Remembering Randy

I was cleaning my closet when a piece of folded paper fall from one of my old books. I opened the page and it was a poem written by my former UP professor Randy M. Bustamante. He was my teacher in Humanities I during my first ever summer class in college, the year was 2000. During that time this subject is taught in English unlike now that it is taught in Filipino. I miss Sir Randy, he was the one who told me that I can be a good theater actor after I portray Caliban from Shakespearean novel, The Tempest, in our class play presentation. But acting on stage was not my priority then since I'm taking up Business Administration that time. By the way, here is the poem that I want to share with you...

REMEMBERING NOAH


And then God remembered Noah...
Genesis 8:1

Not that God
had forgotten, no:

the violence of man's
forgetfulness churned

the waters of the world
and the ocean above

came rushing down
to meld with the swelling seas,

re-calling the darkness
before the the speaking of light.

The voice of the rain
seeped into the ark,

daring the huddled bodies
re-member tree-limbs

mountain-face, earth-skin,
but the terrible wetness

had blurred their sight.
Then God breathed on everything

(hair and feather, fleece and hide)
and downpour and deluge dried.

The ark beneath benevolent arch
opened to the flapping of wings,

rumble of hooves, wild, grateful joy,
for memory is mercy

and the heart of the remembering God
a vast dry land strewn with iridescence

and lushness, yes, unforgettable lushness.

Desiderata

The common myth is that the Desiderata poem was found in a Baltimore church in 1692 and is centuries old, of unknown origin. Desiderata was in fact written around 1920 (although some say as early as 1906), and certainly copyrighted in 1927, by lawyer Max Ehrmann (1872-1945) based in Terre Haute, Indiana. The Desiderata myth began after Reverend Frederick Kates reproduced the Desiderata poem in a collection of inspirational works for his congregation in 1959 on church notepaper, headed: 'The Old Saint Paul's Church, Baltimore, AD 1692' (the year the church was founded). Copies of the Desiderata page were circulated among friends, and the myth grew, accelerated particularly when a copy of the erroneously attributed Desiderata was found at the bedside of deceased Democratic politician Aidlai Stevenson in 1965.

Whatever the history of Desiderata, the Ehrmann's prose is inspirational, and offers a simple positive credo for life.

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly to the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Remembering Randy

I was cleaning my closet when a piece of folded paper fall from one of my old books. I opened the page and it was a poem written by my former UP professor Randy M. Bustamante. He was my teacher in Humanities I during my first ever semester in college, the year was 2000. During that time this subject is taught in English unlike now that it is taught in Filipino. I miss Sir Randy, he was the one who told me that I can be a good theater actor after I portray Caliban in Shakespearean novel, The Tempest. But acting on stage was not my priority then since I'm taking up Business Administration that time. By the way, here is the poem that I want to share with you"

REMEMBERING NOAH


And then God remembered Noah...
Genesis 8:1

Not that God
had forgotten, no:

the violence of man's
forgetfulness churned

the waters of the world
and the ocean above

came rushing down
to meld with the swelling seas,

re-calling the darkness
before the the speaking of light.

The voice of the rain
seeped into the ark,

daring the huddled bodies
re-member tree-limbs

mountain-face, earth-skin,
but the terrible wetness

had blurred their sight.
Then God breathed on everything

(hair and feather, fleece and hide)
and downpour and deluge dried.

The ark beneath benevolent arch
opened to the flapping of wings,

rumble of hooves, wild, grateful joy,
for memory is mercy

and the heart of the remembering God
a vast dry land strewn with iridescence

and lushness, yes, unforgettable lushness.

Poem: Juliet's Lamentation

Calm is the weather in my heart
Who's pure and innocent from the start;
Til Cupid seat forth his fatal bow
Where love implants and soon will grow.

Hmm, whose eyes a shining armour
Of deepest reflection he implore;
For mine's most divine sensation
A love so boundless, eternal devotion.

Yet, I agreed in earnest passion
Brought in the midst of this lamentation;
For his calm is mine's adversary
And this love will surely end bitterly.

Oh, enamoured heart who sung in pain
Besought thy patron's favor in vain;
Did the fates fled fortune like a dove?
From me and my only, my beloved?

Atrodious parents, why did restrain?
Had suffered lovers of sweetest strain;
Imprisoned heart and fettered soul
Had caused thy mountful lover's fall.

Ye! Ungrateful kindred, ungrateful life
Cruel destiny shall end with a knife;
Thy death, my love, shan't part us long
For I'll follow thy shade with my song.