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To me, Contemplation made the most significant impact on my poem-making skills and understanding. Taking the time to look around and feel my surroundings allowed me to name objects, senses and sights that I tend to miss in my every day life. The more I looked and contemplated these things, the more emotions I could associate to those things. With those associations, I found beautiful ways that a poem could be formed. I realised I can make something wonderful out of something so simple.

I am now noticing more details of the things around me. I don't just look at the things for what they are, but also how they serve me and how they might feel.

I am also noticing words that aren't necessarily associated with certain objects, but seem associated in my mind. It gave me a clearer perspective on how me might have tried to humanize objects.

Finally, I noticed many more combinations between things. Everything feels more interconnected and there always feels like there is a story to tell.

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- The sound of friction between the wheels of the train and the tracks
- Seagulls squawking as the train passes
- The overlapping noises of my thoughts about hypotheticals and errands I have to run
- Beepings and automated voices notifying the next stop

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- The early morning chirps of the birds outside
- Lexus' heavy breathing
- The morning chatter
- The early morning thoughts about what my life could've been
- The sound of the shower running

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- The faraway screams of children playing
- The collective sound of birds going home
- Chatter between friends
- The whooshing sound of the wind

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The Artist Looks at Nature, Charles Sheeler (1943)

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The artist in the vest sits on the highest level of the garden,
The television plays coloured pictures of love,
He sketches the rectangular window in black and white,
The cream-coloured dog plopped on the wooden floor,
He sits in nature but draws otherwise,
The soft homey feel of the living room carpet,
The artist looks intently at his picture but not his surroundings,
The sound of chatter from friends and family,
He crosses his leg evoking full focus,
Feelings of sadness and complexity,
A border left around the art,
The lights shining over the kitchen island,
The greenery that overpowers the concrete,
Jackets placed by the fireplace.

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I Could See Everything 2014-2008, Margaux Williamson

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"I" refers to the book.

I smell like an old library book that has been kept behind a dusty shelf. However, when I was opened, I could smell the musty hands. They both remind me of hardships. I hear a commotion as they flipped open page 34, reminding me of the joy and commotion I used to receive when I was younger. The sound feels yellow. Around me, I see a couple pairs of eyes staring intently into my soul. Their hands touching every detail of me. I see the man's eyebrow furrow, but the biggest of all, I see all my friends from back then. Close up, I see the tired lines of their hands, probably from the hardships of a struggling career. The men just turned their head around in a quick motion. They mumbled a word or two to each other but I could not catch it over my dusty ears. A man with a familiar face walks through the wooden doors. Last night, I dreamt about the quill that was used to create parts of me. It had felt like decades and I had been reminiscing. Beyond the frame, I can see my other friends who have been left forgotten on the shelves. They look sad and long to be touched. In a couple minutes or so, I return to my original fate of sitting pretty on the shelf. While these minutes last, the gloomy weather and strong wind breathes some new life into me.
Secretly, I have always wanted to be new.

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I find that there is something beautiful about interpreting art. We do not fully know what the artist wanted to convey in their artwork, but we are able to incorporate our own experiences into it.

In "Ekphrasis Yourself", the combination of observing the art and observing my surroundings to create a poem brings about a powerful meaning if we look deep into it. They can be related to one another.

In "You Are Not You", putting myself in the shoes of an object gives me an interesting perspective. We don't spend enough time being introspective and this exercise allowed me to look at things from a different perspective.

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The objects listed can be connected well to the sensory images as well as the abstract experiences. I find these combinations beautiful as we easily overlook the little things in life.

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The serenity combined with the old couple reminds me of a life full of love.

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Art is so abstract. Even with the most technical drawings, we can interpret something so wonderful within them.

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The light casts a shadow over the dark room.

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The waves are strong yet calm --- like life.

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It reminds me of the strangers we meet and never meet again

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This is my absolute favourite and makes me cry every time.

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Sarah Kay & Phil Kaye - When Love Arrives

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A stranger and their dog playing at Wreck Beach. The sky is cloudy with no particular shape. Footsteps and paw prints line the sands. I hear the calming sounds of the wind and the waves, and laughter. The air smells salty. This is poetic because it instantly reminded me of the song “Brand New Day” by Kodaline featuring Nina Nesbitt. The combination of sounds brings about a feeling of contentment while living in the present for it doesn’t last forever.

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Brand New Day by Kodaline ft. Nina Nesbitt

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Brand New Day by Kodaline ft. Nina Nesbitt

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Brand New Day (feat. Nina Nesbitt) - Acoustic Version

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Brand New Day (feat. Nina Nesbitt) - Acoustic Version

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My sister (left) and me (right) at the beach digging for clams

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I can smell the salty fresh air of the beach in my hometown, Penang Island. I see my parents carrying our toy pails and spades as we head down the beach almost every weekend. I can hear other families also enjoying their time there: laughing. I remember the feel of the coarse sand and the smooth shell of the clams.

One specific detail I go back to is the way we would wash our feet and hands at the end of the day with the water filled in a plastic water bottle that we had packed before we left home. I also remember how the clams would be our dinner that night.

Outside the frame, my parents are also digging up their own clams and teaching us the proper way to do it.

When I close my eyes, I feel a sense of nostalgia; of a memory we used to experience together often in an environment where I felt carefree and young.

A desire that is sparked by the photo is to go back to those days, where I did not have much to worry about. I want to go back to a time where I didn't know as much as I do now. Basically, to be a kid again.

Objects from childhood:
1. Doggy: a soft toy dog that I still have. It is the same one my sister has and I asked for it because my sister got it first. Though they're the same, they look different which is funny to me.
2. Sticker books: my mum would buy us stickers and we would stick them in sticker books and just collect them.
3. The distinct car smell of the lady who would take me home from kindergarten: It just smelled grown-up to me. I can't really describe it right now, but when I smell it, I will be able to point it out.
4. Educational toys: it was yellow and was interactive. It looked like a board and had cards on them. It was very fun and wish I could play it right now just for fun.
5. My 2 little bolsters: they were always considered by baby bolsters. I had it until I moved out. They're so small but I hold them close to my heart because they seem so precious to me.
6. Yellow pacifier: It would calm and comfort me. An embarrassing fact is that I only was able to let go of it on my 7th birthday.
7. PVA glue: We used to watch and read Art Attack together. My mum always had PVA glue in hand whenever we did crafts.
8. Yellow pail: The yellow pail pictured is the one we used to collect clams, but also just to play with water.
9. Orange cat: We had back street cats and my favourite was this dark orange cat. He had a brother we called light orange.
10. Chicken Little shorts: I loved watching Chicken Little and had a shorts with Chicken Little playing baseball on it.

Lyric moment: The feel of the sand and the clams

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Me and my good friend, Claire (right) at her birthday dinner (2021)

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I hear the bustling noise of the Korean restaurant, Ta Bom. It was a late dinner so there were a lot of people eating and drinking around us. The smell of the hot pots and dakgalbi fill my senses. I see the brown, dark interior of the restaurant and 3 of my good friends. When our food came, I could taste every flavour of our food because I was so hungry at that point. It was spicy and savory.

A specific detail that I go back to is my feelings at that moment in time. I was happy. Happy to be celebrating my friend's birthday and surprising her. Happy because I was in a new relationship after 4 years. Everything was perfect in that moment.

Outside the frame, our friends, Andrew and Shade were playing around with Andrew's camera and taking tons of photos so that we can remember this memory.

When I close my eyes, I just remember how different I was back then. I was younger so I knew less. I was also happier.

A desire that is sparked by the photo is to go back to that happier time and hoping I could tell myself what I know now.

Objects:
1. Lots of George Ezra songs: George Ezra has been my favourite artist for the past several years. A very good memory from this point in time is probably listening to his songs very often.
2. Bangs: In the middle of my bang era. It started around that time and it is probably one of my best decisions.
3. The yellow ochre tank top: Pictured. I love this top so much. It made me feel more adult as I have always felt younger than I actually am.
4. Work badge: I was in my first ever co-op term at a biotechnology company. I never thought it would be my first position but I was very proud of myself for making it.
5. SSRI medication: I had recently just started prescription medicine for OCD. It remind me of how I overcame the stigma of medication and decided what was best for me.
6. Flowers: I buy myself flowers from time to time which started during this period of time. I came from Malaysia, so finding flowers in grocery stores isn't a common thing like it is here. I have always loved flowers and I love how accessible it is now.
7. Face mirror: I received the mirror from my friend, Yuna for Christmas. It became my daily staple. I use it when I put on makeup and skincare.
8. Bicycle: I rode my bicycle very often on campus that summer. I had lots of great memories and adventures with it.
9. The sun shining through my window: One side of my room is completely filled with windows. During that time, I used to let the light in all the time and it gave me a sense of happiness.
10. Speaker: This speaker has never failed to bring up my mood. I use it in the shower, when I'm cooking, and when I'm chilling with friends.

Lyric moment: Tasting every flavour of the food

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I tend to focus so much on what is going on in my mind. Day and night pass by so quickly I barely take in the beauty around me. Once I started the Practices of Attention, I start to notice things I and many people tend to overlook because of how focused we are on our goals that exist in our mind. There are many wonderful things in the big and small.

To train my attention to continue to observe my subject, I plan to take 20 minutes a day to enjoy my surroundings and journal what I am grateful for. I want to also notice my feelings more and acknowledge them no matter what they might be.

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When I first sat down, I missed the "background" sounds. Initially, I only noticed the sounds that are immediate to me. The sounds that are related to my thoughts are at the forefront. As I paid more attention to my surroundings, these "background" noises began to emerge.

In the first space, it was definitely harder to focus on these "background" noises. As time goes on, especially in the third space, I found it easy to notice these noises without much effort. It was as if I grew great appreciation for the beauty and simplicity of the noises we tend to filter out in our daily lives.

The differences between the three places would probably be how calm or scattered my mind was when I immersed myself in these surroundings. The Expo Line, supposedly known to be loud and crowded felt calm because of how empty it was. It felt like a juxtaposition. In the home with Lexus, my brain felt more scattered as I had just awaken and started entertaining my early morning thoughts. When watching the sunset, my min was completely calm. The environment certainly influenced how I felt. The fact that it was the end of the day too allowed me to do some reflection of the day itself and about my life.

I found it pleasurable to be able to notice the little things we tend to ignore because of how busy our lives could get. The challenge would probably be able to sit still for so long. I believe it is possibly because it is against habit.