Inspirations 006 -- The Return

This was something I wrote on the flight back from a year long stint in Australia.

The Return 
by Thomas Heng

Talk is so cheap 
Rhetoric, just as dear 
Money's to be made everywhere 
Open your eyes and dispel your fear 

You already know what works 
and what doesn't for you 
Listen to others' counsel 
But the final task is yours to do 

Regard others in truth 
But also love yourself 
Worry not about the future 
For within you is real wealth 

Life is full of trivial pursuits 
Dispense with them fast 
Seize the memorable times 
Lengthen them; make them last 

True sustenance that inspires 
For a lifetime, is made 
Of fleeting seconds 
Never let them fade 

The return to hustle and bustle 
Is impending but in a while 
Cherish the last quiet moment 
Stow the memories in your organic file 

Inspirations 005 -- Being Myself

Being Myself

by Thomas Heng

Who would I be

If I didn't say what I mean?
What good external piety
If deep within I'm unclean?
A confession proclaimed
Or one silently professed
The goose and the gander
Both equally ad-dressed
Pronouncements are but vanity
Prescriptions of insanity
Minions remain not blind
To the suffering of our kind

I'm not a role model
I'm not a saint
I'll share with you what I believe
But I can't be what I ain't

Inspirations 004 -- The Weight of Values

Something I wrote to keep me on an even keel...

The Weight of Values

by Thomas Heng

See; but look deeply

Hear; but listen carefully

Know; but discern critically

Fear; indeed fear God
Fall; but get up
Cry; but wipe the tears away
Laugh; but guide firmly
Teach; but learn more than twice
Be; but be complete
Let the eyes look neither up nor down
for the self is level and true
Let the head turn neither left nor right
for it is but the slave of those who see
Let the ears suffer neither praise nor strife
for these lead to meaningless distraction
Let the lips serve the pure heart
for truth resounds from within
The way of the body is neutral to Creation
Yet the way of the soul is Perfection renewed

Inspirations 003 -- Who is My Neighbour?

This is an original piece that I wrote to keep me focused on what is truly important in my life -- people. To bear in mind that my mission is to love others as I love myself.

Who Is My Neighbour?

by Thomas Heng

The father who toils day and night
The mother whose smile, radiant and bright
The brother who marries at age twenty nine
The sister who lusts after song and wine
The teacher who challenges and guides
The student whose entire hope frailly rides
The migrant who in English will not speak
Yet in other tongues will his discourse not be weak
The elderly soul whose wrath afflicts all
The feminine bigot who fears walking tall
The young couple, whose love transcends all strife
The dame, singly focused on reconciliation with life
The soul within, that houses all I know
The one person through which all love will flow

Inspirations 002 -- The Gift of Love

The Gift of Love

by Thomas Heng

You can love me, but I must make me happy
You can teach me, but I must do the learning
You can guide me, but I will have to walk that path
You can coach me, but I must win that game
You can promote me, but I must be successful
And you can even pity me, but I will have to bear the sorrow
For the gift of love is not the food that feeds me
It is the sunshine that nourishes what I must finally harvest for myself
So if you love me, don't just sing me your song
Teach me to sing, for when I'm alone, I will need the melody