Remembering Dad on his birthday

years
have passed
saw you last
still have tears
the space you left was vast
today we’re remembering you
memories still in our hearts as we grew
had you were here we’d celebrate it with our cheers
we miss your voice, your cooking, that is true
your kindness, your belly, that, too
it could still be a blast
for what was due
love the past
went fast
cheers!

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Thank God, It’s Monday! — Week of November 14th 2016

Also for: 30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 14, Tell Me Something Good #31

August 31: Flash Fiction Challenge – Goodbye

the hardest goodbye
was to my Dad
on his bed
before my flight
I didn’t cry
I said sorry
things I’ve done
things I haven’t done
he said no need
I was forgiven
I promised him
lots of things
I’d look after everyone
I’d make sure they’re fine
I looked at him one last time
he was the man I dearly love
my idol, my ideal man
the man who pinned my medals
the man who left me notes
the man who cooked
the man with a big heart
his memories in my soul
miss him like the rain

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: August 31: Flash Fiction Challenge

Mga Habilin ni Tatay

mga habilin ni tatay
magpakabait daw ako
mabait na anak, kapatid, asawa
maging masipag
na kaya kong marating ang lahat
magpakumbaba
huwag kalimutan kung saan ako galing
magpasalamat sa mga biyaya
tanggapin kung ano ang pinagkaloob

my father’s last will
that I should behave
be a good daughter, sister and wife
that I should work hard
and I could reach anything
that I should be humble
don’t forget where I came from
be grateful for all the blessings
and accept what was given totally

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Word-High July: Habilin and Twilight Prayers

The Great Book of lists, chapter 5.1 : People who inspired you

It’s not about Dedcartes, Churchill, Coelho ou any other inspiring thinkers, whose quotes flourish the internet and the social networks.

No, this week is about a list of real people, unknown (or almost) to the world who had a real impact on our life.

Sometimes, just a little thing, a park, a teacher’s precepts, a piece of advice from a friend, you surely had such encounters in your life,  or people who did little but changed the face of your world.

So much gratitude an so many memories for these little but so significant inspirations

Here is my list of people who have inspired me :

Him Indoors – his sense of humour is to die for. I love him to the moon and back and he inspires me to reach the highest star, climb the highest mountain and swim the deepest sea.

My Dad – his high regard of responsibility, generosity and kindness inspired me. I still miss him.

My Mum – her fun and closeness to family makes me love her more. Wish she’ll be with us for many years more.

HRH the son – ah, our pride and joy. His being so cool and takes his own time inspires me.

Jose Rizal – our national hero. His novels and the way he inspired people to fight for freedom is number one on my list.

For: The Great Book of lists, chapter 5.1 : People who inspired you by La duchesse d’Erat

Heeding Haiku With Chèvrefeuille June 8th 2016

First autumn morning
the mirror I stare into
shows my father’s face.

© Murakami Kijo*

*) Kijo Murakami (1865-1938). Murakami Kijo, the Haiku poet, was born in Edo in 1865, and moved to Takasaki city in 1873. He was in sympathy with Masaoka Shiki and joined his group to publish the first edition of ‘Hototogisu’, the famous Haiku magazine. He published the collection of Kijo in 1917. He was a highly esteemed poet both within the prefecture and nationally. He died on September 17th, 1938 at the age of 73.

People say I look like my Dad and I’m proud of it. As I grew up, I noticed the similarities, not just physically, but also his character. He worked hard all his life and I think I got that industriousness as well as his sense of responsibility. I’m also generous to a fault and has a very positive attitude in life.

Oh how I miss my Dad. Wish he was still here with us. Wish he was one of us celebrating the wedding of HRH the son to his beautiful K. Wish he was there to meet all the families and friends from different parts of the world. Wish he was there giving a toast to his grandson.

I look like my Dad
Wish he was still with us
Missing him so much

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Heeding Haiku With Chèvrefeuille June 8th 2016

Generation – Daily Prompt

Good day everyone! I loved my grandparents. My granddad or Tatay as I called him, was a very clever and educated man. He read a lot and that was were I got this habit of reading. When I visited him, there would always be some books that he was reading or had read and he wanted to share some parts or quotes to me. I could also borrow them later. When I had some awards in school and needed to say a speech, he wrote it for me. We also did some crossword puzzles together. And as for my Granny or Nanay, I learned a lot from her – how to be strong and independent. She gave all her grandchildren (girls, mostly) the same piece of material and we ended up wearing the same dress, but with different designs. She had a small store at the end of her life and when we were there for a holiday, we helped her. She gave us some sweets or small present afterwards. She was an interesting cook, she would mix one weird ingredient to another and voila! a meal (not to everyone’s taste, but bless her soul, we tried to eat it).

Look at this black and white photo
Golden anniversary of our grandparents
We were all there, some not even born
Most of them were not with us anymore
And so with this in mind, my homage

Tatay was my idol, a great reader
Died of Parkinson’s disease, still reading
He put the meanings of the difficult words
Wrote them in pencils at the side of books

Nanay, still beautiful in her old age
Long wavy hair, deaf as a post
Her cooking, shall we say, creative
Mixing things we normally don’t mixed

Tia Carol and Tio Fred, both in heaven
Both doctors, humble as pies
Good storytellers, took life leisurely
Spoke the dialect I cannot understand

Tio Alex, bless his soul, only brother
Worked in Customs, good looking
Tia Ludy, still with us, still elegant
Brought the kids on her own

My Mum, my darling mother
Pregnant with our youngest brother
My Dad, I still miss him, now gone
Memories in our hearts and souls

All siblings and cousins
Now all with own families
We used to play together
Our own family portrait

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

my family, my flesh and blood
for that I can sing a ballad
we all take it in great humour
all different but similar

my father’s a chef, mum’s teacher
brother’s nurse, sister a babbler
our dog woofs, of course, our cat purrs
all different but similar

we are there when one’s in trouble
and we are rich in wise counsel
we like food, crackers and cheddar
all different but similar

my family, my flesh and blood
all different but similar

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Generation

five minute friday :: miss

Hello everyone! Yesterday was a holiday here in Bavaria – it’s Ascension Day and at the same time, Father’s Day. Oh how I miss my Dad! I know it has been a long time since he passed away but words cannot describe the void I feel every time I think of him. Oh yes, from time to time, I feel sad when my mind drifts his way. From time to time, I have this imaginary phone call to him, telling him about our day to day activities here in Bavaria, how the weather has been changing, how our garden has been developing, what I will cook, how HRH is growing up fast and soon he’s getting married. I think HRH the son was only 9 when he passed away. We went to see my Dad when the son was around 4 and we had a great time, we went to Disneyland, Universal Studios, Las Vegas and San Diego. Now the son doesn’t really remember his Granddad aside from the photos that we show him.

Goodbye, Dad
Although it was still early when you left us
Even when there should be more opportunities
It hurts to think that you left us
You were not here to celebrate with us
And listened to our stories
That you never saw us growing
and your grandchildren
The everyday things and happenings
What we have achieved, our problems
When our hearts break, our happiness
Farewell, Father
Let your soul rest in peace

For: five minute friday :: miss

26 Weeks Letter Challenge: “F”

flowers

fountains

fruit

ferns

fish

For: 26 Weeks Letter Challenge: “F”

Heeding Haiku With Chèvrefeuille April 13th 2016

what a mystery
leaves falling year after year
without mourning

© Chèvrefeuille

Time is wonderful. It helps us ease our pain, some bad memories and our heartache. They are still there, but as the days pass by, the sensation dulls. It’s nature’s way of dealing with them and let us continue with our day to day activities, without mourning. When my father passed away, it was like the world has ended. It made me feel vulnerable and has come face to face with my own mortality. That we all go in the end, no matter what age, how healthy or active we are, whatever our lifestyle. It also made me change my attitude, my belief, my priorities and my way of life. I live each day like it’s the last day on earth. I love with passion, give generously to people who needs them, as well as my time to people that matters, sort my priorities and enjoy life and what it offers.

Life carries on
Live each day like a last day
Love with passion

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Heeding Haiku With Chèvrefeuille April 13th 2016

K is for Kyrielle Sonnet

A Kyrielle Sonnet consists of 14 lines (three rhyming quatrain stanzas and a non-rhyming couplet). Just like the traditional Kyrielle poem, the Kyrielle Sonnet also has a repeating line or phrase as a refrain (usually appearing as the last line of each stanza). Each line within the Kyrielle Sonnet consists of only eight syllables. French poetry forms have a tendency to link back to the beginning of the poem, so common practice is to use the first and last line of the first quatrain as the ending couplet. This would also re-enforce the refrain within the poem. Therefore, a good rhyming scheme for a Kyrielle Sonnet would be:

AabB, ccbB, ddbB, AB -or- AbaB, cbcB, dbdB, AB.

my family, my flesh and blood
for that I can sing a ballad
we all take it in great humour
all different but similar

my father’s a chef, mum’s teacher
brother’s nurse, sister a babbler
our dog woofs, of course, our cat purrs
all different but similar

we are there when one’s in trouble
and we are rich in wise counsel
we like food, crackers and cheddar
all different but similar

my family, my flesh and blood
all different but similar

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: thirteenth day of NaPoWriMo and Keep it Going with the #AtoZChallenge !