AGEING DINOSAUR – LIBRARY

Milpitas Library closed its doors.
The ageing dinosaur
Outlive its usefulness
Obsolete before Its time.
The skeletal remains of its abode
Is ready for makeover into Senior Center
In tribute to our valuable senior citizens
Whom have toiled & contributed to the
Betterment of our great city – Milpitas.

The vacant building stands lonely
Empty of inhabitants
Voices no long heard in its vast corridors.
The emptiness – resonates –
In explosive quietude of silence.
Dust covered floor – debris –
Remanence of past –
And fragments of time –
Bequeath to the ageing dinosaur.

I miss the sound
Of children’s joyous laughter.
I miss hearing the exuberant “ALOHA” –
A gracious proclamation of greetings
From cheerful, smiling librarian
As we enter the halls of knowledge
And chamber for learning.
I miss the recitals of poems –
Poetry Slam – Open Mic Night –
From library’s Community Hall
Home of
PEACEFUL POET GROUP –
MALUHIA HAKU MELE OHANA.

RAYMOND CHOW 12-14-08

TRICK OR TREAT IN MILPITAS

The haunting rattle of bones of skeleton
echoes into silence
of the darkest night of the year.
A paradise of candy-land unfolds
just outside our doorstep for the little keikis.
A world of peppermint, raspberry, chocolates,
and all the delectable tidbits of yummy treats
for the tummy are just waiting
at each beacon of porch light
that welcomes tricksters with treats
just for the asking.

The adventure unfolds when the sun sets
and darkness envelopes the night sky;
cloak of ominous dark clouds hovering above
intensifies the haunting omen
that bewitches frightened
little keikis of the night.

Mahealani just doesn’t care to go tricking
and hasn’t for several years.
She still has hang-ups
of scary skeletons rattling in their cage
that haunted her during her toddler years
and traumatize her to present day.
The kahuna spell remains ever present.
She is self proclaimed benefactor
for her brethrens - brothers and sisters,
by handing top-shelf goodies to little cripes
that comes knocking-knocking at our door
at the ungodly hour of early night,
the most nightmarish time
of the night for little keikis.

Melika wore black leotard and sweater
Mom painted her face with cat’s whiskers
and a big dab of black on the tip of her nose.
Naniloa wore a dragon costume
with long trailing tail that was sweeping
the walkway squeaky clean.
The black cat slinks thru the neighborhood,
cautiously mincing each step,
Reluctant Dragon, a step behind
plodding on the sidewalk
like a herd of elephants
clumping thru our neighboring savanna.

Mom & Dad
venture into the heart of darkness
accompanying both our little darlings,
brave souls were they
to enter into the bleak world
Where ghouls and goblins,
nocturnal haunters of Halloween night,
lurk under deep shadows of trees
and in darkest corners of houses.
Mom & Dad will protect
our little darlings from the Highwayman
that lurks in the wilderness of our streets
ready to pounce on
unsuspecting angels of the night
for their treasured booties of goodies.

A massive tribe of angelic keikis
and some creepy devils
interspersed in the crowd,
trooping through Milpitas Township,
stripping and pillaging each household
of all the sweet treats
like a horde of locust
descending on our field of homes
And leaving a scattering trail
of empty shell of candy wrappers.

Our little angel’s booty bag
was filled to the brim,
their cup runneth over
ending the memorable
Halloween night in Milpitas.
A fleeting night that ended too quick,
and a glimpse into wonderful world
of candy-land;
bless the little menehunes,
dispensers of elixir for children’s tummies
that is soooooo goooood.

RAYMOND CHOW November 30 2008
Mahealani = heavenly moon,
she was born during full moon
Melika = equivalent to Melissa, valued gift
Naniloa = heavenly beauty
kahuna = sorcerer, one who inflict illness, ill will
keiki = little children
keiki wahine = little girl;
menehune = legendary race of small people who
work at night before the arrival of
1st Hawaiian, Hawaiian leprechaun