In this new collection of poetry, Tribute to Brunei and Other Poems, the verses represent the synoptic capture of particular environments and incidents, as well as author John Onu Odihi's reflection of them. Presented in a rich texture of imageries, the entries on Brunei, which form a major part of the book, portray a beautiful and peaceful country where modernity and tradition blend to form a harmonious socio-cultural environment. Odihi's depiction of the serenity of Brunei's pristine environment in an increasingly browning world and the vivacity of cultural life in the Abode of Peace can whet your appetite for a visit to the sultanate. Through poems such as "Programme Me" "Heed the Call" and "Let's Help Each Other" Odihi gives cogent reasons for the celebration of human diversity and relinquishment of bigotry, prejudice, and such other vices that divide people. By extolling the virtues of hard work, unity, teamwork, sincerity, faithfulness, and commitment, Odihi's Tribute to Brunei and Other Poems presents a strong voice in the ethics that are necessary for peace and human advancement. Bless You Always Brunei Darussalam Abode of Peace You are a jewel May the Sun of Righteousness Rise and shine upon you always Let there always be justice Let there always be goodness Within your borders let mercy flow May your inward beauty radiate Like diamond in the sun . . .

Tribute to Brunei and Other Poems

By JOHN ONU ODIHI

Trafford Publishing

Copyright © 2012 John Onu Odihi
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4669-2761-2

Contents

Brunei Darussalam..................................1Walking King.......................................2Abode of Peace.....................................3Selamat Hari Raya..................................4Crowning the Future King...........................5Nature You Charm Me................................6Homecoming.........................................7Beauty from on High................................8Raidah.............................................9Thanks to Brunei...................................10Amah...............................................11Joined in Brunei...................................12Lifted by Love.....................................13Briefly, Forver....................................14Let's Help Each Other..............................15Fatal Hunger.......................................16A Tragic Joy.......................................18Echo...............................................19Monkey Pride.......................................20Show the Way.......................................21Cold World.........................................22Mixed Up World.....................................23Happy Birthday.....................................24Careless Words.....................................25The Imam Calls.....................................26The Wrong Use......................................27I Pray.............................................29I'll Never Forget You..............................30Tribute To Brunei..................................31Dina...............................................32How Big Is Your Heart?.............................33Angel Anonymous....................................34Are You Beautiful?.................................36Do We Want Peace?..................................38Light The World....................................40Tears of Nature....................................41Setting Sun........................................42Beauty in the Lump.................................43Almost Successful..................................44Haze...............................................45Broken Love Makes Broken Homes.....................46Conundrum..........................................47Always and Forever.................................49Is That All?.......................................50Voice of the Morning...............................51Rumble in the Jungle...............................52A Plea.............................................54Success............................................55It's a Lonely Road.................................56You Beckon Me......................................57Don't Quit.........................................58Irony..............................................59This Too is friendship?............................60How deep is Your Love?.............................62It Could Be........................................64We Have............................................66Committed..........................................67Eastern Girl.......................................68Left in the Wonder.................................70Beware.............................................71No-Matter-What Friend..............................72Sea Breeze.........................................73Peace Come.........................................74Different and the Same.............................75Stop the Fire......................................76Past...............................................77Coming Out.........................................78In Their Place and Time............................79Nadiah.............................................80Without Love.......................................81Logic's No Logic...................................82Let's Live.........................................83Beckoning Road.....................................84Harmony............................................85Wisdom.............................................86Heed the Call......................................87What You See.......................................89Programme Me.......................................91Echoes.............................................92Regret.............................................93A Sting............................................95Humility...........................................97Dare to Be Alone...................................98Be to Me...........................................99Reach Out..........................................100Cheers for Today...................................101Love is Waiting....................................102Make Your Dream Come True..........................103Brunei Child.......................................104Blessing In The Rain...............................105Child Precious.....................................106Friend.............................................107Wait Young Love....................................108Counterfeit Love...................................110A Fling is a Sting.................................111Walk in My Shoes...................................112Torn Between.......................................113Heed the Call......................................114Child Of Brunei....................................116Don't Chase the Rainbows?..........................118Time...............................................119Peace..............................................120Peace..............................................121Tamu Kianggeh......................................123Rainbow............................................124Temburong Heights..................................125White Sands of Tutong..............................126In the Moonlight...................................127By the Moonlight...................................128Democracy..........................................129Change the World...................................130Big Little Things..................................131Love Will Bind Us..................................133What is Love?......................................134Follow the King....................................135Eche Une...........................................136What's Right, What's Wrong?........................137Bring Them In......................................139Somewhere..........................................140Mother.............................................141Father.............................................142Mother.............................................143Mother Nature......................................144Ikwu...............................................145Tell Me............................................146You've Got It All..................................147Salute to the King.................................148If We Have Love....................................149Find Courage.......................................150Perceptions........................................151The World is Crying................................152Sow Love...........................................153Ever Dear to Me....................................154Adieu Pangiras.....................................155Be a Country Builder...............................156Come One, Come All.................................157Can't Do It Alone..................................158The First..........................................159Memories...........................................160In Hindsight.......................................162Bless You Always...................................164Abode of Peace.....................................165Like Harmony in Symphony...........................166Doa Ku.............................................167Farewell...........................................168Kampong Ayer.......................................170Come to Brunei in July.............................172Water..............................................174Only a Stranger....................................175Light the World....................................176Beckon Me..........................................177You Were There.....................................178Golden Forever.....................................179Saya Yang Cinta Pada Mu............................181My Prayer..........................................182

Chapter One

Brunei Darussalam


Brunei Darussalam home of beauty
Kingdom of unexpected treasures
Brunei Darussalam Abode of Peace
In a world of raging wars, fire and storms
Brunei Darussalam Pearl of the East
Oasis of culture, spring of harmony
Envy of the culture-lost world
Brunei Darussalam
Gift of the Almighty
Where tradition and modernity blend
Reflecting the time continuum
The past links future through today
In perfect harmony
Almighty God hear our prayer
And keep blessing Brunei Darussalam
Keep it prosperous keep it beautiful
Keep it peaceful everyday
Always and forever


Walking King


From the throne
To the throng
Where his people were
His Majesty came
Throwing the crowd
Into festal jubilation
These joyous effusions
Of the subjects' emotions
Spoke of the great love
Of the people for His Majesty
He went to people on the lines
Shaking hands with a smile
Thrilling hearts a long while
He talked with the old here
He smiled at children there
Lovingly touching them
Making their day
His Majesty came
To the walkathon
To lead the way
For people to follow
To a more healthy living
His Majesty would bear
The wrath of the tropical sun
No, he wouldn't go back
To the comfort of the palace
But he carried on undeterred
His Majesty would lead his people
In the walkathon under the sun
Thronged by loyal subjects
This Majesty walked
The miles sweating
With no servants
To wipe away his sweat
The king was sweating in the sun
In the loss of the comforts of his palace
But he captured the hearts of his people


Abode of Peace


Brunei Darussalam
Abode of Peace
In a world in turmoil
Sanctuary of security
In a world of fear
Brunei Darussalam
You are the meeting place
Of modernity and tradition
Where life is a rainbow
Brunei Darussalam
Flower garden of humanity
Where races and colours blend
In unity and harmonious beauty
Land of the Benevolent Majesty
Let your peace be ever abundant
Like water in the blue mighty sea
Like the sea that nourishes you
May your glory tower higher
Than your evergreen forests
The cornucopia feeding
Sheltering and preserving
Life in its diversity
Brunei Darussalam
Nature's beauty postcard
Storehouse of biodiversity
In a world pillaged by greed
Beautiful Brunei Darussalam
Land of kindness and generosity
Pray the world hears the note
The music of your name
Brunei Darussalam
Abode of peace
In you always
Peace


Selamat Hari Raya


When the gun booms
Announcing its sighting
The crescent in the sky
It's the start of Ramadan
Fasting is here
The whole nation
Goes into retreat
Searching hearts
Searching their souls
In the quest to be pure
To be pure in heart
And draw closer
To the Almighty
Luxuries forsaken
With hearts of kindness
They bless the less fortunate
With the blessings they enjoy
From the hands of the Merciful
That has endowed their nation
In kindness with much wealth
Together they read books
Together they pray
Together they eat
Breaking fast
After sunset
They lose weight
In the denial
Of food to the body
Then suddenly one night
The gun will boom again
Gratitude and jubilation
Will fill the air everywhere
It's another successful Ramadan
In the morrow "Selamat Hari Raya"
Will fill the air in homes everywhere
Like the delicacies that fill the Brunei houses
To welcome the congratulating visitors


Crowning the Future King


From shores far and near
Came dignitaries and ordinaries
Today tenth of August 1998
All roads led not to Rome
But to Bandar Seri Begawan
The Royal Town of the Sultans
Of Brunei Darussalam
Abode of Peace
Where tradition and modernity
Embrace in hypnotizing harmony
Before dignitaries from all over the world
At the Istana the reigning Majesty
Was making a proclamation
In the crowning of a beloved son
Pronouncing him "Crown Prince"
Of Brunei Darussalam Abode of Peace
The night streets had been a glorious sight
Of beautiful chandeliers with kaleidospic light
The thronging crowd enjoying every night
Beholding the packages that made it all so right
The whole country was a ball day and night
Then the great day dawned and it was bright
People lined the street like trees the boulevard
Determined to see the newly crowned Prince
His Majesty was presenting to the people
As the future King of Brunei Darussalam
Nature drummed its drums as if in sympathy
With the sea of humanity in the sweltering weather
Waiting to see and pay homage to the future king
Soon the heavens opened gently pouring
Gentle rain to soothe their scotched bodies
The Royal carriage slowly went by
His Majesty and the Crown Prince
Waved and smiled at the people
And received same from an overjoyed crowd
Seeing His Majesty and Crown Prince
Seemed like seeing the present and the future
That filled one with admiration for a glorious past
And a pride that only those who have tradition know
In a world smothering in the heat of falsehood called civilization


Nature You Charm Me


Creation what a beauty you must have been
In the beginning when the brooks and streams
Flowed unhurried in their perfect state
Lest they scoured the land eroding the soil
And how the lilies must have looked
When with the roses they beautified you
The lovely paradise of nascent Earth
Scenting Eden with heavenly fragrance
And how the lovely mountains
Everywhere must have looked
In their snowcapped peaks
These towering paragons
Beneath the blue sky
And the trees danced regally
As the charmed wind blew
Over their canopies
And creation seemed
To say "Thank You"
To the Creator
Of all things
Creation how beautiful
You must have looked
In your perfect state
When creation was in symphonic harmony
Creation how beautiful you must have been
If many millennia from Eden's paradise
Your beauty still charms me everywhere
Where you are only scarred from the ancient fall
And the arms of greed have not wounded you yet
To make you a caricature of your ancient self
So that you the hearth of life are now its killing field
Through the poisoned waters and the sterile soils
That the hands of greed have transformed you into
Nature how you charm me! Up high and down below
In this abode of peace beautiful Brunei Darussalam
Where you are so close to Eden in your beauty
I pray you remain ever beautiful


Homecoming


Home again
I am coming home again
After the sojourn in foreign land
I am coming home to home sweet home
To be near to and be with you in person
My loved ones who have been my companions
But only in my heart during the lonely hours
Dear loved ones hear the whistle blow
See the plane taxing soon I will be home
To be near and to be with you
Do you feel what I feel?
When you miss a loved one
When you want to but can't hold
Someone who is close to you
When you can touch them
But only so with your heart
Not with your hands
And tears flow deep in your heart
Home again I am coming home
When I do I am going to love
Like I have never loved before
With kind words and appreciation
To decorate relationship with loved ones
I had them but never appreciated them
Until I missed them in the distance
Of the gulf of separation keeping us apart
I lost you for a season my dearly beloved
But I'm coming home again to be near you
To be with you never more to part
Yes I'll love and hold you forever
Because I'll be with you forever
Because love is this:
Forever


Beauty from on High


Up in the canopy walk in Belalong
Where nature affords ascent
Through the double assistance
Of hills and sky-tall evergreens
You can stand looking down below
From where you'd looked up before
Life presents you a stand post
To see a living postcard album
Of beautiful Brunei Darussalam
What an awesome sight from above
How beautiful unspoiled nature can be
Where man has left it alone to itself
The way it has been made to be
Up above is the blue sky
The clouds dance gently by
The moon looks nearer
You feel what you are
On top of the world
All around is evergreen
Nature sings you a love song
As if it knows what you miss
Living in the urban jungle
A squirrel dances in joy
Over a nut it has found
It makes you feel guilty
About complaining
When life serves you
With all the goodies
And you never stop
To say "Thank You"
To the Gracious Giver
The One from Whom
All good things flow
The Belalong flows along
From its source floating
Lazy happy jet-borne tourists
Plunging water from the fall bathes
And massages other tourists elsewhere
Refreshing these weary residents
Of the civilization-scotched world


Raidah


Raidah
Beautiful Raidah
Daughter of the Orient
Raidah, quiet and kindhearted
Lady of beauty gentle like a dove
Raidah of Brunei Darussalam
Abode of Peace, Pearl of the East
The Almighty has sure made you
A paragon of beauty and grace
Raidah, gentle Raidah
Flowing in beauty
Like a gentle brook
She walks on life's road
In the grace adorning her
With beauty that charms
Raidah, O please Raidah
Run the race of life prayerfully
Diligently and determinedly
Soon sweat will give way to ease
As your labours crowned bear fruit
When the gracious Lord Almighty
In His kindness fulfills all your dreams
Because He loves you dear and has a plan for you


Thanks to Brunei


From the grassland of Ipolo
I have come to the rainforest
Of Brunei Darussalam
Seeking to make a living
In the distant sojourning
I am making a living and more
Thanks to Brunei Darussalam
I am blessed with friends
I would never have known
I am blessed with thorns
Their pain reminds me
That I am alive still
Have I grown wiser?
Only God knows
Have I been enriched?
That I know without a doubt
I am learning more about life
Thanks to Brunei Darussalam
A brother stabs wounding your heart
With a fist of sheer wickedness
You're left in the wonder
Of this chameleon world
That changes like the weather
When you're losing hope in humanity
Total strangers come in with a balm
To nurse your wounds healing you
Why does life play us games?
When you think you've got it all figured out
Life turns another side and shows you your ignorance
I'm learning much about life thanks to Brunei Darussalam


Amah


O I salute you Amah
Lady of the morning
Timely like the clock
You wake up early
And retire to bed late
How you work
Tireless like the heart
Were you to stop working
Life will go foul for them
That feed from your sweat
Amah you are mother
In another name
How grateful
We are
To you
Lady of the late night
You stay up to make sure
Each time we wake up
The house is clean
And the food is ready
Forgive us O Amah forgive us
For taking you for granted
When we should learn from you
To thank the Almighty for His graces
Had our geography been different
Our destiny perhaps would be yours
And yours would be ours
Thank you Amah
God bless you
Always


Joined in Brunei


You came my way
In loveliness and grace
You came gentle like a dove
You came so familiarly
It seems O it seems
Like we've known
Ourselves all our lives
I felt like quitting
You gave me strength
To go on through friendship
You gave me love and joy
Like I never knew it before
You gave me home in your heart
When I was lonely and sad
In Brunei Darussalam
Because you were there
Every time, everywhere
I really needed someone
To be near me to lean on
Someone to wipe my tears away
When the pangs of loneliness
Hurt greatly when I thought
Of home and loved ones faraway
Loved ones so badly needed
Loved ones half a world away
I am glad you came my way
Filling my emptiness
With true love
And warmth
My life glows
In the reflection
Of the love we share
God bless you my dear friend
God bless Brunei Darussalam that gave you to me

Dedicated to foreigners who found love and friendship in Brunei Darussalam

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Tribute to Brunei and Other Poemsby JOHN ONU ODIHI Copyright © 2012 by John Onu Odihi. Excerpted by permission of Trafford Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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