Reflection

Painting by Leo Carlo R Rotor
Poem by Dr Abe V Rotor

Prize winner, Contest on Human Values through Painting
and Mural, Sri Sathya Sai Organization, Metro Manila, 2001

Reflection - two faces in one,
in one's mind and heart;
of the past and the present,
prelude to all art.

Reflection - the self and the other
fellow, foe or friend;
in war and peace, want and plenty,
humbles at the end.

Reflection - The Prince and the Pauper,
and The Little Prince;
Les Miserables, Christmas Carol, 
one's life ever since.~

Kites and Dreams

Abe V Rotor

Mural detail, AVR

When I was young I dreamed with kites;

the higher they flew, the happier I was -

yet sadder, lonelier.

For who would like to stay up for long,

perhaps forever in the sky,

lofty it may be.

It is not always good to dream;

for a strong wind comes suddenly

and breaks the string.

And if my kite didn't fly, as it did

many times; well, dreams are

but air castles. 

I loved big kites, big dreams,

until they took me away -

far, far away.

And never built and flew kites again,

yet kept on dreaming,

of returning.~ 

Make these dogs happy

Abe V Rotor

Pastel drawing by Anna Christina R Rotor, circa 2000

Make these dogs happy, I once asked a child,

with pencil drew a pair of bone,

which made a change in the dogs' expression,

their tails and eyes had shown.

Another child drew a house in gaily colors;

with arch door and window;

and he wrote the name of the new owner,

but King slept on its shadow.

Another child drew a tree with a bird's nest

which is happier, dog or bird?

He is referee, matchmaker, guardian,

he plays the role of the third.

Up front a child made familiar drawings:

playthings for dog and child.

happiness is in playing the same game
with the master though how wild.  

At the back, a little girl kept drawing;

shy, she hid her work but I saw.

Why she had unchained the dogs! Freedom!

she wrote with knitted brow.

Here I saw two views, domestic and wild -

which is sad, which is happy?

How little I know of the lesson I ought to know,
of dogs in the wild and free.  ~

Star Gazer

 Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night

Abe V Rotor

The moon is round and golden tonight
      Amidst diamonds twinkling,
Like eyes peering in the waning light,
      And fireflies glowing.

The night is still in the moonlight,
      Save the wave and breeze,
The rasping of wings in hasty flight,
      That soon fades in peace.

I am a star gazer and wonder,
      How many stars I miss;
My mind is cold to explore and wander,
      And never at ease. ~

Prayer to Mary, Mother of Christ, on her Feastday, December 8

Abe V Rotor

Oh, mother immaculate, mother of mercy,
look at us as one humanity,
and bestow the grace of hope and capacity
to rise above sin and agony;
so that we shall attain courage to stand free
and face the world in humility;
make each of us your instrument of unity
in likeness of the Holy Family,
make us the builders of a State of Sanctity
where reign love, peace and harmony. ~

Mural Paintings of the Grand Palace of Thailand

Mural Paintings of the Grand Palace of Thailand

Photos and Verse by Dr Abe V Rotor

Also visit my other Blogs:
[avrotor.blogspot.com]
[Living with Nature]
[naturalism - the eighth sense] 

                                                        Author (right) and host from Vinafoods, Bangkok

 Mural, mural on the wall:

tell me who's the fairest of them all,
 the grandest, the most powerful - 

The wall is mute, its message full 
of wealth, power before the Fall,
and the secrets of its soul.~

Sunset

 Photo by Marlo R Rotor

Sunset:
call it beauty,
the color of war,
and death itself;
it is enough,
the passing of day.

the coming of night.

Quirino Bridge, Banaoang Pass, Santa, Ilocos Sur

A Prayer

Statue of Blessed Fr Pio, Lipa City

By Abe V Rotor

Take me from this world a moment

To be with you in this holy event;

From Your seat to down below I see

My friends, my enemies, and me.

Lost Painting

 Painting and Verse by Abe V Rotor

It was long time ago, I had a friend,
a real friend I wouldn't have painted for him
a mural on canvas the memories of childhood;
to friends happiness is shared, and the more
they do, the more it multiplies -
the essence of friendship, its soul.

So I thought.

And night and day, happy with the thought,
I labored sweetly with the sunlight of Amorsolo,
the warm color of the earth of Rembrandt,
passion of Van Gogh and simplicity of Cezanne,
and the purity of colors of an amateur.

I talked to the canvas, and it talked to me;
and the past heard us - childhood is alive:
the stream meanders to the sea,
the hills glow at sunrise and sunset,
trees quiver with birdsong and breeze;
 herons come to herald the Amihan
the wind that carries our kite high up,
up until the clouds break into rain,
and fish stir seeking the source of spring -
then, summer is gone.
Everybody seeks that freshness
that lightning and thunder bring,
to learn from nature, to temper the senses - 
lessons I learned early and carried on in life.
Yes, my friend will like my painting, I said,
for he loved things real, things original.
That was long, long time ago;
I lost a friend and a masterpiece. ~

Man and Island

Dr Abe V Rotor

Painting by Leo Carlo Rotor 12, 5th prize winner, Human Values through Painting and Mural, Sathya Sai Education in Human Values (SSEHV), 2001

They say a happy island

makes a happy man,
a sad man makes it sad,

alone or in others' company;
for deep in the mind bloom

memories happy and sad,
whether the path was bright,
or dark as a stormy night.

It matters little if all is right

or one took the other turn,

if the mind is at ease;
like the sea after tempest, 

settles down to rest

in silence and peace. ~