Reflections

 This poem was written by a terminally ill young girl in a New York        
 Hospital.                                                                 
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                 SLOW DANCE                                
                                                                           
                                                                      
                         Have you ever watched kids                        
                                                                           
                            On a merry-go-round?                           
                                                                           
                          Or listened to the rain                          
                                                                           
                          Slapping on the ground?                          
                                                                           
                Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight?
                
                 Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?                
                                                                           
                           You better slow down.                           
                                                                           
                            Don’t dance so fast.                           
                                                                           
                               Time is short.                              
                                                                           
                           The music won’t last.                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                        Do you run through each day                        
                                                                           
                                On the fly?                                
                                                                           
                         When you ask How are you?                         
                                                                           
                           Do you hear the reply?                          
                                                                           
                            When the day is done                           
                                     !                                     
                                                                           
                           Do you lie in your bed                          
                                                                           
                        With the next hundred chores                       
                                                                           
                         Running through your head?                        
                                                                           
                           You’d better slow down                          
                                                                           
                            Don’t dance so fast.                           
                                                                           
                               Time is short.                              
                                                                           
                           The music won’t last.                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                           Ever told your child,                           
                                                                           
                           We’ll do it tomorrow?                           
                                                                           
                             And in your haste,                            
                                                                           
                            Not see his sorrow?                            
                                                                           
                              Ever lost touch,                             
                                                                           
                         Let a good friendship die                         
                                                                           
                          Cause you never had time                         
                                                                           
                            To call and say,"Hi"                           
                                                                           
                          You’d better slow down.                          
                                                                           
                            Don’t dance so fast.                           
                                                                           
                               Time is short.                              
                                                                           
                           The music won’t last.                           
                                                                           
                   When you run so fast to get somewhere                   
                                                                           
                  You miss half the fun of getting there.                  
                                                                           
                 When you worry and hurry through your day,                
                                                                           
                      It is like an unopened gift….                      
                                                                           
                                Thrown away.                               
                                                                           
                            Life is not a race.                            
                                                                           
                             Do take it slower                             
                                                                           
                               Hear the music                              
                                                                           
                          Before the song is over.                          
                                                                           

Author: Charles Wee

UPDATED: 25 May 2021 Interests: Make a difference to someones life, non-competitive cycling and walking.

22 thoughts on “Reflections”

  1. Charles is in a pensive mood this morning. I imagine him looking out of his window, watching the raindrops roll and fall off the clothes line.

    I suppose for those of us who have achieved most of what we set out to achieve, we seek to slow dance through the garden of life, smell the roses and find more meaning for our lives before the music ends at the rear garden gate.

  2. Hi Charles,
    What a beautiful, poignant verse. So true.
    When we were young, we were always in a hurry to “grow up”. We were impatient and wanted everything quick. Now, when I count the number of years left from the “other end”, I wish for time to slow down.
    I try to take time to “smell the roses” as they say, enjoy the small things in life and do less “wishful” thinking.
    Live life.

  3. Wonderful Charles,

    Thanks for the link to the website.

    I am NOW HEARING the FREE BEATLES music ( The long and winding road) from the downloading of BEATLES MANIA.

    Btw, it it Really FREE downloading ? ????

    Steven Chan

  4. Absolutely free,free. enjoy , enjoy,
    Type in your favourite singer and choose from the list of songs found from your search. You can also queue up the songs one by one and do other things on the computer whilst you listened.

  5. Hi Charles,

    Thanks for the music link. I was able to find the music for the 2 songs that I wanted to sing for the Talentime – ‘Both sides now’ & ‘Theme song from Mahagony – Do you know where you are going to?’. I would like to give you a treat when I meet you soon. Bernie

  6. Thanks for the link, Charles. I was enjoying Joy To The World by Three Dog Night. It reminded me of my good old days in school. Have already bookmarked this website for future listening. Anyone know of similar link for chinese songs?

    ivy

  7. Hi Charles,

    Thanks for the poem. It touches me in very sense and I enjoyed reading it.

    It reminds me of the song by Garth Brooks “If Tomorrow Never Comes”. You may be here today, gone tomorrow.

    Whatever we want to do, just do it and make the best out of it.

    Thanks for the awakening.

    Have a great day!

    Warmest Regards
    Caroline Gee

  8. Caroline, Ivy, Bernadette, thanks for adding your comments to a subject which is becoming more relevant as we age.
    Life as some puts it …is a pilgrimage. We are on a journey….. journey to where?? .. depends on what you believe in, perhaps to another dimension.
    Whatever,… live to the fullest, be happy and love those around you.

  9. Nothing can be sadder and more terrifying than, when told that one days are numbered, to wait for the countdown.

    There’s much to do but not the time to complete………..

  10. Hi Charles

    The jiwamusic link is great!

    I just played the Chipmunks and Allan Sherman’s Hello Muddah, Hello Fuddah… and had a good laugh!

    Keep up the good work!

  11. Excellent music site. Thanks Charles.

    Searched 144 pavarotti for instant play.

    Suggest a theme song for SHC.
    Celine Dion’s “Immortaity”.
    Also as a dedication to Edwin Chen.
    “We don’t say goodbye”

  12. Hi Charles

    Just logon to the website you recommended and it was good. Am listening to “I started a Joke” by Bee Gees and many oldies. Thanks for the link.

  13. KT Wong, Suzhang, yes it is always nice to hear again familiar numbers long lost in our memories, memorable singers like Tom Jones, nat King Cole, Cliff Richard, Connie Francis,Hank Williams, Skeeter Davis,etc.

    On the subject of ‘reflection’ I like to introduce you to a website from Nasa. See mind boggling pictures, one for each day of year. Remember the song ‘Alfie’ what it is all about?
    click website below
    http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html

  14. Hey Charles,

    Logged onto the website both yesterday and today for a current favourite song of mine, No worries by Simon Webbe. Its so cool, now I can play the song without having to go buy the CD.

    Thanks a bunch for the link!

    Catherine Y

  15. Hi Wong KT ,

    I strongly agreed with you that the heavy rock grp did bring in the Y generation of mostly Malay fashionable audience.

    However due to long hrs of the band me,quite a number of them sat on the path where vendors were pedalling their goods and block the path.

    The Y gen passerbys just walk as though our goods and our existence were invisible.

    If you want to cater to the Y gen, I suggest that the next potential vendor brings in a consignment of handphone accessories for sale.

    SC

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