Grandad's HOME

Grandad's H O M E:

🌱 Seeded by CJB today

If only the bamboo jungle
was sealed within
C E D A R

At first the strange
H O L L O W
sticks' scent was new

Each grew to attention
under the Singapore sun...

Welcoming shadows
C R E A K E D
across our once-scar-free backs

But now heavy skies press on our
D E A T H M A R C H

Soaked bamboo fills our lungs...
Oh to smell a whiff of cedar...
How grumpy I've become
burning in this forever
R I S I N G S U N

Japanese guards laugh
as our men
F A L L

They call this
H E L L

Men are losing their
G R I P
as we're crushed
inside a ship

But deeper
within
M E
I remember
what to hold
on to

L O V E
is my master
N A T U R E
my release

I shall return
H O M E
today.

VJ Day Commemorations

Thursday 15 August 2025 is VJ Day.

This poem is a stark, honest glimpse into history, and a deeply personal one for me. As we approach VJ Day on Thursday, August 15th, 2025, it’s a time to reflect on the unimaginable resilience shown by those who endured such horrors, like my grandad, a Japanese Prisoner of War.

Reading this poem, you feel the raw "Hate" that can arise from extreme suffering, the "Grumpy" descent when faced with endless darkness. But then, as always, there's that shift. That flicker of remembrance, deep "within M E."

This is the essence of what I mean when I talk about LOVE * EVERYTHING * TODAY. Even in the depths of "H E L L," the soul finds its anchor. It’s remembering that "L O V E is my master, N A T U R E my release." It's the profound choice to hold onto what truly matters, even when everything around you screams for you to let go.

My grandad's journey, from the horrors of the Rising Sun to his return "H O M E," embodies the ultimate "Soul Act." It's a testament to turning unimaginable pain into a fierce, grounded love for life itself. This isn't about glorifying suffering; it's about honoring the human spirit's ability to transcend it. It's about how the deepest "rot" can become the richest "root" for growth.

So, as we commemorate VJ Day, let's not just remember the past, but apply its lessons to our today. When life hands you your own "bamboo jungle," remember the power within you to find that "whiff of cedar," that internal truth that guides you home.

Let's choose to grow together, today. 🌱

Right. Speaking of growing! I really gotta grow now! 🌱
Love you grandad!!
CJB 🤎

PS. The poem was prompted by the phrase "seed within cedar" and word "grumpy".