my wings are powerless and dead."

Africa by David Diop

Africa, my Africa

Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs

Africa of whom my grandmother sings

On the banks of the distant river

I have never known you

But your blood flows in my veins

Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields

The blood of your sweat

The sweat of your work

The work of your slavery

Africa, tell me Africa

Is this you, this back that is bent

This back that breaks

Under the weight of humiliation

This back trembling with red scars

And saying yes to the whip under the

     midday sun

But a grave voice answers me

Impetuous child that tree, young and strong

That tree over there

Splendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers

That is your Africa springing up anew

Springing up patiently, obstinately

Whose fruit bit by bit acquires

The bitter taste of liberty.

To The Sons Of India by Rabindranath Tagore

Before the glance of the West with its

pride of power, its traders rolling in luxury,

and its pomp and wealth, do not,

O sons of Bharat, feel ashamed to wear

your plain white garb and to live

your simple life with mein noble and calm.

Listen not to what they say,

keep your priceless treasure

in your heart, let it rest

on your brow as an invisible crown.

That which looks large and has been heaped high,

let it not overwhelm you, and do not

prostrate yourselves before it.

Place your free soul on the throne

of poverty, filling your mind

with the leisure of want.