My Tanjong Lobang School

My Tanjong Lobang School
(Built on an exclusive plateau by a cliff facing the South China Sea. I studied in TLS from 1962 - 1967. I left in Lower Six to take up an offer to enter the Royal Military College in Kuala Lumpur as a military Officer Cadet. I was sad in leaving the school and all my friends behind. It had been my home for the last five years. TLS will always remain in my mind.)


Possibly, once a marshy, steaming land
where dinosaurs roamed.
A land once kissed
by the frigid artic
and interstellar winds.

Maybe during the time
that Earth was once a hissing ball,
this piece of priceless land
was once part of the molten core.

It was empowered.
Otherwise, how'd you account
for the magical hold
it had on us all?

I once sat on the cliff
overlooking Hick's Bay,
carressed by the cool sea breeze,
under a darkening, star-studded sky,
gazing at the horizon as far as eyes could see
and wondered what lay beyond the sea.

Today, I looked back to reminisce
on what was Tanjong Lobang
that held my mind to ransom.
Life then was simple yet awesome.

I searched my tattered heart,
but couldn't find the answer.
Was it the place? Maybe.
Was it the friends? Possibly.
Was it the teachers? Could be.

Then, it dawned on me.
It was the mixture of all three
that had made Tanjong Lobang
into what the world should be.

The Broken Chain

The Broken Chain
(Many years after WW2, the young men in my long house became restless. They were gripped by the spirit of "bejalai" (literally to walk or looking for greener pastures).


Four years had gone by.
No war planes in the sky
that could rain down destructions
at anything that attracted suspicion.

Sense of freedom we felt.
The life we had put on hold
was back to normalcy's fold.

'Twas back to farming.
Rice planting.
Hunting.
Fishing.

Though the War was over.
Never far were uncertainty and fear.
They held the hearts to ransom.
Only time could heal the reason.

The young men were restless.
Yearning for life beyond the horizon - curious.
Breaking free from the clutches of poverty.
Dreaming the eternal dreams for the family.

One night, three young men disappeared.
'Twas a paralysing blow to the community.
Irreparable loss and a huge liability.
Life in the long house changed immediately.

'Twas a blessing in disguise.
The community couldn't see otherwise.
Many years later they made good.
Two had joined the Police Force
The third disappeared and was never heard of.

'Twas a brave move by the young men.
To have ventured into the unknown, then.
Today, 'twas nothing strange
Migrating to big cities for a change.

No Pain No Gain

No Pain No Gain
(I paid the price for leaving my long house)

Plucked, half-starved
from the pit of poverty.
Heavy was the price
for discarding
the long house life.

Leaving the nest
was a heart-rending wrest.
The current was too strong.
All I could do was go along.

I pined day in and day out,
wishing I could shout.
Eventually, married to my job,
I simply must cope.
I realised then
there'd be no gain
without the pain.

Soon a family I raised.
My problem deepened.
More walls were erected.
Like it or not,
religious and cultural
walls I cannot hassle.

I resigned to my fate.
Thankful and grateful
for my family's full plates.
Though I couldn't quench
my inner and deeper thirst,
I realised it was God's wishes.

For after all,
without pain, there'd be no gain.

A Tribute to Marian Mckonkey (School Matron)

A Tribute to Matron Marian McKonkey

( Miss Marian McKonkey was our School Matron (Tanjong Lobang School, Miri, Sarawak) in the early 60s. At that time she was about 60 years old. She was sent under the United States Peace Corps program. She lived to be a centenarian. In her final years she was cared for in nursing a home. In 2007, we came in contact with one of our Peace Corp teacher, Robert Lynn who told us about her as he used to visit her. I wrote an article which involved her and passed it to Bob Lynn who read it to her just before her health deteriorated. It brought smiles to her lips. Shortly later on 29 April 2008, she passed away. May her soul rest in peace.This poem is in her rememberance)

The sad news came today

that she has passed away.

Being a Centenarian we knew

she would soon leave me and you.

But deep within us we wished

we could turn back the clock.

A piece of us is gone with her passing.

An era of our past seemed missing.

Something’s tugging at our heart’s string.

The mind’s broiling and thinking

of the days when she was around,

caring for our youthful life abound.

She was always there when we were sick,

prescribing medicine with professional restrict,

trying to ensure the best for each of us,

as she went about her jobs without a fuss.

Like a breeze she executed her duties,

making the rounds to ensure cleanliness

in dormitories, refectory and other premises.

I can vividly see her with her old bicycle

wearing a thick, round, black horn-rimmed spectacles.

Thick skirt that reached down to her calves.

Always wearing the smile that’s her soulful mask.

Can’t help wondering who’re her kins?

Who cared and loved her in her final spin?

Bob Lynn, you have done a noble job.

Keeping her company and keeping out pain of sorts.

You’ve been the bridge between us and her.

Through you, hopefully, we have made her happier.

Thank you Marian for giving us a part of your life.

We are grateful and wish you an eternal happiness.

We wish you all the happiness up there my dear.

Surpassing what you had had down here.

A life So Brittle

Today

she came

to share

her laughter rare.

Her heart

she poured out

like there’s

no tomorrow.

Strange!

We knew

she was a person

depressed

with problems

excess.

Normally,

She was

a quiet lady.

But today

she was

unusually

happy.

The next day,

My God!

She was gone.

In the dark

without looking

left and right

she crossed

a busy road.

A car

with a demon

behind

the wheel

mowed her,

and she

was gone

forever.

Hearts of Gold

( Ibans’ hospitality is legendary)

Hearts of gold.

Unparrallel generosity.

Legendary hospitality.

Sharing is a way of life.

Share animals caught.

Share fruits they brought.

The unfortunate will have sympathy,

and kept from going hungry.

Heavy works they make light.

A single community truly might.

Alone they are prone to failure.

Combine they could success ensure.

Fantastic!

In environment most basic.

Could breed the purest of feeling.

Considerate and caring for fellow beings.

How could that be?

What ingredients could we see?

Basic and primitive they may be.

They have hearts of gold

that the world should mould.

Anguish

Anguish

(Just trying to picture an anguish woman at the loss of her loved ones)

A woman bends double over a lifeless body.

Little lifeless hands dangling.

Little feet stark white.

Cheeks glued bathe in tears.

Tears streaming , flowing unending.

Storm of emotion triggered.

Making pleas to the Almighty.

To return her Heart and Darling Baby.

Why O Why must it be my boy?

Just when You have blessed me with joy.

Now You are taking it back - cruelty!

Your punishment is beyond humanity.

What’s there left for me in this world?

What wrong, what sin have I stir?

Take my life! Take my soul!

There’s no reason left for me to live.

You have taken all that are dear and bliss.

My mother, then father, husband and now my son!

You love them more but it was blunt.

But why so soon before the full moon?

What is there left for me to croon?

Life’s an empty shell.

Life’s void and a vacuum.

My heart and emotions doomed.

Take my life now I implore You.

End my misery, I love them too.

Life is meaningless to me now.

My world has collapsed somehow.