Let's go the Zoo!

“Life is a zoo in a jungle.” ~ Peter De Vries

In keeping with the theme of “summer” I share these pictures of my recent visit to Emperor Valley Zoo. I can clearly remember how many times I tried in vain to convince my family to accompany me as it’s probably been more than 10 years since my last visit. Finally one good Sunday in May, my cousin and I were discussing how we planned to make the most out of the summer and I brought up the brilliant plan of going to the Zoo. As fate would have it, the following Sunday we were on our way to the Zoo…Finally!!!
Enjoy!

“I've actually gone to the zoo and had monkeys shout to me from their cages, "I'm in here when you're walking around like that?"” ~ Robin Williams


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Our Oppressed Plea

A poet's bequest,
Read and comment; my humble request,
Gratitude is what I offer to thee,
Penned by yours truly.

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Our Oppressed Plea

Trespassers raid through our virgin Land,
In the face of terror we firmly stand,
The right to life confiscated,
Mountains of lies fabricated,
Justifying modern day genocide,
As we are made to witness daily homicide,
Another child ripped from his mother’s chest,
Our patience put to the ultimate test,
The demons spread their plague everywhere,
Life for us an ongoing nightmare,
Our blood flows more abundantly than water,
Nearby we hear the screams of our daughter,
A sound that will forever haunt,
Their actions and words sole purpose to taunt,
As everyday more of our lives fall,
This heart must withstand it all,
All that is sacred is degraded,
Our homes, Masjids and schools are all raided,
Ravaging through our chastity,
They are devoid of any pity,
Bitter tears wash our faces everyday,
Surely the murderers will have their price to pay,
Born into an atmosphere of enforced Jihad,
Our land is now a burial ground myriad,
From the very beginning oppressed,
With taking our lives they are obsessed,
Torments inflicted on us we feel,
From the palms of orphans they steal,
Snatching our lands for illegal occupation,
When will the day come for our emancipation?
Ya Rab help us defeat our enemy,
May Allah grant us an eternal victory.

Ameeen
[2007]

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Summer Time

Summer Time

It’s summer time again…

“What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfilment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade.” ~Gertrude Jekyll

It is truly impossible to prevent summer from blooming into all possibilities.
A time for renewal and growth;
A time for fresh beginnings and birth;
A time for outdoor leisure and idle freedom;
A time for crowded markets and perpetual boredom…
The sun shines abundantly throughout the year in the Caribbean but certainly during the summer period its intensity and vivaciousness are at its maximum as with all parts of the world. As children eagerly look forward to the freedom of eight (8) weeks their parents’ challenge is to keep their young ones under responsible supervision. It is the time of marked influx of “tan-seeking” tourists as they flood to the streets of our bargaining centres and unto the shores of beaches.

Summer time is a culture of the Caribbean that no native can escape from. I for one welcome this time with open embrace as it signals the end to a demanding and stress-riddled academic year. To savour every moment of temporary freedom and relaxation as the days go by on its idle course. Just when the blossoming “Poui” trees begin to peak and shed its flowers you can smell the ripened, sweetly fragrant air and if you listen carefully you can hear the earth rejoicing.

“A life without love is like a year without summer.” ~Swedish Proverb

The return of travelling fairs and amusement parks accompanied with the availability of cotton candy and snow cone vendors. There comes with it an increase indulgence in all the lighter things in life; food, movies, clothes and travel. Although summer events may come with a price it usually means more family time.

Enjoy this time while it lasts because as soon as it goes, life speeds up to make up for the idle time gifted. Visit all those family members and close friends that time could not afford during the rush of the previous months. Make it a time of happiness and unity for all those you hold dear so that their expectation of future summers serves as a comfort for the more challenging days. Reverse the effect of time and experience the joys of childhood and youth in this time of summer as it cannot distinguish between the faces of age.

“Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.”
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

If cherries are the perfect topping to any pie then it would only be befitting that I end with these magnificent pictures of the "tube".

photography by: Clark Little

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A special 감사합니다, gahm-sah-hahm-ni-da to the reader from Tukpyolsi, Seoul

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