Children Under Trees 
Leaves Of Life
Leaves Of Life - a poem by Andrew Yip
Dew drops on the little green leaves
Glisten gladly in the morning breeze.
Wet wings of the newborn flutter and frolic in the new dawn;
For they know not the crackle of crushed shoots shorn.
Dew drops and rain on new leaves and shoots
Touching the transpiring veins and roots;
An osmosis that infuses a freshness and a more fruitful life -
To connect, empower and keep the spirit alive.
Dew drops on the golden leaves –
They sparkle and dance in playful light.
Watch those tender falling leaves
Torn and worn in the wind and the cold dark nights,
Softly falling, gently kissing nature's ground;
Still to linger on while there's love and life around.
Leaves of Life is specially designed to make people aware of the need for interaction to seek self-fulfilment in life. Read the poetry on Leaves of Life by Andrew Yip and enjoy the photography of Yip Cheong-Fun, who was elected "Honorary Outstanding Photographer of the Century" for his work in seascape and other artistic achievements by the New York Photographic Soceity. For a start, look at the Yip's Photo on "Children Under Trees" above for its message. The photograph was taken in Bedok in Singapore (1950)
The symbolism of pictorial elements in this pictureis intended to show the fact that Mother Nature like the coconut trees is so over-powering, and that all of us are like little children walking under the tall trees, and unable to see through the mist ofthe future.
But apart from the fact that the forces of Nature are unpredictable, we need to understand life and its manifold changes. The poem on Leaves Of Life gives us a glimpse of how our leaves of life change in the passage of time.
"Leaves of Life" is a reflection of our mental and physical well-being. The chlorophyll in green leaves forms the basis for all life on Earth. Without it, life as we know it would not exist. It is through the process of photosynthesis that the chlorophyll molecule traps the sun's energy, and this solar energy is converted to chemical energy in the form of glucose using carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and water from the soil. This glucose is then transported all round the plant for use as required. So, the leaves in this way give nourishment to plants. If we follow the food chain back, we will find that green plants are always at the base. From this perspective, we can see that the leaves of our lives give nourishment to us. For a moment we may forget that we are like leaves ourselves. We get involved with the process of living but forget that we need sunlight and dew for growth and good health and that like leaves and plants, we need to give nourishment to others as well, especially those who also become part of our lives. But times are constantly changing. Our leaves of life may turn golden, become yellow or burnt brown or black. Whatever it is, we must not forget three principles that will make us evergreen like some leaves or some plants - Connect, Touch and be Alive - that is, stay connected with elements that sustain our growth, touch to get action started and then be alive. It is for this purpose that you are invited to share a moment with us in "Leaves of Life", created with the help of the photography of Yip Cheong-Fun and the shared experiences and artistry of many others who feel that this portal could be used and developed as a channel to preserve and promulgate virtue, values, vision, views and vitality that will be of benefit to a community of like-minded people ever proud of their heritage and conscious of their social and cultural links.
Children Under Trees
Photo: Yip Cheong Fun and Poetry : Andrew Yip
Like little children we walked along
Nature`s way strewn with flowers, leaves and thorns,
Under tall trees and their dark looming shadows
Bright lights pierced through the mist like arrows,
As we watched mesmerised, uneasy yet unafraid,
Dazed and gazed in awe but not a word was said.
Nature`s mood in mist mystifying and passion raw,
A fury unleashed - its deadly trails we saw,
Haunting us even when our leaves of life turned golden,
Burnt brown or black - blight or trodden;
Or bare branches crushing us like rusty rods,
And thorny twigs sting and stab like swords.
Then as our winding paths diverged,
Grim and grey in a verdant maze of haze.
Like children perplexed by a blurred vision,
Anxious, leaden and long we gazed,
Paths led to paths; patches wedded to patches
Of thick bushes, thickets and undergrowth -
A jigsaw of puddles and puzzles of pebbles that matches
A mix of mud, marshes and mangrove.
The wind whirled in the wood and gathered the blossoms with glee.
It stirred the silent streams and set the tree leaves flying free.
We looked as far as we could,
An oasis of emptiness in the wild wild wood,
Piles of boulders - bare and rude,
Perched on the peak perilous they stared and stood.
While gay granite gleamed emerald in the setting sun -
Could all these be obstacles or Nature`s whims and fun,
Or are they an orchestration of the sensual soul?
And the wood with many moods, could it be high heaven or hell hole?
Like little children we walked along
Nature`s way strewn with flowers, leaves and thorns,
Under tall trees and their dark looming shadows
Bright lights pierced through the mist like arrows,
As we watched mesmerised, uneasy yet unafraid,
Dazed and gazed in awe but not a word was said.
Nature`s mood in mist mystifying and passion raw,
A fury unleashed - its deadly trails we saw,
Haunting us even when our leaves of life turned golden,
Burnt brown or black - blight or trodden;
Or bare branches crushing us like rusty rods,
And thorny twigs sting and stab like swords.
Then as our winding paths diverged,
Grim and grey in a verdant maze of haze.
Like children perplexed by a blurred vision,
Anxious, leaden and long we gazed,
Paths led to paths; patches wedded to patches
Of thick bushes, thickets and undergrowth -
A jigsaw of puddles and puzzles of pebbles that matches
A mix of mud, marshes and mangrove.
The wind whirled in the wood and gathered the blossoms with glee.
It stirred the silent streams and set the tree leaves flying free.
We looked as far as we could,
An oasis of emptiness in the wild wild wood,
Piles of boulders - bare and rude,
Perched on the peak perilous they stared and stood.
While gay granite gleamed emerald in the setting sun -
Could all these be obstacles or Nature`s whims and fun,
Or are they an orchestration of the sensual soul?
And the wood with many moods, could it be high heaven or hell hole?
Yet with firm faith or divine inspiration, we set forth
Into a misty maze with mixed mood and emotions,
Under the mighty majestic trees and branches aloft.
Wary of risks or recklessness but with renewed vision,
Clutching life`s light and shadows still unknown,
Into the muggy mist of the future on our own
Moving along this long lonely road,
To somewhere, nowhere - whatever the means or mode.
(But the forces of Nature are unpredictable, and the way ahead is "a long, long road with many a winding turn." )
This is a poem written after the poet came to grips with the Tsumani disaster in November 2004 and modified in May 2008 after the cyclone disaster in Myanmar and the Earth quakes in Chengdu in China. Yes, nature's way is unpredictable.
"Nature's mood in mist mystifying and passion raw,
A fury unleashed - its deadly trails we saw,
Haunting us even when our leaves of life turned golden,
Burnt brown or black - blight or trodden;
Or bare branches crushing us like rusty rods,
And thorny twigs sting and stab like swords."
Fallen Leaves
( a reflection from the poem "Leaves Of Life" )
"Dew drops on the golden leaves –
They sparkle and dance in playful light.
Watch those tender falling leaves
Torn and worn in the wind and the cold dark nights,
Softly falling, gently kissing nature's ground;
Still to linger on while there's love and life around. "
"Dew drops on the golden leaves –
They sparkle and dance in playful light.
Watch those tender falling leaves
Torn and worn in the wind and the cold dark nights,
Softly falling, gently kissing nature's ground;
Still to linger on while there's love and life around. "
Poetry: Andrew Yip
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Additional Information:
For more reflections, visit our ServiceWorld Hostel site to see more photos of Yip Cheong Fun.
