Bridget Eu Yoke Lin is from Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia, educated in England and Australia. She is a life member with the World Congress of Poets, UPLI and WAAC, also a member of Poets of the Vineyard (POV). She has published two poetry books “When Footsteps Merge” and “A Horizon of Jewels”. She has given recitals locally and internationally, being honored with several international poetry awards. Her awards included four consecutive prizes in 21st. 22nd, 23rd, and 24th Dancing Poetry Festival (AEI) and three prizes in the Founders Memorial Poetry Contest in 24th WCP, California, USA 2017. Her passion is writing poetry on humanity, to promote world peace, brotherhood and caring.
When problem becomes a forgiving thought
When tolerance becomes a lasting strength
When patience becomes an unwavering will
When wisdom wakes up from a dream so still
Sorrow will then become joy and peace
The heart will embrace love and at ease
This happens when perseverance becomes alive
This is the integrity that will not fail in life
For perseverance is the key to a peaceful mind
To a peaceful heart, a peaceful soul, a peaceful mind
I have walked a thousand miles or more
Through the corridors of a span of career in all
As I swerved, swayed and turned the corners
I have met strong faces
A mother with a fourteen year-old amputee son
As I put my arms on her shoulders
She said, ‘My son still has one leg’
I have met brave faces
A leukemia boy on oxygen
As I reached for his hand
His bright teeth shone with a smile
I have met kind faces
The patients in their hospital beds
As I greet them, ’Good Morning’
They said, ‘Your lovely nurses had worked through the night’
I have met angelic faces
The twenty-eight year-old mother undergoing chemotherapy
As I adjusted her woolen hat
She put on her lipstick
As I see God in all their faces
I said to myself
I am not afraid to walk another mile
Perhaps, with God’s grace, another a thousand miles
Arise to the heights today
You will need to
Adapt to the vulnerabilities of change
Resolve constant conflicts and use
Resilience as a survival tool
That will help as life unfolds
Integrity must be the strength
To persist and persevere, that may
Initiate some joy at end of day
Sustenance of what you have
And inculcate the virtue of
Sincerity as a daily affair
Embrace the challenges and be
Enthusiastic in all things
As this will break the chains
That holds you down
Embrace, do not fear!
Embrace, Arise to the heights today
With tears streaming down, their faces grim and sweaty brow
They have to leave loved ones behind in a frown
Across the Borders of Hope
Where the land opposite is greener, their only hope
Fortunate ones reach the borders safe
To face the next frontier in another state
Unfortunate ones fail before the borders front
Their bodies separate, their souls confront
Each day, the immigrants take a leap of faith
Across the Borders of Hope in undying faith
Their minds propel to make it
Their bodies tolerate not to break it
These are the sad stories heard over and over
In the media, television, newspapers on their crossover
As the world watch solemnly, the answers to this question elope
Are these Borders of Death or of Hope?
By the beach on one sunrise
Against the backdrop of the sky
I saw the sunrise bursting across the horizon
With colors of orange and so bright
I stayed on site, sitting by the rocks
Looking at the pebbles and stones in sight
This was washed to the beach throughout the years
At each high tide and low tide
I glanced on the sand, miles and miles
That stretched without end
Wondering on how the seashells had washed ashore
Each different shape, shade and size had got there
I looked down once again
The tiny crabs creeping in and out of the sand
Seemed to say “hello” but stayed shy from my feet
And disappeared into the sand
The wind brushed against my face towards the sea
The waters gushed in rolling waves
Glittering in silver and in gold
This day at the beach when God is so within my reach!