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| Sunrise from the Los' porch: Oct. 11, 2011 |
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| Catherine Lo Photo |
READING ARTHUR MAMPEL’S "POEMS:
MAKAI AND MAUKA" (1977)
Art, as a preacher writing poetry, you met with us At KCC Learning Resource Center
To share our poems and learn a point or two
From other poets. That was 40
years ago.
This morning, I sat down once more to read
your
24-page volume
Seated in comfort at Wilcox’s Same Day Surgery waiting room
While Dr. Carnegie hopes to free Karl’s wrist of carpal tunnel pain.
Art, poetry embodies a magical touch
That poets practice to transfer emotions and feelings
They hope would resonate with readers.
Alas, I still find myself lost in many of your lines.
In “Menehunes,” for example:
Consider: “The forest of
Kokee is
tangled with
an age of years.
Listen.”
[. . .]
“On Sunday
dark, your merry comes,
then sounds.
Not again.
Fire magic
has me fitted to
A bunk that
dreams the evening.
Sirens climb
the black. Wail.
(or is that
song?”
No, Art, I don’t hear a song!
I read words. I see lines strung
haphazardly.
They do not a song make.
You write lines and word pairings whose
Meaning and significance elude me.
I tarried on “wooden strength” … “black nourishment” … “upward
evening” …
“Your shadows
are seldom.” in “Trees and Friends” …
I left the confusing scene empty.
However,
I like the imagery in “Together
we shall best those hours.”
Also: “I come with less, I go with more.”
And: “For generations of eyes.”
Art, Mahalo! "Makai and Mauka" inspired me to write
“Mother Nature made magic creating Queen Victoria’s profile on Mt.
Ha`upu.”
Copyright
2017 Catherine Pascual Lo
Halloween Gift
October 31, 2017 -- 4:30 PM
RETIREMENT
re-: prefix: again, anew
tire: to make one feel in need of rest
-ment: state, condition, fact, or degree
retirement: a state where one
feels in need of rest again
What in truth is retirement? A departure
from a job or a career? The end of worries?
Freedom from stress? A time
to unstress? A stage of life when our sense
of self worth allows us to believe that we
have finished the course and we are finally
at peace? Maybe . . .
Retirement has its own rhythm contrary
to plans and schedules and we stress ourselves
anew with other pressing matters and again
set aside lifelong plans Retirement is like
an express train that never comes to a stop . . .
Restructuring retirement to make the days
follow a productive pattern at a relaxed pace
would be as unpromising as diverting
the rapids of a swollen Waikomo Stream
in great hurry to meet the sea at Koloa Landing . . .
( Copyright: 2001/2002)
Used in Memorable Moments: A Celebration of the Childhood
Of Eleanor Ibia Who Is Retiring from Teaching After 37 Years of Service (2002).
LABOR DAY
MATIN
The sun greets me with its
first burst of light
As I step out to the front
porch from the living room.
The September morning breeze
Caresses me in brisk welcome
And I prolong the greeting
by walking to the driveway
To pick up the morning paper.
Lo, a congregation greets
me!
In the middle of the driveway
A flock of Mountain Doves
and Mynahs
Are gathering spiritedly
And I wonder what phenomenon
Is in progress before my
eyes.
What call compels our feathered
friends
To gather this Labor Day
morning?
Suddenly a Red-Crested Cardinal
appears and perches
On the moss rock wall on
the right side of the driveway,
Like a preacher mounting
his pulpit
On Pentecost Sunday.
The September breeze suddenly
turns chilly.
Some knowledge of bird communication
Would help me now to understand
The harsh notes of the Mynahs,
The coos of the Mountain
Doves,
The sharp call of the Cardinal.
Is the call for me?
(©2001/2003)
NOVA
For R. D.
In the springtime of his life
He would have made a superb standby
For Clark Gable playing Rhett Butler
In "Gone with the Wind."
His moustache even
Is a masterful copy of Gable's.
Otherwise, he could have been
A terrific teller of tales.
I do not know where he came from
Or what brought him to fair Hawaii.
I only know that he crisscrossed
The continental United States
And that he most certainly wants
To be called "Nova," not "Bob."
(Nova claims that his preferred name
Preceded the popular television program.)
It seems so very fitting somehow --
His nickname, I mean --
Considering how Nova suddenly appears
And then just as suddenly disappears
From the island, but soon appears again:
Like nova -- a variable star
That increases and then decreases
In brightness, but shines brighter again.
I do not know why I let him stay
On a job that requires concentration
And memory that must manage to recall
Details from the day before:
A job that requires at least
Fifty feet of memory --
The distance between the shelflist file and
The card catalog at the Library.
No, I do not know why I let him stay.
Perhaps it is his compunction
And his polite expressions of regret
When he fails to follow instructions
And must re-file those 3x5 index cards.
It seems so right that even Nova, variable
And just passing through, should have
A warm spot under Hawaii's often chilly skies.
(1988)
Published in Pleiades (now
Makali’i) -- The Journal of the University of Hawaii Community Colleges -- February 1989
THE
GIFTS OF THIRST
| A peaceful place at Poipu. |
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| Karl Lo Photo: 2.12.05 |
For Gayle
As we add years to our lives, We experience disappointments and heartaches.
We learn that people we trust
Let us down. But we
are mindful
They are human like us, and we forgive them.
Loving too much, we experience heartaches, And our hearts may be broken
more than once.
Each heartbreak maybe more poignant than the
last,
But each experience makes us wiser,
And we grow in knowledge and understanding.
From childhood to adulthood,
We quarrel with our best friends.
But
we resolve our differences and move on.
We learn that disagreements
are part of growing up,
And we acknowledge our share of the blame.
As we grow older, time seems to gallop beyond
our control.
We come face to face with our own mortality
When we lose someone we know,
When we lose someone we
love,
And we rethink myriad matters of life.
Our thirst for life leads to a fuller life,
A life of contentment and thanksgiving for whatever life brings,
Never fretting,
Always ready to welcome each day with joy,
And never anxious about tomorrow.
(5.13/5.20.08)
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That was great, Catherine! JUST
what I needed to read right now/today! :-) Mahalo, Gayle. (May 14, 2008)
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Re: I believe these things make sense. Thank you for sharing the piece, Suzanne. As I read it, I was reminded
of a poem I wrote recently. Here it is. -- Catherine (June 12, 2008)
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Dear Catherine, this is beautiful; you should publish it for all to enjoy!
-- Suzanne (June 13, 2008)
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Dear Ann:
The thoughts and sentiments that you articulate
in the second paragraph of your e-mail resonate with me, so much so that they remind me of a recent poem that reflect those
thoughts and sentiments. In my usual circuitous way ... unlike your direct, clearer approach ... I jotted my thoughts in
THE GIFTS OF THIRST, which I am sharing with you. Thank your for reading it! You may critique it! I am always open to
constructive criticism! That's how we learn even at our age! Catherine (June 30, 2008)
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Catherine, such a lovely and meaningful poem; I loved it beginning to end. It reflects life so
well, and you worded it in such a way that touched my heart. How can perfection be corrected! Thanks for sharing. ann (July 1, 2008)
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What Happened To Common Sense?
April 27, 2008
Dear
Ann:
Indeed,
the death of Common Sense is a sad commentary on our society. For example, the overflowing prisons from coast to coast reflect
the death of Common Sense. Instead of dealing with the causes of the ails of society, and finding solutions, those in power
elect to build more and bigger prisons to accommodate those who break the laws. Isn't that sad? There will never be enough
prisons to house the lawbreakers! And those in power don't have the common sense to do something constructive about the problem
besides constructing buildings! They have to break the cycles of lawlessness by going back to basics, returning the Ten Commandments
to homes and schools and impressing on children that the Ten Commandments all require TRUE answers, and that they don't constitute
a multiple-choice test!
When
I read the paragraph that includes the quoted line below, I was reminded of a poem I wrote on a related subject a few years
ago. I found the two pages immediately in one of my notebooks. The title took me by surprise, the more reason I want to
share it with you. I wrote the lines on March 28, 2002, at 11:40 AM. I'm sure there was something in the morning news that
day or the day before that triggered the thought and compelled me to write that morning.
Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; ...
WHERE HAS COMMON SENSE GONE?
Pity the little boys and girls
who are just getting used to their educational
environment,
who are just beginning to explore a
bigger world,
who are just beginning to get acquainted
with life.
Holding hands with their best school
friends
of the same sex
they are labeled GAY or LESBIAN!
Their innocence banished forever!
Where has common sense gone?
Alas, for little boys!
Alas, for little girls!
They don't even know their gender,
Let alone sex and sexuality!
Where has common sense gone?
Bring back the old days!
Give back to children their childhood!
Yes, parental guidance and discipline
matter,
But give back to children their childhood!
(March 28, 2002)
Peace
and hope,
Catherine
| Poipu: View of the ocean from poet's backyard. |
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| Photo by Karl Lo | March 14, 2007 |
SILVER YEARS
I have sunny days, and rainy days,
And I am content whatever the weather!
The trade winds keep me cool and comfortable,
And those unwanted Kona winds,
the warm winds laced with volcanic fume,
that make Kaua`i's South Shore uncomfortable,
the kind of winds that cause labored breathing and asthma attacks,
can be pesky and annoying,
but the trade winds return soon enough.
Arthritis and osteoporosis define the silver years.
And pain takes up residence in unexpected places!
Wrinkles and silver hair are identification tags,
along with thickening waistline and baggy eyes.
But the silver years bring freedom in abundant bunches.
Silver years make my mother a twin sister!
How′s that, you ask! Go figure!
But where I am in life, I am comfortable and at peace with myself.
Oh, I wish my belly would be flatter so I can wear old favorite dresses
and pants that no longer fit and have to be given away to a thrift shop.
But where I am in life, I am more understanding of myself and of others,
I am kinder to myself and gentler with others,
And that is very good, indeed!
The silver years are years of freedom:
I am free to do as I wish.
I can sit at the computer for hours as I am doing now without interruption
or guilt:
Retired, there is nothing urgent that I need to attend to.
The silver years bring better understanding of life,
deeper appreciation of family and friends,
wider range of interests brought by years of experience,
greater control of daily life
as long as one is healthy and able.
Silver years are years of privilege,
and if one has lived well
and has earned the respect of others,
life is a joy and peace prevails.
(Jan./Mar. 2008)
BONSAI MATTERS
| Sam Lee's Bonsai | Spring 2007 |
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| Photo: Sam Lee | Poipu, Kauai, Hawaii |
There's something compelling about bonsai:
as compelling as clearing
the living room of a couch
in conflict with the carpet.
As compelling as clearing the lawn
of dried mango leaves
and twigs
that litter the yard after Kona wind.
Bonsai is a thing of beauty:
a cascading joy:
a windswept loveliness:
an upright splendor:
a clustered charm ...
Bonsai requires pruning:
pruning branches to achieve design:
pruning roots to encourage new roots:
continually
pruning to enhance loveliness ...
repotting ... repotting to refresh the soil ...
tying and wiring branches to create beauty ...
wiring and twisting trunks to improve design ...
styling to enhance beauty ...
shaping ... continually shaping ...
shaping to design a joy forever ...
Yes, there's something compelling about bonsai ...
(1996/2001/2003)
Poet's Note: A bonsai garden is a microcosm of the world we live in. Also, the creation of a bonsai is not unlike the creation
of a poem.
THOUGHTS SHAPED BY A BONSAI TREE
To Kathy
| Sam Lee's Bonsai | Spring 2007 |
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| Photo: Sam Lee | Poipu, Kauai, Hawaii |
I pray that I may grow to be
As patient as a bonsai tree:
A tree whose natural beauty is trimmed,
Its growth controlled, constrained;
A tree that calmly tolerates
The redesigning of its shape.
Ah, proper pruning does reveal
Hidden features of loveliness,
Careful shaping does improve
Form and style and grace.
I pray that I may grow to be
As patient as a bonsai tree.
(1986)
Originally printed on the cover of the bulletin
for the retirement party for Kathy Peters, Kauai
Community College head librarian, in December
1986. Subsequently published in the May 6, 1988,
issue of "Ka Leo O KCC" and in the April 1999
"Borders News & Events."
| Karl's Lipstick Plant |
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| Photo: Karl Lo | Nov. 2007 |
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Date: November 12, 2006 11:54:09 AM HST
Subject: Let's Increase Gifts to Charity Instead
Dear Everyone:
As the
Christmas Season approaches, I'm sure we are all beginning to feel the stressful wind beginning to blow. At the same time,
we hear about the homeless, the hungry, and people we know who are hurting and in need of help. Instead of exchanging gifts
this Christmas and in future years, let us increase our gifts to charity instead and give to those who are less fortunate
than we are. And not having to rush around shopping, baking, wrapping, mailing and delivering Christmas gifts would free
us from the stress that assail us this time of the year. It's a win-win agenda. I'm sure you agree.
Christmas is a joyous time of the year, and we should continue to share
the message of the season of love, peace, hope, and joy. And we can do that by exchanging Christmas cards, which is traditional
with most of us. With the technology that we are blessed to use, e-cards are fun, fast, and frugal! Also, we can make our
own greeting cards and keep our creative juices flowing. And Christmas letters and telephone calls keep friends, relatives,
and families connected. But foremost, by increasing our gifts to charity instead of exchanging gifts, we share and spread
love, peace, hope, and joy even more. Aloha pumehana.
Love, peace, and blessings, Catherine
CATHERINE LO P. O. Box 887 Koloa,
HI 96756 Tel. (808) 742-72138 Web Sites:
PLUCK
The night is dark
and December's prevailing wind
is fanning
the wintering of my heart and mind.
My harp harkens the dawn of a new day.
The sound touches
the melancholy chords in my heart
that vibrate with the black movements of night.
I'll play on
until a new day comes.
I'll pluck on
until the last string breaks.
(Feb. 29, 1969)
Note: No, the author does not play the harp.
This poem is a memorial of sorts to the harp that her parents had in their restaurant, The Plaza Lunch, which was a thriving
business in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, until it became a casualty of World War II. The author remembers seeing a picture of the
harp, and the image has stayed in the recesses of her mind. This piece is an acknowledgment of the harp's existence in the
life of her family.
ANDROCLES REDEEMS A GOLD STAMP
To remain a slave:
or be devoured by a lion:
Androcles is not
blessed with choices.
But graced with a good heart,
Androcles does not hesitate to remove
a thorn from the paw of a lion.
The Romans throw Androcles
into the arena of the Colosseum
to be devoured by a lion
for the sport of it.
Undoubtedly, our four-legged friends
are gifted with memory.
Elephants have good memory, for example.
And remembering the kindness,
the lion chooses not to touch Androcles.
(1979)
I WRITE BOLDLY UPON THE PAGE
Filling my pen with the ink of imagination and reality
I write boldly upon the page
whatever flows from my pen.
I write about joys and blessings:
About walking on the white sand behind our house.
I write about miracles big and small:
About waking up in the morning
after a restful night ... without pain in my joints.
I write about challenges lost and won:
About nursing back to health
neglected bromiliads in the backyard.
I write about the beauty that surrounds me:
About Mount Ha`upu in the eastern distance ...
About the Pacific Ocean splashing on the rocks,
washing Prince Kuhio Beach
in full view from our backyard.
I write about lessons learned and remembered:
About saying I'M SORRY and THANK YOU.
I write about events that have touched my life: About family and friends who have surrounded
me with love:
Six generations of family ...
friends from grade school ... high school ... college ...
neighbors past and present ...
visitors to Kaua`i who pass our home at Po`ipu
and who stop to visit as I weed the front yard.
I write about positive influences in my life:
About grandparents who taught by example
with their hard work and honest labor.
Mom taught my sisters and me
trustworthiness and honesty without saying a word.
I remember as a child the coins
on a shelf in the living room,
which my sisters and I never touched,
except for that one instance when a younger sister gave to temptation.
I believe Mom and the rest of the family
would not have known,
but little sister confessed with
MOMMY, I DID NOT TAKE THE NICKEL!
I remember Grandpa Victoriano reading the Bible
and attending church services regularly.
He told "Aesop Fables" to his grandchildren
and impressed upon us the lifetime lesson taught by
THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE:
YOU SNOOZE, YOU LOSE!
And how can I forget that as an eight-year-old,
I was awake the night Dad left our hometown
to take the boat to a faraway land called HAWAII!
Daddy give me five ten-centavo coins ...
one each for my four sisters and me.
They were all fast asleep, but I was most certainly awake
the night Daddy left our home in the Philippines
in search of a better life for his family.
In the morning, my sisters and I
dropped our coins in our piggy banks.
I write about negative events that stop progress ...
about leaders who take us to right paths ...
about drummers who take us elsewhere ....
Filling my pen with the ink of imagination and reality
I write boldly upon the page
whatever flows from my pen ... And I always give thanks ...
(9/24/04, 9/7/06, 11/17/07)
WHERE IS THE SUN?
For Ann
Where is the sun? you ask.
Yes, where is the sun?
I'm told it went to the other side of the moon
on a long, extended vacation!
It will be back ... sometime ...
But it may take a while for it to return,
For who really knows where the sun has gone?
He may be sleeping west of the sunset!
He may be resting east of the sunrise!
He may have gone exploring south of Antarctica
Or experiencing the weather north of the Arctic.
Like a friend who left on a long cruise
Whose sunny disposition we greatly miss
The sun is a forever friend
And it will be back!
(3/6/2002)
A CALICO CAT CALCULATES A CATCH
Little Sparrow, Little Sparrow,
He is watching behind the bushes!
Little Sparrow, Little Sparrow,
His plan is to feast before his noon nap!
Little Sparrow, Little Sparrow,
His calculating eyes are set on you!
Little Sparrow, Little Sparrow,
Wing away to safety!
Copyright 1983
IF
(OR, HOW TO BE A WINNER)
Inspired by Rudyard Kipling's "IF"
If you can accept the gift of life
With joy and thanksgiving,
If you can look up to God
And thank Him for His blessings:
You are a winner, my friend.
If you do not ask for much
And can be content with little,
If you can win with humility
And accept your loss with grace:
You are a winner, my friend.
If you can share your blessings
With others less fortunate,
If you can give without expecting
A return for your kindness:
You are a winner, my friend.
If you can wish your enemies
Good fortune and success,
If you can find delight
In the well-being of others:
You are a winner, my friend.
If you can look upon each success
As a blessing from heaven,
If you can trust God
In both good times and bad:
You are a winner, my friend.
If you can ask God for wisdom
And work at finding it,
If you have love and peace
And share the gifts of the spirit with others:
You are a winner, my friend.
(1984)
MILLENNIUM MIRACLES
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