Poetry (Limerick Poem): "A Forbidden Love Poem [L'amour Avec Toi]" by WhiteLibraTexas

A Forbidden Love Poem

                                         (L'amour Avec Toi)

My love, society and morality 

Forbid us to live our reality

My love, I don't really care

Lovemaking's for us to share

Tonight, I'm yours, with geniality.

~WhiteLibraTexas~ 

I wrote this poem on 04/21/2010, inspired by the story behind "L'amour Avec Toi," a well-known love song of Michel Polnareff.  I'm featuring this song on my YouTube channel, performed by Star Academy 6. To read more about this song and to watch this music clip, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GlLhc3GRuI

Poetry (Acrostic Poem, AKA Name Poem): "A Lifetime for You" by ScottRM60

 A Lifetime for You (aka White Libra)

(Contributed by ScottRM60)

Warmth is in your eyes

How I love those eyes

In me, you'll remain

Till the end of time

Endlessly it is

Love is in your heart

In your pretty smile

Because I love you

Right here, I'm waiting

A lifetime for you

   

 -ScottRM60-

Vietnamese Composer/Songwriter: Khánh Băng

Khanh Bang [1935-2005], another legendary songwriter in the history of Vietnamese music, art and entertainment, was born as Pham Van Minh, in Thang-Tam, Vung-Tau, Vietnam. Khanh Bang was considered to be the first musician to play an electric guitar on Vietnam stage, which was in the 60’s. 

His pseudonym was derived from the first names of his two female childhood friends, “Khanh” and “Bang.” Khanh Bang started writing music since his elementary years. The musician himself couldn’t recall which was the first song that was written by him; however, “Vong Ngay Xanh,” which was written and released in 1956, brought his name to stardom. The famous French poet, Françoise Sagan, wrote the French version to this song. 

Khanh Bang stopped writing music in the mid 90’s when he lost his eyesight to diabetes.  According to his family members, in the morning of the Lunar New Year Day, Khanh Bang was still enjoying good foods, sharing good cheers and laughing with his loved ones. Later on that day, he was feeling fatigued and was just going to take a little rest; however, he never woke up. Khanh Bang passed away peacefully in the afternoon of Lunar New Year Day, 2005.

I like Mr. Khanh Bang’s upbeat melodies in most of his love songs--very youthful and lovely, such as Sau Dong, Tieng Mua Roi, Trang The, etc., just to name a few. I’m featuring one of his love songs on YouTube, titled "Neu Mot Ngay," performed by Kim Anh. This particular song is much mellower, with a slower beat, and it's a real tear-jerker, but I somehow like it very much.

Practically speaking, I've been living in the USA all my life, but I was born in a war-torn country, Vietnam, and was told many heart-broken stories derived from the war. I left Vietnam at a  young age and so my memories of the Vietnam war is very vague. When I started listening to the songs that were written by our well-known songwriters prior to 1975, I formed my own opinion.  And in my opinion, most of Vietnamese love songs, although very beautiful, are extremely sad and often about separation anxiety, pain, and sorrow caused by war (particularly during the Vietnam War, the period prior to 1975).  They often give me that melancholy feeling. That is also the storyline of the featured song, “Neu Mot Ngay."


To watch my upload of this song, click here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WK58RsXa2Pc

Note: If you like this posting, you're welcome to use it. Please be kind enough to credit WhiteLibraTexas as your source.

From the Dalai Lama: Compassion

Compassion

(Contributed by daulao)

Hatred, jealousy and excessive attachment cause suffering and agitation. I feel compassion can help us overcome these disturbances and let us return to a calm state of mind. Compassion is not just being kind to your friend. That involves attachment because it is based on expectation. Compassion is when you do something good without any expectations – based on realizing that “the other person is also just like me”.

From the Dalai Lama: Peace of Mind

Peace of Mind

(Contributed by daulao)

When we speak of a calm state of mind or peace of mind, we shouldn't confuse that with an insensitive state of apathy. Having a calm or peaceful state of mind doesn't mean being spaced out or completely empty. Peace of mind or a calm state of mind is rooted in affection and compassion and is sensitive and responsive to others.

Poetry (Poetic Narrative): "Just Another Woman in Love" by Forever Young CT

Just Another Woman in Love 

 When I see the rainbow, I think of your love

 When I see the sunshines, I think of your smile

 When I see the bright stars, I think of your eyes

  When I see the soft clouds, I think of your touch

When I see flowers blooming, I think of our first kiss

When I see people hugging, I feel your embrace

When I see them smiling, I feel your caress

When I see them kissing, I feel your warm and sweet lips

My love, it's your tender love 

that I see and feel everywhere

I am just another woman in love and

I am so happy that you're mine! 

So, no matter where I might be at this moment

 just remember I love you;

 remember how deep our love is

    And everything will be alright... <3 <3

      ~ WhiteLibraTexas ~ 10/31/2010

Poetry (Pastoral Poem): "My Countryside" by Forever Young CT

My Countryside

The land is called the rice field of dreams

With white clouds adorn the big blue sky

A flock of wild geese just passing by

From afar,  happy songs being sung

By the content voices of everyone

of those who have devoted all their lives

to nurture the life of this rice field

Look at the boy and his buffalo

Happy to be together, they are

Life is so breezy like the rice fields

so carefree like the flock of wild geese

so enchanting like my countryside

The countryside of Vietnam, it is.

~Forever Young CT~

12/16/2010

The drawing of "The Countryside with Buffalo Boy" and the poem "My Countryside" were inspired by the song"Bức Hoạ Đồng Quê" of Văn Phụng and the book "A Story of Vietnam" of Dr. Trương Bửu Lâm.  

To watch the music clip for "Bức Hoạ Đồng Quê," click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PL824UEo5c

To watch the music clip for "A Story of Vietnam," click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZA_56D7HKs