ABOUT ME
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Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep by Mary Elizabeth Frye
My first attempt to read a poem. I was inspired by a video on YouTube by Illneas, and thought I give it a try. Haha! Bear with me, I am still learning. Clips on this video are mine so it is not that pro. Editing was done by me also. Let me know your thoughts. Enjoy!
Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep – Mary Elizabeth Frye
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.Music credit: Undertow by Scott Buckley (Creative Common Music Library).
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The Jury
Last year (20 – 27 October 2019) saw a significant event to my career of 10 years in the children’s picture book industry. Being one of the members of the international jury for BIENNALE OF ILLUSTRATIONS BRATISLAVA 2019 (BIB) was such an honour. I could not imagine in a million years I was selected to be one. It was like completing the final page of my book of illustrating for children’s book. I can now put it to rest after struggling 10 years in the industry trying to make the best out of it despite some hiccups and obstacles.
With PhDr. Zuzana Jarošová, General Commissioner BIB and Chair of the International Committee BIB. 
With BIB members of jury 2019. I know I did my best to contribute to the industry. I know I did my best to not just promote myself but to promote my fellow illustrator friends as well. It was fun carrying extra baggage just to carry local books to be exhibited overseas. It was fun promoting them in ways that I know I could help. It was fun helping some of them published their books. It was fun travelling with some of them. It was fun chasing them around to submit their participation. It was all fun until it wasn’t fun anymore when my efforts were looked down upon. Just like a book, the ending is inevitable. I saw it coming.
I need to find my happiness. I decided to adjourn illustrating picture books for the years to come. But just like a book, I might pick it up and start again.
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Poplar
“What are those?” I asked Bernadette pointing to the spread of white stuff carpeting the road during our drive from her home to the city. “Oh, those are from the poplar tree,” she replied. “It is such a mess, and it aggravates respiratory diseases and allergies. I would not go near them.”
“Oh, but I think it is pretty! Just look at the road, it is like it’s snowing here,” I let her know my thoughts. “Please stay away from that thing, very dangerous to your health,” Bernadette added. Bernadette who was a Malaysian (now Italian) is very health-conscious. During the seven days stay at her home in Bologna, she ate healthily, she did yoga and walked in the morning. “That’s my priority,” added the 70-year-old woman.
I was inspired by the scene and came up with a short haiku while travelling back home from Bologna via Dubai. It was a few hours spent well while waiting to board the plane.
Anyway, I did some reading on the Internet and came across an Indian folktale about the poplar cotton.
Once upon a time, when all stars should be sleeping during the days, some could not sleep even when they were counting sheep. So they travel to the earth and then drift along just under the surface until they find the roots of the magical poplar tree. They enter the roots and slowly work their way up through the tree. Finally, they come to rest in the small twigs at the end of the branches. Here they wait patiently until they are needed. Then when the ‘Spirit-of-the-night-sky’ decides she needs more beautiful stars to light up the heavens, she calls on the Wind-spirit to help her and he sends wind gusts so hard that the twigs of the cottonwood tree begin to break off. As each twig break off the stars is released and race up to a special place in the sky.
Cheyenne and Arapaho folktales. Ref from Marilyn Kytzli at Clinton Herald. -
Never Gonna Give You Up
I was 17—fresh from the school, and G was 25. All the time I was working as a part-time promoter at a store, I tried to ignore him. G was a butcher in the meat department and ran around with a chopper in his hand with drops of blood on his white apron; quite scary that way. G tried hard to be helpful to me all the time but I felt suffocated. When I saw him walking towards me, I quickly ran to the toilet, or I quickly grabbed a customer’s attention talking about the product I was selling. He would nod his head and turn around.
One day, out of the blue, I heard someone dedicated Rick Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up (NGGYU) through the intercom system. The songs played and I listened to the lyrics carefully. Aha! What a dedication, I thought to myself and wondered who was the dedicator. After a few minutes, he dropped by at my counter and asked, “do you like the song? From me to you.”
We got close and went out a few times. He was great, came to my house and asked my mother if he could take me out. I thought I was in love, well it must’ve been love but it was over after the third date. The truth was—I was not in love with him but with someone else. Every time I listened to NGGYU again and again, flashes of G’s face appears in front of my eyes for only a brief moment but then Astley overpowered.
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Best Nine Books That I Read in 2019
Here is the list of the best nine books (in no particular order) that I read in 2019. These books are mostly easy reading; poetries, short stories, random thoughts and flash fictions. I especially love Lala Bohang’s books the best as it is illustrated. I recommend these books for you to read.
- Mrs Fox – Sarah Hall
- Come Rain or Come Shine – Kazuo Ishiguro
- The Victim – PD James
- Cermin Dua Arah – Adi K
- Selected John Keats Poems – Andrew Motion
- The Essential Emily Dickinson – Joyce Carol Oates
- The Book of Invisible Questions – Lala Bohang
- The Book of Imaginary Beliefs – Lala Bohang
- The Book of Forbidden Feelings – Lala Bohang
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Happy 2020!
The Book of 2019 is finally on its epilogue page. It was the year of so many ups and downs when I pieced hints and clues together like jigsaw puzzles. I received the final piece and saw the big picture—that was when I know it was ending. To me, going back to where I was a decade ago was like a homecoming. There are so many other opportunities in life. When you know one thing is over, more things lining up for you to explore. Happy New Year!
I now open my Book of 2020. I hope I will be more productive in writing my blog. Wish me luck!
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Puteri Gunung Ledang
Here’s my latest picture book, Puteri Gunung Ledang, written in Bahasa Malaysia (Malay Language).
I know the story of the Princess from Mount Ledang has appeared in books, movies, and plays— but I still want to feature the story, in my own words.
I am telling it in a different perspective; in an angle as if I myself was standing behind the Princess, so close that I can convey her feelings. This contrasts with many stories, especially those written for children, where the Princess is rather passive. Indeed, the original story was likely told to show how great and powerful the Sultan of Melaka was. Although he didn’t win her hand, it was not because he lacked the power but because he was conscious of his duty towards his heir and country.
The story is told in poetry which gives it drama and pathos, suitable for a play. This is definitely one book to add to your collection if you are a fan of folktales and a collector of picture books.
I use the motifs of Malaysian batik sarongs but however, unlike the bright colours of batik, I use primarily red, yellow, grey and white, resulting in a subdued effect.I am taking this opportunity to acknowledge the editor, Datuk Hjh Zaiton Ajamain.
You can preview the book and/or buy online at: Puteri Gunung Ledang, Oyez Book Store.
Alternatively, you can buy offline from Silverfish Book Store, Bangsar Village 2, Bangsar, KL.