A New Book Of Art And Poetry Collaboration By F A A Artists

Thank you very much, Ed

I would like to thank all featured artists for taking a leap of faith in the collaboration and for their great help that led to the publication of book. I also give a good credit to FAA for providing a good venue of connection with those fine artists around the world.

The book of 356 pages is set at the full preview for the public to enjoy awesome artworks of contemporary artists in the art of photography and the newly invented digital medium. Some of the 14 artists are also painters/sculptors in traditional media. However, the books features only their works in digital medium and in the art of photography.

I hope you would enjoy the book. I appreciate your feedback. Thanks for taking your time to read it.

I am honored to have my work appear in the book, On the Milky Way, along side the original poetry of gifted poet Viet Tran and to be in the company of so many talented artists. This is one of several books in which Viet has colaborated with individual artists to create something beautiful. I deeply appreciate the time it must have taken for him to peruse all my galleries, as well as the thoughtful choices he made. Each poem so perfectly compliments the corresponding image. Somehow Viet magically creates a relationship between each image and each poem similar to that of a beautiful song in which his poem provides the words and the image the music.

My thanks to Viet for all the time and effort he dedicated to the creation of this book. I applaud his accomplishments.

Congratulations all who have been a part of Viet's vision. It is a stunningly beautiful book....V

BRAVO!

Congratulations on your successful collaboration!

Yay!!!!!

Congrats!

@Viet
This is an awesome idea and should be supported by FAA and all members ........... SUPER Viet

I would love to do something like this for Q - the collection, if somebody has time









Gunter Nezhoda - Member of Q - the collection The Elite Online Gallery where published and award winning photographers show their work

Thanks so much, Ed, for jumping in and taking the lead on posting a thread. Viet Tran has dedicated countless hours to promote and be inspired by many faa artists.
I am honored to be in this group.

No problem Marlene... your plate seemed extremely full...

i want to thank Viet for his tireless work in putting together this volume of Art and Poetry... it is my humble honor to be included in this group of talented artist...

My contribution was small, i just gave him my trust and the keys to my portfolio... oh and thanks Viet for including our poetry play on page 117... =>))

Viet has an extraordinary way with words - interpreting images that cuts right to the nature of the intended and unintended artistic vision that each artist created. I am humbled to have been included in his book. Many sincere thanks to you Viet.

Very cool project. You guys are amazing.
I tried to follow the link and it says the book does not exist.

Christopher... what link did you try?

it's there for me...

Congratulations to all FAA artists involved! :)

Many thanks to you all for your kind inputs:

Dale Ford,
Vivian ANDERSON,
Tom Roderick,
Angelina Vick,
Roseann Caputo,
Gunter Nezhodar,
Philip Sweeck,
Marlene Burns,
Fran Riley,
Christopher at CMG Design Studios,
Natalie Holland,
and of course to Ed Meredith for moderating the thread.

Have a good day or night to you all

@ Gunter. Your book looks very charming and characteristic. Would you mind sharing the link to your book preview.

Amazing!!! All of you and your poet publisher. :)))

@Viet,

This is just an image, I didn't do the book yet, I guess I should soon, have plenty of images.
Need to write some stories. Will be most likely fairy tales. Old, "once upon a time" style.
I want the book look like in the image, same paper and binding.

But I also want one for Q - the collection with different photographers.
Wish I had more time .................

bump

Thank you Ed for starting this thread and congratulations Viet for all the hard work you poured into this project that I am happy to be a part of.

What a beautiful book. Congratulations to all.

bump

Thank you
Maria Disley
Richard Rizzo
Magia Gomez

Also thanks to Marlene and Fran for bump some air to the thread (lol)

@ Gunter. I have checked your galleries. I think that you have enough images for a book. It is a very good idea to publish your art with the writing for each image. I'd like to share with you my own experience in publishing books as I have done 12 of them (5 poetry books in my mother tongue and 7 books in English).

IMO, you'd better define your target audience prior to deciding the type of writings and which of your images would go in the book with those writings. I believe that the major target audience of fairy tales are mostly for children who are not mature enough to enjoy the beauty of your photos. I think that as musician, you can allocate your skills to write lyrics that can go with your works.

FYI: I am interested in doing my poetic echoes to your Q - the collection with different photographers. Simply I like the beauty of those images that have been already posted there.
However, I am afraid that it is nearly impossible to coordinate a collaboration that is involved in too many artists around the world. To obtain the rights to use the copyrights of those images for the potential book would take a lot of time and endless headaches. There is no guarantee that those artists would send you their digital image in a resolution high enough for printing hard copies of the book.

Good luck with the book of your own art, Gunter.

bump

HAHAHaaa... Marlene i just logged on and was about to "bump" but you beat me to it.... lol

About featured artist Xoanxo Cespon.

Xoanxo Cespon is a photographer, a digital artist, a painter of traditional media, and a poet.


One of his featured works in the book




Autumn Romance

time
flies so quick
the hot summer's gone
without any notice

another
fall has come
colourful leaves
crushed under our bare feet
o amorous touch!

it doesn't matter
how many more autumns left
for our sweet
romance

I would keep the love for you
deep inside my heart
forever
even
after
my last breath

Thao Chuong
2013-07-27

ed,
i bumped, you get to grind
:::ducking::::

This is a beautiful book!

Hello Cher. Thanks for dropping by. Long time no see.

@Viet

Thanks for the great advice

As of Q, we have featured photographers on the website: http://www.qthecollection.com/

I'm sure some might be interested, if you let me know what you would like to use, I will email them and try to line it up.

bump

What an honour to have my digital work featured in Thao Chuong's latest book "On the Milky Way" alongside other great artists and to have inspired some of his beautiful poetry!!!

Big THANK YOU to you my friend!!!!

I'll try to work on a little video soon, but as you know, rather time constrained lately :-((

An honour and privilege!!! Respect to you my Friend!!!

Double post...

THANK YOU!!!!

And By the Way...

As a Galician Artist who as a pilgrim walked the Camino to Santiago de Compostela back in 1996 and who was born 10 miles from Cape Finisterre...I think he couldn't have chosen a better title for his latest book.

The Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela is said to lie directly under the Milky Way, which guides the Pilgrim to the burial place of Saint James the Apostle. The "nickname" Milky Way goes back well before the time of Saint James when the ancient Celts had their own version of the camino(way/road), following the via lactea(Milky Way) towards the sea at Finisterre (Finis Terrae) the end of the known world, at that time

Thanks for your thread, Ed ....
I'm very proud to be part of the project and can't thank Viet enough for the time and enormous effort he put in this book.

Thank you big time, Viet.

@ Gunter. I'll send you an email and we can discuss about the potential collaboration in details.

Thanks you: Xoanxo and Christine.

I am going to post some artworks of featured artists for those artists who don't have time to preview the book to enjoy the beauty and the diversity in the art of photography and that digital medium. Thanks for your preview.

Awesome Viet, thanks

Xoanxo Cespon is an amazing photographer
Here is one of his featured photos




Blurred Reflection

glazing sun
sapphire sky
wandering cloud
flying birds
all
fallen down
drowned
in aqua water

looking at
the blurred reflection
of my lost love
sunken
to the bottom
o my lonely ocean
I�m
wondering
why she has torn my world apart
on such a bright day

why?

Thao Chuong
2013-07-27

@ Gunter. I'm sorry that I couldn't send mail to you from my faa email account. My faa email account has been still inactive since my last ban from FAA forum. It hasn't yet been reactivated. It is out of my own dirty hands (lol). It is clearly a matter that only a FAA moderator could deal with it. I hope one of them will be able to solve this tiny issue.

So I'll will send mail to you as a visitor from your faa portfolio, please send your reply directly to my personal email address. I am sorry for any inconvenience. Have a good night.

photobygunter@yahoo.com

Thanks Gunter. Done.
It is much better - less bureaucratic.

"grind"

Xoanxo Cespon is an exceptional painter in the media of acrylic and oil. Please visit his FAA portfolio and enjoy his abstract paintings

Urban Congestion

modern man�s crowded
in congested shelters
made of steel and concrete
like sardines
packed
in little
cans

black crows
watch from utility wires
mockingly call and laugh at men compacted in those small pigeon boxes
then freely take off into the blue sky
high
up

Thao Chuong
2013-07-25

I have been a fan of Xanaxo since coming to FAA! It's fascinating to see through his eyes! Viet, I love that poem. The crows mimic my thoughs.

In addition to being a gifted poet, Viet creates magnificent collages. Here is a sample of his work from the book On the Milky Way:

@ Fran and Dale. Thank you for your warm words and for posting one of my collage. Have a restful day.

.

Xoanxo is also a poet of dream and romance

Here is one of his poems in the series of 15 poems which were published in the book "On The Wings O' Butterflies" -a collaboration of poetry of nine artists who are also poets

Butterfly Dream Four

Morning sweet,
Notes of his guitar�
They fly like butterflies,
Soft and tender sounds�
Do to me what you must!
Invade my heart,
Bring me back to life.

Embrace me if I�m sad,
But if I wear a smile�
Invite me for a dance.
Notes of his guitar�
Stay with me all night�
Caress me like a child�
Soft and tender sounds,
Do to me what you must!

Xoanxo Cespon

The following is Xoanxo's artist statement:


"The best definition I was ever given of myself was from my good friend Aziz that once said to me "You are what makes this moment possible". I like that!!! From that view is how I aim to collaborate with my emotions, circumstances, surroundings, when living my life. My contribution in the creation of Art works do not differ on how I approach social relations or any other type of interaction. Sometimes, instinctively, spontaneously, in collaboration with my surroundings, often responding to how they behave in an impulsive, emotional or unconscious way, but sometimes with premeditation and intention to manipulate or to serve my own needs, wants or desires. The process of creating leads me often to disappear as an idea where time ceases to exist and conflicts completely vanish, it is then, when I truly feel I have become "one" with the "moment"...I realise that the works I help creating are the results of my collaboration with many other factors which are completely out of my control and my own contribution does not always follow a reasoned or logical process of thought.:" By Xoanxo Cespon

bump

Good morning, Marlene.
You've grilled Ed this time! Maybe, he is grinding his teeth now (lol)

Featured artist Viktor Savchenko

Viktor has great eyes, a sense of humor, and a provoking mind. He often captures those instant moments of nature and that of humans in his art of photography. Please visit his portfolio to appreciate his photos



Warning: Adults only - Viewer discretion is advised





Shadows In Dark Alleys

dancing light
from lampposts
ploughs deep wrinkles on her fatigued face
the girl runs her own business
at dim corners
of city side streets
or in dark alleys

she offers full services
cozy companionship
emotional support
exotic touch
and more...
right onsite
for both the lonesome singles
and the married with cold wives
not in hot bed for many months

her customers are strangers
looking for a quick solution to their serious problems at home
in cheap sex
right on city streets
at night

Thao Chuong
@2013-07-30 (revised)

I just clicked on the image of the book in Ed's first post and found this message:

"The book you're looking for can't be found. It may have been deleted or removed from public view. If you think you've reached this page in error, please check the link and try again."

This is the first time that has happened. I wonder what's up? Is anyone else having this experience?

Thanks Dale. I have just checked. When I clicked on the link. It asked if I wanted to go to the Canadian site. I clicked on the "No Thanks", then it took me to the book preview.

When I try it, Viet, I am not given any options. It only says,

"The book you're looking for can't be found. It may have been deleted or removed from public view. If you think you've reached this page in error, please check the link and try again."

Hi Dale. I have just tried again. I works fine ! Very odd indeed! There would be a ghost that led me to the book preview! (lol)

@Ed. Would you mind trying the link to see if it works for you? Thanks.

Warning: Adults only - Viewer discretion is advised





Love Portion No. 9

she's hot
not only when she sways
in salsa
or lambada
but also in freezing winter

no way for him to ignore the intense heat
raging inside himself
she's really like a rampant fire
burning
down
everything on its path
the sky
the land
the ocean
the whole universe
all are in flame at once

she�s truly sexy
her beauty blinds every man's heart and mind
impossible to turn his eyes away from her soft curves
she drives his soul into the sins of love
he worships her evermore
on his holy altar
he offers himself
a slave of her
forever

Thao Chuong
2013-06-25

i just tried all the links and they worked for me...

On The Milky Way | Make Your Own Book

http://www.blurb.com/b/4651744-on-the-milky-way?ce=blurb_ew&utm_source=widget

Good morning Ed and Marlene. Thanks for posting the link and the bump. Nice day to you!

@ Ed. You would scare a lot of kids and spoil their fun night of Halloween, my friend (lol).

The Kiss

salty,
astringent,
and condensed fluid
leisurely
rolled on his tongue
an exotic taste from her stringy lips
slowly
absorbed
into his desiccated throat
and an eccentric feeling
flooded
inside his heart

he has read
in his high-school textbooks
about this intimate mating instinct
of Adam
and Eve

but it was
the first time
he tried this sexual act
he really enjoyed bizarre impact
o the sensual kiss

Thao Chuong
2012-08-29

I guess Blurb has something personal against me because I can't get these links to work.

Here's a link that does work for me in case anyone else out there is having a problem:

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/invited/3840775/6cc25acf7abf159b1684d3f00cffe2f890a84b0f


PS @Ed, I just realized you posted a link under the picture of the book. That link works, too. Clicking on the picture doesn't.

Thanks for the link Dale. Have a nice day

Gimmi Some Lovin

She displays her product
in flesh and bone
days and nights
at a busy intersection
in an area
well-known by the city police
endless cars and pedestrians passing by

Nobody pays attention to
her fine art
exhibited
for sale

Feeling
deserted
and ignored
she wishes if someone would make
a quick stop
looking at her awesome nude
making a dreadful comment about her over-makeup
giving a dirty look
or a bad rap at her desperate plead for companionship
she's really hungry
for any dammed critique
from the public
whether good
or bad

Why ignore her, folks?
give the best shot
straight from your mind
won't you?

Thao Chuong
2012-03-07

The following is Viktor's artist statement:

My education background is in civil engineering. Yet, I am also addicted to art. Computer software and digital camera provide me with excellent tools for exploring my artistic skills and fulfilling my dream of being a contemporary artist.
I remember of those happy and easy years of my childhood and youth, as I was born to a good family. I was lucky to grow up smart with the confident feeling as if I could have flied high in the blue sky for my achievement in technology and art. The move from Ukraine to California was a major change in my life. Now as an artist at the age of 62, I consider myself a controversial person. I don’t trust any institutions until I see the proof. I am passionate in what I am doing. I do exhibition of my art in galleries and on internet.
I know I always keep my steadiness as long as my two feet are on the ground. However, I wonder how I could balance myself in my flight into the sky of the creative process.

By Viktor Savchenko

Featured artist Richard Rizzo

Richard is a painter, a photographer, and a digital artist





An Unsung Hero
(In the memory of 58,159 U.S. soldiers who devoted their lives for freedom against the Communist Block - Soviet Union; China, and North Vietnam - during Vietnam War)

You were from the United States - other side of Pacific Ocean
the country of freedom
of modern cities and skyscrapers
of Statue de la Libert� holding the torch of flame.

You left behind your loved ones
the pregnant wife
�n one year old child just learning how to talk
you gave up your peaceful life
full of convenience and comfort
came here to fight the bloody war against
those heartless evils
the cold-blooded North Vietnamese communists
and their masters in Beijing �n Moscow
full of feudal ideology
to paint the whole world
Red.

You held the symbol of freedom
stripes and stars on your flag
against the red hammer and sickle
icon of totalitarianism �n dictatorship.

You were under attacks
by tropical heat, mosquitoes, bugs, flies
�n camouflaged guerrillas with hit-and-run tactic
communist terrorists cowardly trapped with TNT explosives
detonated themselves as live bombs
for suicide attacks at crowded markets, theatres, coffee shops,
nightclubs, trains, buses, �n school yards
killed their own people: children, civilians, and innocent victims
just to take your live away.

My American friend - the unsung hero
you were no longer here but still rested peacefully in my heart
I lost my country
became driftwood
in exile.

We lost the battle but won the war
Our fight had never been wasted
it led to the collapse of Soviet Union
and shattered forever
the fanatical delusion
the communists' pipe dream
O Red globalization.

Now you could rest in peace
and smile
at last.

Thao Chuong
2008-11-08

Hey well done every body!! Viet there does seem to to be an issue with the link "The book you're looking for can't be found. It may have been deleted or removed from public view. If you think you've reached this page in error, please check the link and try again. "

The problem with the link seems to be intermittent...

The preview link does not seem to work the first time tried... however the blue "On the Milky Way" link just below the book image works and once you have linked in to the book's page the preview link in the image seems to work just fine...
Sorry but it's a Blurb glitch...

so please link on the book title in BLUE below the image.

Such beautiful words, Viet. Truly inspiring and moving.

Thank you Jason, Ed, and Roseann. Have a nice day

@ Jason: Sorry for the inconvenience. I am trying to re-upload another copy of the book and will post a new link if it works
@ Ed. It is likely a problem on Blurb Site. I have just notified Blurb's Technical support to see if they can help sort it out.

Artist Richard Rizzo has extraordinary imagination and amazing skills of expressing himself or capturing the beauty of environment around him. Please visit Richard�s faa portfolio to enjoy his wonderful digital art and his art of photography





Quantum Leap

the frog�s
huge jump
from an old pond
onto a techno lily pad
man achieves his materialistic progress
but loses ancient spirits
and mystical
folklores

his olden world
of wonders
has
totally
vanished

what could modern man gain
in his quantum
leap?

Thao Chuong
2011-09-07

The Doomsday

endless generations of doomsday sayers
have been washed away
by the waves
of time

like many other deadlines
the last doomsday 12-12-21
was
already
doomed

not a drop of my sweat
spilled
on that day
today
the earth
is
still
fully intact

I keep strolling my damned ass around
on this weary world

isn�t life
too short to be wasted
now and then
in the nonsense
cosmophobia

Thao Chuong
2012-12-22

bump

'n' grind

Thanks Ed. I got my hard copy today. Artworks look very beautiful and much better than they look on the screen.

Tranquil Seclusion

sitting
on a soft cushion
in a quiet room
utterly
quiet
except
the trickling sound of water
running down
from a small fountain

aroma
of burning incense
filling in cool
air

he slowly inhales deep, deeper, deepest
deeps
into fullness
then he exhales
completely deflated to emptiness

eyes closed
he�s consciously aware of
each
breath

�til he reaches mindfulness of his own
self

Thao Chuong
2012-04-29

Two Red Deck Chairs

the sun�s glazing
in the high ceiling of blue sky
it's hot
and humid

a perfect day
to be
in bikini
or naked
for sunbath
and a nice dip
in the swimming pool

it�s abnormally quiet
no sound of splashing and giggling
no one is around
only two red chairs abandoned on the deck
and their reflection in aqua blue water

another foreclosure has just been added
to the endless list
o American�s
broken
dream

Thao Chuong
2013-07-18

Portal To Peace

I
do
need both
love and peace
her soft curves for my lonely heart
and the Buddha's enlightenment for my still mind

I
could
find her
amongst the crowd
in any big city

yet
I could not meditate at an intersection of two busy streets
where
she would wait
for me

I
cannot
have both
I must leave the portal to peace for Buddha
and keep the troublesome world
of mine
for her
only

Thao Chuong
2013-07-18

Richard's Artist Bio

Richard Rizzo has been creating art since his earliest years. He witnessed the art culture scene while living in the NYC area during the 1960's. It has had an essential impact on his expression and artistic style. He has worked with different media including traditional painting mediums and photography.�

Richard has been self-employed in the decorative arts as a muralist and faux finisher for more than 20 years in both NC and Florida. He has worked with many top designers and fellow artisans.�His interest in styles varies but mostly he enjoys minimalist and modern art.�

Digital art has become his most creative interest in recent years. Richard has experimented different styles and digital techniques to transform his imaginative visions into creative reality. He constantly looks toward the future in the contemporary art.

By Richard Rizzo

About featured artist Philip Sweeck

Philip Sweeck is a photographer, a digital artist, and a philosophical poet.





Sex, Drug, and Street Art

economical sex
in dark alleys
providing a lukewarm moment for men
having cold wives
or in serious domestic disputes
while cheap narcotics
injecting relief to cool down unruly minds
of those troublesome guys
dragging their life
on city streets

contemporary fine art
displayed
on boulevards
serving no purpose
other than
polluting spotless eyes and poisoning pure minds
of those religious addicts
and social radicals

not only
do they object to sex, drug and fine art
they�re also against
everything
not falling
under
their conservative realm

Thao Chuong
2012-04-19

The Journey

no way back
no escape route
on a one way street
man takes his journey
to both outer universe and inner self

in the fourth dimension
nothing lasts
past has gone
future would have never come
present is moving fast
man is in haste on his feet to catch the instant
time washes him
to the unknown

Thao Chuong
2013-06-28

Hi Viet... happy to hear about the quality of the hard copy, anxiously waiting for mine to be delivered...

Your links are still not working. Tried the one up top, the one from the book, and the one in the thread. Error message pops up that says what I'm looking for can't be found.

@ Alexandra: Did you try this one? It still works for me.


http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/invited/3840775/6cc25acf7abf159b1684d3f00cffe2f890a84b0f

Sorry but there is nothing i can do about the link in the book image; "Preview", in the Opening Post... because of the 24 hour limit on editing posts...

However the link in blue under the book image; "On The Milky Way" does work for me ... please start there.

Hi Ed. Your B&W photos look very sharp in hard copy, except your grainy portrait. Anyhow you looked very young and handsome.

@ Alexandra. Sorry your the inconvenience. I have notified Blurb's customer service about the technical issue with the book preview. I was told that it will be solved soon.

@ Dale. Does the new discount code work for you? Please send me an email, if you still have problem with the 30% off discount code.

Have a restful weekend to you, all

Behind Darkness

behind
the twilight of nightfall
was another layer
of darkness
no light
where the sun
drowned
into
a tsunami of tidal waves
came from nowhere
washed everything away
sunken
in quicksand

she was gliding
into the unknown
left
nothing
but her mortal mask of deadly love
and poisonous
romance

I�m
somewhat
hopeless
awaiting for the sun
to come back
maybe
for another day
or never
again

Thao Chuong
2013-07-05

"@ Dale. Does the new discount code work for you? Please send me an email, if you still have problem with the 30% off discount code."


Viet, I gave up on it. I paid full price for the book. It has arrived and is worth every penny.
Thanks,
Dale

Thanks Dale!

Glad that you enjoy it. Have a nice day.

Rude Awakening
Off Love (song lyrics)

you shot me down
you hanged me dry
your tore me out
you cut me apart
you took it all
nothing left from me for your deception
no more of me for your exploitation

o my damned love
you�ve drained quite well
no more for you
so go away
leave me alone

don�t take the ball from my homerun
don�t pull your strings from my shoes
don�t tie your rope around my throat
don�t kick your chair from my feet

I have no more to offer you
I'm drained
I'm empty

no more of you
no more of you

I don�t need your sneaky fingers
I don�t need your icky tongue
I don�t need your striking breasts
I don�t need your sexy thighs
I don�t need your mystic triangle
I don�t need your snaky body
I don�t need your dirty sex

no more of you
no more of you

I don�t need your psycho mind
I don�t need your sneaky thoughts
I don�t need your cold blood
I don�t need your deceiving words
I don�t need your frozen heart
I don�t need your putrid soul
I don�t need your smart ass

I have no more to offer you
I�m drained
I�m empty

return my heart
return my mind
return my soul
return my life
so go away
leave me alone
alone�
alone�

in my own hell
alone
alone

in my own hell
alone
alone

Thao Chuong
2013-06-30

Adieu

a cold night
Gare de Lyon (*)
hidden in the mist
Paris� lights
in blurred colours
opaque cloud
floated inside mournful eyes
fallen dews onto trembled hands
no need for millions of words
two lovers
in absolute silence

adieu
adieu
adieu
the tempest
flooded sombre hearts

I stood there
�til you were entirely vanished into dense fog
autumn leaves
buried a lone soul
in Paris

adieu
adieu
adieu mon amour

Thao Chuong
2013-07-05

(*) Paris' Lyon Train Station

Artist Philip Sweeck's bio


I am a freelance photographer and artist living and working in Belgium.

My work is an exploration that turns me as creator and observer simultaneously inwards and outwards, to the objective and subjective world of places and the memories that they contain.

The evocative image to me is an expression and experience of both states and I aim to make images and photographs which do not only illuminate the subjects framed but also cast a light or spell on the picture, and the image within the picture, as being the subject itself from which a world of memory radiates and is set free.

I turn to the world of symbols, dreams and hidden meanings as much as to the world of surface, form and clarity. I find inspiration in the equilibrium between those two, between surfaces and symbols, the real and the surreal. Between the natural and the artifact, the universal and the personal.

By Philip Sweeck

About featured artist Marlene Burns


Marlene Burns is a painter of traditional media. She is well-known for her bold colours and design in abstracts. Yet, the book only featured her photography and her painting hybrid (which she calls p HOTography)





The Life Cycle

young leaves on green canopy
tango with the breeze
under sunlight
in bright
spring
time

autumn
wind blows
dead leaves on streets
washed away by rainfall
trapped in stormdrains
rotten

while
enjoying fame and glory
does man
ever
expect
he would face the same fate of autumn leaves
someday
pretty soon
in his own downfall

Thao Chuong
2013-07-15

Thank you so kindly for highlighting my photography in this thread!
I make no claims to be a photographer....a fauxtographer mebbe...lol

Good morning Marlene. Your artistic eyes and magic hands can turn everything into art. What I like about your photography is that you have captured the beauty of unnoticeable or unexpected elements in the environment around you. Your participation has certainly enhanced the diversity and the value of the book. Thank you Marlene. Have a peaceful week.

You are most kind, Viet.....
My mantra is "make the mundane, sacred...."

a "fauxtographer"
Marlene, you are too modest and too funny.

pssst....Dale....I only use an iPhone.....

Marlene,
What really stands out for me in your photo is the layering of objects and light. Apart from the leaves having real depth under the drain, everything else is flat but you have managed to give it depth, like there's a space between the shadows and the ground. I feel the texture in that strip of usually unnoticed, cement. Interesting too! :)

Maria, You are so kind, but honestly, it was just there for the taking!

@Marlene, So you're more of a phonetographer. Whatever you use, you create magic.

now that you mention it, Dale, I have seen the term "iPhonographer"
I only use my real camera for shooting my paintings.

Thanks for your interesting dialogue - Dale, Maria, and Marlene.


I also like Marlene's sense of humor and her nice style in communication.






Butt Collector

he calls himself
an environmental populist
and a professional butt collector
but
for his own safety
he never collects buttocks
even though
he really loves those alluring bumps

so
he only recycles cigarette litter
scattered
outside of buildings
on parking lots and street pavements
around park benches
before they take their joy rides in romantic rains
flowing into storm drains
to streams, rivers,
and beaches

he would never understand the reason
why
those guys
always carelessly discard cigarette butts
into public urinals

it�s bad
for the environment and also for his lungs
as they�re tougher to salvage
take much longer to dry
and harder to light
and nearly impossible for him to inhale
the ammoniac smell of those
urine tainted
butts

Thao Chuong
2012-08-30

viet, help! the dimensions got goofy when you enlarged...it should be a horizontal collage!!

look down then look up . lol

Sorry Marlene

I did it in a hurry while waiting for my flight. I am now waiting for my next flight. Have a good night.

No apology necessary...your image did make my butts look big! lol
travel safely!

I just returned from trip to the Sequoia National park and discovered this amazing tread about unique collaboration FAA artists of many genres.
At first, thanks for such wonderful alloy of words and images to Viet Tran (poetic name is Thao Chuong !)
Those words of lyric add incredibly to the each image and became not simple description but opened the soul of image.
I think it is one of the best examples how FAA artists can cooperate and produce art on an extremely emotional level.

@Victor who said of Viet's poetry " (it) became not simple description but opened the soul of image".

Victor, you have found such a poetical way to express how Viet's poems compliment each image in the book..

Another from Marlene and useful here =)

What an honor and thrill to be part of this creative collaboration! Also to be among some of the finest artist here on FAA, thank you Viet for giving me this awesome opportunity, what a wonderful gift of heart. I hope it gives you much success!!

hehe Fran...that's exactly why I made that diptych!! lol

Hi Marlene,
I never comment on an image to be kind :))))
'Maria, You are so kind, but honestly, it was just there for the taking!'
But the fact that you didn't even try with this one makes me think you have a fantastic eye for composition! A natural, at least in this case.

ok, ok, i have a good eye for composition....I learned from the best...I spent my teen years walking around with a cardboard frame, looking at the world....apparently, it paid off.

i received my hard copy of the book today� beautifully bound and printed, everyones art looks wonderful and Viet's poetry as expected is awesome�
Again thanks to Viet for his work in pulling this all together� and producing this beautiful book of images and poetry.

Sorry Marlene that comment looked a bit brash..that wasn't the intended tone. I love the image of you walking around with your cardboard frame :))) Whether your images were due to serendipity or planned they are wonderful explorations...that I always spend time looking at and trying to work out, and so explorative for the viewer too. IMO :)

ohno, i didn't take it the wrong way at all, Maria!
oh happy weekend!!
xxoxox

Thank you Viktor, Dale, Julie, Maria,.

@ Ed. Glad to hear that you like the hard copy.

@ Marlene. I�m back home. Sorry for delaying your feature.







Who's The Idiot In A Road Rage?

stuck on a fast lane
highly frustrated
by a vehicle running slowly
in front of his car
he blasted the horn
swerved to other lane
rolled window down
pointed his middle finger at other diver
he shouted
"fuck you... idiot!"
then laughed
and sped away
he felt very relaxed
having his peaceful moment back

at the parking lot of a shopping mall
he happily whistled
stepped out of his car
he suddenly felt a violent blow at his face
lay on cold asphalt
he heard a pitiless roar
"fuck you...
idiot!"

Thao Chuong
2012-04-05

A Leap O Heart

lured
by your beauty
and innocence
dreaming of a joyful time
in romance
I close
my eyes
tight

no
hesitation
I plunge into the sapphire ocean of love
and fully enjoy the thrilling feelings
during my free fall
without caring about
what waiting
for me
when
reaching
the bottom
of your heart

Thao Chuong
2013-06-28

Corroded Routine in Life

after taking their hen for a morning walk
all roosters have been back
for a busy day
of scratching dirt
their corrosive routine
in a world
unchanged

sizzling summer heat
12 o� clock
at noon
lunch is ready
but you�re still
barbecuing
yourself
in bed
probably in a sweet dream
from last night fine wine
and exotic
sex

you�ve
already missed
the first cup of coffee
your morning ritual
and a day
at work
but isn�t it great for a breakaway
from the habits of keeping
your boring
routine
daily

Thao Chuong
2013-07-15

American Dream

American dream came true
only superpower left
after the Cold War
the almighty U.S.A
fantasy of sleepwalkers from around the world.

American dream
of those good old days
paradise on earth
in the heart of capitalism
powerful US Dollar: "In God We Trust"
high living standard of luxury
comfy lives
on top of the world
streets used to be paved with gold

American people
always
got much more
for working
a lot
less.

American dream today is but
the illusion
of drinking Cappuccino coffee with non caffeine
eating MacDonald�s big Macs with zero fat
and Kentucky�s chicken wings sans cholesterol
eating more but weightless.

American Dream today
of having a roof on their heads
enough food on tables
all bills could be paid
decent healthcare for their sudden sickness
going shopping at Walmart for despicable merchandises from China
without rough competition
with billion starving Chinese
ready for extremely hard labour work
just for couple of bucks a day.

Americans are dreaming of getting back on their feet
jacking up the mighty U.S. Dollar on track
in sweat
and hard labour
they must trust.

Thao Chuong
2011-02-02

Thank you so much!
I loved your take on my image that matched American Dream!
And road rage....wow! My fave!!!!!

And, leap of heart. You got my message! The painting is called broken heart!

I've been out of the loop for a while -- family issues and whatnot -- but just wanted to pop in and thank Viet for including some of my photography in the book and for overseeing this massive endeavor. I'm thrilled to be in the company of such elite artists and I love the poems that Viet paired with my work. It's an amazing thrill to see a photograph I've taken be the inspiration for Viet's gorgeous poetry. Bravo to everyone involved in the book!

Gorgeous purples in photograph 137, Marlene.

Thank you, a very old painting, sold 15 years ago in Sausalito with a companion painting as well....it was the beginning of my drip period

@ Maria. Thanks for your input

@ Marlene. Thanks Marlene. Your participation in this collaboration has enhanced the diversity of the book. However, the book only features the art of photography and digital art. Therefore, it doesn't show the best of your skills and talent: your unique style in traditional media.

@ Deborah. Thank you for being part of the collaboration.

Have a restful weekend to all

A Forgotten Hero
(Tribute to those American Veterans who survived the Vietnam War)


On a raining day
gusty wind
drove watery needles
against the weary face of a homeless man
he sat motionless
looked at runaway water
and coughed

His foggy mind
filled with nightmares
from the past living hell
in places with strange names
Khe Sanh, Da Nang, Loc Ninh
Saigon, Quinhon

After the war
the soldier came home in one piece
but many of his combat comrades
from the same squad became handicapped
others returned in body bags
some were missing in action
in tropical forests of the foreign country
far away

Many unsung heroes
like him
totally forgotten by their own people
still lived in nightmares
the war
syndrome
punctured their hearts.
turned their lives upside down

They found
themselves as aliens wandering
in their own
country

infinite sleepless nights
sudden flashbacks
and hallucinations
kicked them off normal living rhythms
Some burned their lives
in alcohol and drugs
others committed suicide

The lone Vietnam War veteran has
dragged himself
for a couple of years
on side-streets of big cities

On the rainy Friday night
he sat
motionless
on a garbage-strewn alley
muttered nonsense words
and yawned

Some drunken young guys
in their early twenties
stopped by to pee
laughed, shouted, and swore at him
“get the fuck out of here
get a job and a life, old man”

Thao Chuong
2013-07-17

Viet, I am honored to be apart of yet another one of your collaborations!

Senor Viet, Thank you for sharing us Marlene stunning works

I wish to ask permission in downloading some of your collage, let my student see how a good collage can be done. like this one:

@ Marlene.Thanks

@ Saigon. Please feel welcomed to download any of my collages fro your students. Please note that I have used painting techniques to create those collages with 100% of small pieces of colors ripped or cut from recycling magazines. Unlike many other artists who do collages. I don't apply oil, acrylic, or any other media on my collages. I hope your students would enjoy the unconventional type of my paper collages.

Have a great day

Artist�s Statement of featured artist Marlene Burns


I am a professional abstract expressionist specializing in large paintings. In 2011, I began to photograph abstract compositions found in the city streets. It was no surprise that the photographs closely resembled my paintings. I roamed construction sites, utility facilities, and playgrounds in various cities, building a sizable body of work.

I consistently use traditional elements of good design, but set some rules aside to take bold risks in my creative process. I pair my photographs with my paintings to create innovative hybrid images. The series is titled, "p HOTography."

I understand that an artist sees the world through a different window. I feel obligated to report what I see. With my photography, I have found beauty in what is usually overlooked. I realize that adding photography to my portfolio has shed new light on my life�s work by infusing it with great energy.

By Marlene Burns

Here are some of Marlene's awesome paintings:

I am blushing!

Viet, I appreciate even moreso than I did before the talent of your collages as I am having to produce and research in my art unit the work of collage and detournement. A real talent!

@ Marlene. Thank you again for your participation in the book
@Maria. I appreciate your feedback. Good luck with your formal training in art.

I'd like to thank artist Vivian Anderson for introducing and connecting me to artist Lin Haring. I was very impressed by Ms. Haring's talent through her series of black and white photos and by her professionalism in communication during this collaboration. It is very fortunate to have her photography featured in the book.






Right There

adults often don�t pay their attention
to the simple fact
they could easily
find the truth
right there
in every
na�ve
child


the more
insight
they gain from an increasing knowledge
of their inner selves
and outer universe
the further
away
they're drifted from the truth

wisdom is but
the worst enemy of innocence
and the doomsday
of an adult�s
mind

Thao Chuong
2013-07-20

She Waits Yet

she has waited for his rendezvous
on the vacant street
in a deserted city
for endless
hours

time has slowly passed by
she patiently waits for the ride
on her getaway
out of
town

she expects
he would come
in any minute
to pick her up for his sweet drive
on a freeway
of love

time�s gradually frozen
she�s buried in the long wait
it has become surreal like in a bad dream
he hasn't come yet

alone
and deserted
she still waits desperately
in nothingness

Thao Chuong
2013-07-21

Man's Ephemeral Asylum

man comes to this place
on his living trip
like a traveller stops
overnight
at a cheap motel
on roadside
for
a shower
a bed
some rest
next morning
he departs and never comes back without leaving any trace

he may reach his final destination
or he might do the same at a luxury hotel
until the last stop of his trip

man's journey in life is much
shorter
than
a blink of an eye

who
knows
anything could happen
he might be ended up in the holy hands of his God for a new beginning
or he could rest forever
somewhere
in an unknown
world

Thao Chuong
2013-07-22

A Cold Breeze

The breeze rattled
my open window
The blinds spoke
their rattled words
...from the chilling wind� . .. . . . .

But the words were lost
...blown away
Lost for another day
Lost in our cold
Lost in our dismay!

Was this a yesterday?
or still today?
When a different breeze had called
A vortex had come to say
upon an open window
To call our minds away�

Where people lay
Waiting in their sleep
For answers, truths
of this sorrowed, desolate day
When the night was all
the people held
Where words could never speak
Never say
This was the hell
Of all their days!

The winds were strong
So very, very strong
The tyrant wind of growing seas
They blow in the midst of oceans swells
and boiling seas
The oceans breath...

We feel

We know

This was the breath

That we all breathed!


�Jason Christopher 2013
13th November 2013


http://www.dec.org.uk/

Good morning Jason. Thanks for sharing your poem. I love it. Have a nice day

Degrees Of Separation


he was
so close to her heart
in their cozy marriage
for many years

now
no longer
the ideal man
whom she first met
and fell
in love

blown away
by the wind of time
under his gentle mask
gradually revealed
an ugly face

exposed
on her tranquil bed
foul smell of the brutal devil snoring
night by night

they’re
so near
right here
within a hand’s reach
but very far away
in two completely separated worlds

Thao Chuong
2013-04-28

Always Love 4. Ever

let's
chill our minds in ice
set our hearts on fire
dance in scorching rhythms
and howl like wolves in the wild

until
the sky's fallen
the sun gets cold
the world comes to its end

you
and I
are fully burnt into
ashes

Thao Chuong
2013-06-1

An echo to Jason's poem A Cold Breeze


Another Day

the sun starts shining on sharp blades of grass
its pale rays crawl on frosty glass
colourful leaves are falling off
dancing in the morning breeze
leaving most trees
nearly
naked

I could feel the chill
from a cold draft
blowing against my face
I could clearly hear
mourning sounds
of a black crow
echoed through a single panel window of the living room

another day
has just come
into my little den
I feel so lucky
to be safe and sound
I am extremely happy
to hear my heartbeats
and be able to draw
those vigorous breaths

I
would
definitely not
expect anything else

it�s more than enough
for my
entire
life

Thao Chuong
2013-11-15

Pour le Moment Noir

confused
and intoxicated in the night
his long-time lover left him for another man
he strolled around
solo
silently counted his wearing steps
pounding on empty streets
of the quiet town
late at 2 a.m.

in a bus-stop shelter
a young couple giggled, kissed,
and moaned in dim light
an over make-up working girl
leaned against the lamppost
waved her hand and asked him
for a cigarette
then companionship

at first
he hesitated
but changed his mind just in a minute
as he thought of human touch, and sex
or whatever she could offer
for his vast emptiness
without his lover
in the first unbearably lonesome night
by himself
alone.

Thao Chuong
2012-02-17

Confinement O Darkness (chained senryu)

pale light from lamppost
ploughs through her exhausted face
slashing lonely heart

hard beats of rock 'n roll
echoed from a late night pub
hit her loneliness

rain striking on streets
at monotonous rhythms
yawning sleepy mood

cars splashing water
on her soggy messy hair
she feels deserted

waits on empty street
for hopeless companionship
working girl at night

Thao Chuong
2010-09-16

The Road I'm Takin'

miles
and miles
to the infinite horizon
many paths to different directions

does it really matter?
whichever road I'm takin'

whether
I keep
going ahead
strolling around
sailing over the seven seas
crossing vast land of many countries
or taking a long journey into never-ending universe

someday
sooner or later
every road leads me to a blind valley
without exit
no way
back


I�d rather go with the flow of my day
and enjoy the best of each instant
before it�s too late to regret
at my final
rest

Thao Chuong
2013-07-20

Time Gone By

dark
shadow
o the past
impossible to turn back
no point to regret

fragile
moment
of the present
in fast-moving speed
hard to catch the essence
o today

fancy
dream
of the future
in non-existence
always
unknown

regardless
which path one takes
time keeps dancing forward
at its own
rhythm

it�s neither too late nor too soon
for a man to enjoy each breath of his living
at any instant
passed

same destination for his fate
after the last breath
time flies away
nonstop

why wait?
for what?

Thao Chuong
2013-07-19

Tangled On The Cobweb Of Love

she's
blaming
moaning
lamenting
howling, crying
and mourning in pain
her heart is dying
she has been in distress for many sleepless nights
thinking of suicide to end her unbearable torment

she's suffered
from what a lost love is
yet she couldn't comprehend
what love is lost
as she has never had it
at very beginning
in a relationship
just for fun
and sex

he left a vacuum in her entire life
her needs can no longer be met
her desperate feeling of being
worshipped
cared for
adored
is now totally ignored
by him - the lover
trickster.

alas
he's
heartless
and careless
why is she still suffered for
nothing?

Thao Chuong
2013-05-23

page by page, poem by poem, image by image....you are presenting wonderment!

Thank you very much for your nice comment, Marlene.

Lin Hary is a photographer who captures the soul of her subject. I love the simplicity of her photography. Each of her photo carries a message that she intends to convey. She successfully draws attention of her viewers to her message and generates a strong feeling in them. After viewing her fine images, who could still deny that photography is not fine art?

I am very thankful to have her participation in the book. Have a peaceful day to all

Milky Way is our Galaxy presenting a millions of lonely stars and constellations of stars.
Milky Way also a book of poems representing artists of different genres united by rhythms of words and images.

Hi Viktor. Nice to hear from you.You are photographer of humanity, of love, of exotic intimacy, and of humor. I enjoy your artistic photos. Thanks, my friend.

Lin Haring�s art statement


Freelance photographer Lin Haring�s �studio� is the street. There, she explores isolation/connectivity in both organic and inorganic subjects, sharing with us the vignettes she sees, while leaving room for, and encouraging, our own unique, and often very different interpretations.

Although sometimes creating art more surreal in nature with photo-editing software, Lin largely shoots documentary style, from which she departs only to give emphasis to the clarity of the feeling and mood conveyed more than the specifics of the subject. She captures scenes exactly as she happens upon them; a process which has revealed to her what she calls �a certain holiness� in the common and everyday �just as it is�.

Lin sees art in both soothing and unsettling images, and hopes one not only feels, but also thinks, and can move from �sympathy� and/or judgmental evaluation to a more present �empathy� when viewing her more evocative works. (written by Lin Haring)

The Art of Photography

as a wildlife lover
I enjoy wandering in the woods
with my wildlife-chasing dog on the leash
or lying naked by her on a beach towel
in the waist-high grass of an alpine forest
on a quiet sunny day
but not too far away
from our camping
ground

My love for nature is not as dedicated
as that of those wildlife daydreamers
armed with nothing but sophisticated equipment
patiently hiding in dense bushes
hours after hours
ready for close encounters
with bears, cougars, lions, elephants, wolves
just for some best shots

regardless
extreme weather
hot, cold, wet,
in the rain, hurricane, flood, snow, blizzard
or being bitten by annoyingly insects
bees, bugs, flies mosquitoes
by snakes
or dangers of being hurt
by amazingly powerful creatures
in the wild

who dares say?
photography isn�t fine art
with neither skills
nor sweat

Thao Chuong
2012-05-23

The Art of Poetry

kicking
an empty beer can
on an empty street
at midnight
I could clearly hear the clanking noise of metal dragging on asphalt

reading
any poem
I often scratch my bald head
as I easily get lost
in the labyrinth
of confusing words
mysteriously
written
by
poets

Thao Chuong
2013-06-17

Featured artist: Photographer Julie Lueders

As a painter of traditional media of oil, acrylic, water-color, and ink, Julie Lueders has cleverly applied her painting experience and skills into her art of photography. Viewers can recognize her style through the color palette, composition, and movements in her photography. This book only features the art of photography and digital art. So please visit her faa galleries to view many of her beautiful paintings and drawings. Thanks for your time. Enjoy a happy day.








Morning Mist

On a foggy Sunday morning
tiresome rhythm
poured
rancid lullaby
into decomposed heart
deep inside decaying mind

for whom
the downtown cathedral bell
exhaustedly
tolled
in mid autumn

Thao Chuong
2013-08-09

WOW, WOW, WOW!! Tremendous book with talent, talent, talent!

Thank you for your nice comment, Harold. You are also one of very talented artists who are capable of making a living in fine art.

Silence On The Lake Front

he�s
sitting
motionless
looking at the full moon
sunken at the bottom
of misty water
in the quiet
lake

abruptly
a drowning sound�s echoed from afar
then everything has gone back
to its lifeless
silence

he
slowly
inhales the fullness of nature
and focuses on stillness
inside his own
self

Thao Chuong
2013-06-10

Harold! What an amazing portrait!
Viet really like that last poem, the silence is palpable without and within.:))

My goodness, Viet -- do you ever sleep? :-) I'm in awe of your Herculean efforts in producing and promoting this book, touched by your generosity towards "not established" artists, (as well as those who already are) and honored by both inclusion with both the fine works of word and vision in the book and your kind words directed towards me; I am truly humbled on many levels. "Thank you" seems inadequate, but there it is: Thank you.Thank you, sincerely, for all.

@ Maria. Poetry is about words and rhythms. However, silence can only be felt and experienced without using words to describe it. Our ears are constantly overloaded with artificial noises created by human. Therefore, we could enjoy any peaceful moment of silence. Yet, eternal silence in a world without sound could also bring horror to human�s minds as it equals to loneliness and death.

Thank you, Lin. I think there are a lot of hidden dragons and crouching tigers amongst the "not established" artists.

It is always exciting for me whenever I find a shiny piece of gold in the hundred thousands of grains of sands in the faa desert. I am glad to showcase those diamonds in this little book. Have a nice day.

A Lost Soul in Autumn Rain

rain stroke against apartment window panels
crushing flow of grief-stricken tears
tapping sound
pounded
on frosty glass
heavily tedious lyrics

everlasting metallic drops
drummed noisily
on city rooftops
trickled leaping-frog jumps
danced on asphalt streets

overflowed eaves trough
from city high-rise buildings
running away water
flooded forlorn heart

composing
suicide thought
inside lonesome mind

the mouldy soul
fully lost on a soggy day

Thao Chuong
2013-08-08

@Viet, poetry is not just about words and rhythms for me. But, also, I don't think many feelings can ever be fully expressed in words, they never seem enough. We do the best we can and enjoy the experience of trying.

@ Maria. I must agree with all what you've said. It was just a random thought of mine about poetry. Certainly, it could be expressed in a better way.

Just a little something...

Long time no see. Thank you very much for your video, Xoanxo, my friend. It is much more than something. I appreciate your support and your help promoting the book. Have a good day.

Rain, Rain, Rain (Chained Senryu)

lazy sun still sleeps
many days of boring rains
pounds on hollow heart

dull sound on tin roof
endless cavernous rhythm
soggy drowsy rains

miserable sky
the wet blanket of nature
covers trembling dog

wind shakes countless drops
off trees along rural path
dampens morning walk.

Thao Chuong
2010-12-07

Li Po

he threw
his empty jar of wine into fast running water
somewhat intoxicated
the poet cocked his eyes at the moon
in blue starry sky
then slowly turned
his head
down
to the other moon
drowned at the bottom
of the river

he sighed
then jumped into the golden stream
of moving moonlight
to catch his last
poetic
verse

Thao Chuong
2012-09-17


李白 pronounced Li Bai or Li Po was a Chinese poet acclaimed as a genius and romantic poet in the mid-Tang Dynasty � the Golden Age of Chinese poetry. It was told that Li drowned when he reached from his boat to grasp the moon�s reflection in the river.

Beautiful Oxo :))
Viet, I think its good thing that we can't replicate completely in words what we feel, don't you?

@ Maria. It is very fortunate that we couldn't do it. Otherwise, life would be bored to death.

I agree :)

A single tear, of joy, of sorrow...can speak for endless words...or silences!

The faintest smile can scream louder than any voice....

A naked eye can reveal in the shortest of moments a whole life story...

You're very poetic, Xoanxo.




Here is an echo


Moment O Silence

the first time
in my life
I held her tight in my arms
my heart shivered
my mind was frozen
I
felt
as if
thousands of wild horses were galloping inside my chest
she said nothing
we were in absolute silence
oh the mysterious
moment
of love!

Thao Chuong
2013-11-26

Here is another echo


Falling In Love

she
looked at me
smiled
and said nothing
but
I could feel more than millions of words pouring into my lonesome heart


Thao Chuong
2013-11-26

War and Peace

the war was over for him
on a hot day
over one hundred and ten degree
his bullet riddled body lay lifeless for many days
in the buffer zone
useless assault riffle and bayonet still remained firm in his hands.

smell of decayed corpse
putrid blood
turned the shallow trench
dug in a hurry
into feeding ground
for flies, bugs, and ants

comrades in his platoon
couldn�t retrieve his body
still under heavy fire
tried to keep their position
buried themselves
with mud and dirt
in the open ditch nearby
helpless

wind stirred up in the nauseating air
smell of unwashed men for weeks
of rotten corpse
human excrement
urine
mixed with gunpowder burning
over one hundred and ten degree
the battle was still going on.

but for him
the war was over for weeks
his body
slowly decomposed

finally
he could rest in peace...

Thao Chuong
2010-09-13

Beauty and Truth.........you do both...most excellently. I've enjoyed reading through your poems here.

Thank you for your warm comment, Melissa. I appreciate your time. It is nice to hear that you enjoy my poetry. Have a nice day.

Desert Storm

the glazing sun sent its unbearable heat
on steamy dunes
he saw
nothing
but glowing reflection on a golden sea
immense
leading to infinite horizon

after travelling many days
in the empty desert
under scorching heat
without any shade during the day
and brutal cold at night
exhausted
he was dreaming of a warm bath
and a cosy place for a rest

out of his expectation
a strong wind blew against his face
a rolling noise of thousand horses galloping
and a whirlpool of black cloud quickly approaching
then the sandstorm came from the horizon
and buried everything
on its path

how could man fulfill his conquering dreams
when nature resists
and unleashes
its full force?

Thao Chuong
2012-10-07

A Wild Dream In The Wild

slowly
descended
the sunken fireball
buried almost halfway into the distant mountain
a flock of birds flew home
in a hurry
and disappeared in the red sky
the night was falling quickly into its sleep
deep in darkness
rushing to my campsite
down the steep hill
for some wine
then erotic sex with her
in the wild
tonight

abruptly stumbled
next day
I found myself
trapped
in a hospital bed

Thao Chuong
2012-04-21

A Winter Day

early morning
sunrays
trembled
on the frost covered lawn

a lone sparrow
shivered
on a bare branch
of a leafless
apple tree

golden leaves
scattered
on thin ice-sheet
in the backyard pond

Thao Chuong
2011-10-16

Of Capitalism

hello my dear friend Gringos
in the heart of capitalism
value of mighty U.S. dollar
for sure
"In God We Trust"

in reality
when stock market's collapsed
U.S. economy is in jeopardy
dollar deflation
running at galloping speed
Pesos of the North
Deutsche Mark of pre-Second World War
in GOLD You Must Trust

why complain?
my dear friend Greengos
everyone else
in third world
have lived that way for years
their own currency
at very low exchange rates

it’s only a short break
to give up so little
of such a high standard of living
just a tinny loss
for a bitter taste of others' hardship

my dear friend Gringos
you're fortunate
living in the heart of capitalism
paradise on earth
the sun is still shining
don't take good things for granted'

it could be worse
so keep your happiness intact
my dear friend Gringos
Green goes
bingo!

Thao Chuong

Year-end Sundry Thought (chained senryu)

wind blows soft flurries
covers small town vacant streets
spongy white blanket

winter canopy
cotton white flowers blossom
on arid branches

strolling around town
on silent winter morning
chewing loneliness

lyrics from caf�
lament rhythm of despair
the crying singer

tears sound on her cheeks
telling loss of her lover
at war somewhere else

bringing back my past
many winters in exile
lost soul in wrong place

waiting for sunshine.
for live melted as flurries
final rest in peace.

Thao Chuong
2010-12-28

Artist�s statement of the featured artist Julie Lueders




"ART IS A PASSION! SIMILAR TO LOVE AND LIVING.

When I think of art I think of beauty. Beauty is the mystery of life. It is not in the eye it is in the mind. In our minds there is awareness of perfection.

My greatest hope and wish is that my artwork conveys a simple beauty, one that if we open our eyes to the spiritual world around us we can see and behold everyday. The energy of our world is ever changing and is ever in one with our spirit and nature.

Throw yourself to the wind and let your hair blow in the breeze feel the life around you, breath it in and open your eyes to all that nature gives you. The world is always a magical wondrous place, we just need to open up ourselves to it." (By Julie Lueders)

Julie Lueders is also a painter of traditional media. Please visit her portfolio to view her paintings.


Here is one of her paintings in acrylic.

Featured Artist Kenneth Walker

Ken Walker is a musician who has skillfully transformed musical notes, sound and rhythm into visual art. Ken is a friend of mine. I wrote some of those poems which were featured in this book to support Ken during his most turbulent time in August and September 2011. Ken is very happy to be in a new loving relationship.

I�d like to thank my friend - musician/artist Ken Walker - for allowing me to feature his art and share his story in the book On The Milky Way.







The Lost Paradise

The world was shaken
and fallen
apart
at the most torment moment
when she gave him
her final hug

he hold his bleeding heart
in trembling hands
walked away from his sweet home
the cozy marriage has gone forever
stricken
with inconceivable sorrow
anguish, and remorse
He mourned his lifeless love
at each step
on his way to an unknown destination
without her

Mentally worn out
dejected and lonely
in the first night
at the new place
His mind was in rejection mode
he was crying like baby
in the immense bed
feeling
as if it were surreal
he lost her
like in a suspense movie
lamented then laughed
he said to himself
'It was just a bad dream
not real'
until he was too exhausted
wept in sleep

The painful eviction out of his paradise Garden of Eden
without his Eve of six-year marriage
he would continue crying for now
during his mourning process
as he left his cosy and secure box
for a new path

he would start all over again
on his own journey of self-discovery
no heavy baggage
without her
on his shoulders

Certainly, one day
he would be able to walk freely
in the world
happily
just by himself alone
or maybe with another one

Thao Chuong
2011-09-01

The Musician On Wrong Tune (senryu)

romantic lyrics
she preferred him to compose
he made grave mistakes

hitting on wrong notes
in the symphony of life
losing all rhythms

misjudged her footsteps
in his tango of sweet love
melody ended

now a soloist
he is free for his new tune
in the music world

Thao Chuong
2011-09-10

The New Beginning

a seed
planted
deep in a mental heap
composted from a stressful heart
full of
perished emotions
and a mind
occupied by
rotten thoughts

someday
the new seedling
of hope
is rising inside
life�s filled with love
and happiness
again.

Thao Chuong
2011-09-11

It�s just a sundry thought


For Better Or Worse
Of Love

You�ve been mentioning
too much
about
it

you should know
love
comes
from your heart

regardless
how well you could talk to her
love
can never
come from your mouth

zip your lips
just for a moment
you would feel her heartbeats
in absolute
silence

love
is more
than billions
of your utterly nonsense words

Thao Chuong
2013-12-03

In Love

I
looked at her
and bent toward
her pretty
face

she
smiled,
tightly closed her eyes,
and slightly opened her mouth
in waiting

my heart ceased
my mind was numbed
the earth stopped breathing
the whole universe
was in dead
silence

oh
the moment of wonders
before I was blown away
by her cyclone
of love

Thao Chuong
2013-12-03

Cycle of Life

fallen
back to earth
rotten trees and dead leaves
from many past autumns
naturally decomposed


dormant seeds
hidden
in organic soil
rising into young shoots
trees gradually grow
into old growth
forests
anew

Thao Chuong
2011-09-11

Description: "As an artist, I find inspiration from many sources, including other artists. Here on FAA I've been inspired artistically, and also inspired and encouraged as a human being by many FAA artists. One such artist is Vivian Anderson. Her work has inspired me, but even more importantly, she has so often encouraged me to reach for a higher place. I value her input. This work was inspired in part by her work "Abstract I". By Ken Walker




The Exotic Moment With Her

she�s sitting on a sand dune by the sea
my head�s rested on her lap
I look up
the blue sky�s
gradually vanished
from my eyes
as she�s bending down
her pretty face appears
closer and
closer
in a slow motion
her hair stream�s falling down
like a waterfall
my face is fully
covered

I could smell her sizzling breaths
unconsciously closed my eyes tight
leisurely opened my mouth wide
as her rosy lips
is slowly
sealing
in
an erotic kiss

like
a fish
gasps for much air
I bite her tongue and swallow her fresh juiciness
the world no longer exists
time is frozen
in the infinite

Thao Chuong
2013-06-06

Beyond The Veil

regardless
how long a thing could be stretched
every
living mechanism
that can breathe
must hit its final kick
in an unavoidable
death

no
exception
for vulnerable man
in the lust of controlling his fate

any journey
must eventually
come to its final destination

God's eternal heaven
is but man's illusion
in his pipe dream of
an immortal life
after death

Thao Chuong
2013-06-16

Those Amber Times

each time
they lock in a conflict
either
she retreats into her own self
in silence for many days or weeks
or
she
keeps
flooding
his deaf ears
with endless words

�take the whole package as is
or leave it!
not
happy
with me, honey?
you�d better marry
a cook to turn your kitchen into a fancy restaurant
a prostitute for erotic sex in bed
a gardener to turn your yards into a paradise
a homemaker to clean up after your mess�

he sits speechless
like a philosopher in deep thought
until
she runs out of air
and gets back
to her own
stillness

Thao Chuong
2013-06-12

Mourning (chained Senryu)

vacant mind insane
occupied by good old days
wild dream o past love

many rotten thoughts
o fantasy memories
lost inner compass

life seems meaningless
sufferings in tortured soul
cries in loneliness

whole world in darkness
imprisoned in a small cell
search for escape route

Thao Chuong
2011-09-07

Time

all footprints of men
on wet sand
constantly
erased
by the tireless waves

nothing could be seen on the beach
only
a sea gull�s crying
and the leftover of seaweeds
washed ashore
gradually
rotten

where are those humans with their pipe dream of conquering the world?

Thao Chuong
2013-12-08

The Soul Collector

hiding
himself
inside the blazing fire
he patiently waits for the sunset
after the nightfall takes over
the debt collector opens the gate of hell
and enters the dark side of man
chasing those
who believe in God for a seat in heaven after death
but worship Satan
for the joy of sins
while they're
kicking
alive

he is
an agent of Satan
he approves the loan for all believers
those who are ready to put their souls
as a minimum down-payment
for a house
full of
sinful
joys

the reaper is furiously swearing
as he finds no soul
from those non-believers
who have no desire for a heaven
and no fear of a hell
after death

2013-06-23

Man�s Worst Invention

invented
by the mortal
without a lifetime warranty
but it lasts
forever

most
importantly
it holds the almighty power of an immortal god
and fully controls over all humans� vulnerable fates

no
chance
for anyone
to withstand on the path of its pitiless tsunami
the miserable concept
of ceaseless
time

Thao Chuong
2013-12-08

You Won�t Fail
(Sundry thought written for my kids)

remember
failure is the mother that gives birth to your success
who is too smart without a stupid moment
who could always win
and never
lose

it�s too bad
that you�re falling down
so be mad and feel sad
as much as
you like

just
don�t lie on the ground forever and whine
everything keeps moving ahead non-stop
and no one is waiting for you
waste no time
to stand up
and go

Thao Chuong
2013-12-10

Autumn Breeze (chained Senryu)

autumn breeze�s howling
throwing dead leaves in mid air
nothing left intact

no more sweet romance
love�s also gone with the wind
she left him for good

mourning for the loss
he�s chewing sad loneliness
in his heart shattered

Thao Chuong
2013-07-14

The Art of Living

I
do
need
water for my dried throat
bread and butter for my hungry stomach
tiny space just enough to rest my sore back
and probably sex to douse any intense moment whenever I am in heat

but
sex
food
and shelter
are not everything for my living
they only meet my very basic need for survival as an animal

I always look for something better beyond the natural instinct of a being

my heart thirsts for
love,
companionship,
and human touch

my mind is full of
dreams
endless thoughts
and wild imagination

creative process enables me to express my inner self and capture beauty of the outer universe

thanks
to
poets,
artists,
musicians
and all other creative people
for shining my days and enhancing my life
with the milky way
of your stunning
works

Thao Chuong
2013-12-10

Ken Walker�s background as musician and his love for music clearly reflect through his artworks. Please visit Ken�s galleries to see how he visually put sound to his art.

Again, I'd like to thank my friend Kenneth Walker for being part of this art and poetry collaboration. Enjoy a wonderful time on your path to music, art, and love.

Bio of artist Ken Walker

Digital artist Kenneth Walker, born and raised in Silicon Valley, loves both music and fine art. He prefers to explore his own creative path. As a musician playing for a band for many years, Ken has infused his desire for, and his experience of, music into art.

Ken doesn't modify or enhance photographs in his art, especially his abstracts. He explores different digital paint brushes to create light, depth, perspectives for his creative imagination. He digitally mimics the process of painters who use traditional media and manually paint with brushes. Ken has developed his own colour palette that reflects his dynamic expression of music rhythms as well as his personal thought of love and life in his works. He said: �If the artist is a traveler on a plane, my artwork is the pilot. I may start the journey, but there is something else that moves and guides me to the final destination. The creative process has inspired me to keep going as a musician and an artist.�

Of Love And Marriage

it was fabulous
he really enjoyed so much
every single moment
of their romance
he
decided
to kept it forever
by jumping right into a marriage

many years later
he regretted he made the worst deal in life
by trading his total freedom
for sex and companionship
but less and less
love

now
no way out
probably stuck with it for a lifetime

he wonders why marriage is too addictive to quit
even
after
each divorce
men often act exactly like those drug junkies with a habit of getting back into the same trap over and over again
until they are completely trashed


Thao Chuong
2013-12-11

My Sundry Thought Of Definitions

you've asked me to define
what sex is
honey!

let's
forget it
it's too troublesome for me
and for any anyone else
trying to
dip
his philosophical thought into infinite meanings of everything

ah!
honey
back to
sex
realistically
between you and me
we could do it perfectly in silence for our firsthand experience

don't you feel it's enough for us to happily enjoy it as is
without a light need
of any single
hollow
word

now
we may know
art is like sex and anything else in this world
it'd be better to do than
to talk about
in endless
rounds

tell me
is it worth to waste our time and create more headache for different versions of many controversial definitions
that could
never
end
?

Thao Chuong
2013-12-11

About the featured artist: Photographer Fran Riley

Even though photographer Fran Riley has a formal training (with a BS) in multimedia web design and a career in technical drafting, I have found that her photography is very artistic and not �over-digitalized�.

She wrote: �On one level I am intrigued by man-made objects that fall apart. On another, I am fascinated by nature and the mystery of the smallest forms of life�. This statement has been reflected by many of her beautiful/non-digital photos. - Viet Tran






The Song Of A Love Traitor

he was amorous and charismatic
without any doubt
no hesitation
she fell
right
into his arms

so
confident
a lifetime knot would be soon tied up
she let him play games with her innocence
unexpectedly
he rode his horse away
without any light trace to a mysterious land
only a precious gift left behind
his seed of life
for her to deal with
alone

she could hear clearly forlorn echoes
of a sad ballad growing
inside her heart
shattered

Thao Chuong
2013-06-13

Of Her Marriage and Love

she said
marriage is another type of love
it could last much longer and may stay at the same level of intensive heat on her bed sheet

isn�t marriage for more in a long term companionship than in love?

even for sex
it
is
less
exotic
dreamy
and romantic

how
could it be considered love
when she is usually overloaded with faithful commitment, uneasy compromise, and endless daunting responsibilities

maybe
she has mentioned about
her unconditional
love
of
cooking
cleaning
babysitting
and many other types of household chores

certainly
in that sense of a marriage
she could be an exceptional wife and a fantastic companion
however
she is no longer
a person
in love

Thao Chuong
2013-12-12

Contemporary Art

he tried hard
spitting out his heart
to smear it on a blank surface
for the creation of his most stunning art
a conceptual work
that had never
been done
before

too bad
he hit a creative block � an annoying piece of fishbone
painfully
stuck
inside his throat
and froze his mind

somehow
he accidentally coughed out some blood and sputum on the blank canvas
surprisingly
he has become
a renowned artist
an avant-garde leading a newly created movement in the contemporary art

Thao Chuong
2013-12-12

Hope

beyond
any dim tunnel
or confined space
as always
revealed
a better
world
either a glazing sun shines in the blue sky
or a silver moon lights in deep universe

let�s hope
for a brighter day
even at the most desperate moment
crawling in
darkness

why not?

Thao Chuong
2013-07-13

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

be proud of what achieved
and learn good lessons
from what already
happened in
the past

no
way back
for any change
it has been done
totally gone
for good

no
point
to regret for any bad moment
of yesterday

so let�s forget it completely

who
knows for sure
whether anything good or bad will take place in the future
why waste any living time to think of
or worry too much about
the unknown
that
would
possibly
never come

let�s
dream of
and hope for
better and the best
otherwise, ignore the rest
of tomorrow

breath every precious instant of the galloping time
and live the fullest
of today


Thao Chuong
2013-12-13

Viet, your words amaze me - the way you can put them to an image and somehow
the meanings are at the heart of the image.

Such a beautiful Art in itself.
Thank you so much - for you've touched my soul.

Thank you very much, Fran. I really appreciate you and other featured artists those who have taken time to provide your feedback. Even though, I have coordinated this art and poetry project, it is a collective collaboration. So please feel welcome to join in the orchestra anytime. Do not make me feel lonely to play as a soloist (lol). Happy holidays!

Ripples

like
ripples
stirred up on the surface
when a pebble�s tossed into still water
her pretty look
blazingly
boils
icy blood
in his frozen
heart

she
would
ever expect
her innocent smiles at him
could create such a counter-force
that drowns him
in deep
love

Thao Chuong
2013-06-10

Art From Nothing

in search for stillness
he closes his eyes
shuts his ears
puts mind in deep meditation
to explore
his inner
self

after he has drained all of his thoughts, he finds absolutely silence, stillness, tranquility, and peace from nothingness

emptiness could actually hold everything
including eternal time
and the infinite
universe

creating
something
from nothing
is the art by a human�s creative mind full of wild dreams and boundless imaginations

Thao Chuong
2013-12-14

On Violence

the man whom you�ve viciously accused of committing violence
his
trade
was breaking rocks
under intensive heat
of South Africa�s burning sun
he was imprisoned for over a quarter of a century for his protest against those tyrants of his nation

how
could
you ignore
the unequal fight
between the oppressed and the oppressor

you
blamed them
for violent protest
when his people rallied for their human rights on the streets
children, youth, adults and elders used bare hands, sticks, and rocks
to
fight
against
his nation�s police force armed to its teeth and paratroopers carrying automatic assault riffles

don�t forget
killing
torturing
suppressing
are the profession of all tyrants

wake up from your oppressing bed
and stop playing
your dirty trick
of blame
game

Thao Chuong
2013-12-14

Hidden In Shadow

he
thinks
he knows for sure
who he really is

he confidently believes
he�s in total control of the whole world
without recognizing the cruel fact
that his destiny is always hidden
in the shadow

it�s too late to regret
when
he
sees
an old man
trembled inside a blank mirror

Thao Chuong
2013-09-01

Give My Childhood Back

stuck
in the adult world
brutal
and callous
he’s thinking of his past wonders
in an amazing childhood
full of
love and happiness
endless days
running naked
on bare feet
around his neighbourhood
soaked
under heavy rain

every path leading back to his young past
buried
somewhere
in subconscious depths
and fully covered by thick blankets of darkness
no access left
for re-entry

sitting on the edge of his mental cliff
of the present time zone
and about to fall down deeper into the unknown future
he’s dreadfully begging
“please don’t leave me here
take me back to my joyful childhood”

Thao Chuong
2012-03-29

What Lies In Between Canada And USA?

all were heading south at the same time
they went by air for long migration
you drove home after a short visit

alas
you
got stuck on the ground
yawned and silently swore
while impatiently waiting for your turn
for immigration, custom, and security at a border checkpoint
you were in a hurry
on a busy weekend
the long line-up
was restfully
moving at
a snail's
pace

up
high
in the autumn sky
they noisily flew in v-shape formation
quickly approached and vanished
into boundless
horizon

no Great Wall has visually ever built on the vast land of North America
why would it hold you so long?
what was wrong?

please
tell me
between you – a citizen of USA – one of the most democratic countries in the world
and they- a flock of Canadian Geese living in the wild
which
one has more
freedom of movement?

Thao Chuong
2013-12-16

The Chosen Path

the road is wide open ahead to mysterious destinations
future's always unknown
everything could happen
when rubber meets the road
he would be
in Rome
fallen off a stiff cliff
moaned in a shallow ditch
or even ended up at his own funeral

where does the road go
whatever lies in front of him
it doesn't really matter
so long as his fate
is not written
in stone
and his destiny is absolutely
in his own hands

endless
possibilities for him
riding his own life freely at its full throttle
on the path chosen
by himself
alone
not by anyone else
including his God

Thao Chuong
2012-09-0

Poetry

It is nothing
and everything
from the core of a being’s inner-self
to the infinite of his outer universe

It is about
emotions and thoughts in a human’s heart and mind
so he could express himself articulately
moan or smile in silence
and cry or laugh aloud
in words

It is for
his love and hate
his joy and sadness
his hope and despair
his success and failure
or when he is in peace or at war

not only would it be a perfect gift for a man’s living
but also his most powerful and sophisticated weapon to protect himself
whenever his life is
at risk

Thao Chuong
2013-12-17

Best Love Never Made and Finest Poem Ever Written

he
is not
in any sense
a hopeless poet
having an insane thought of the finest poem
ever been
penned

he
just
happens
to be a pessimistic man fallen in and out of loves so many times
he has lost all of his hopes
for a lasting
bond

somehow
he
believes
the woman – he has yet met in his life - is certainly the best one whom he would worship forever
in his bitter
heart

if
only
he could look at the sunny side
he would be able to enjoy many best poems already been well-written so far
he could also retain his happiness
like billions of others do
for their love in an up
and-down
relationship

what would be left for a lover or a poet whose dream without hope?

Thao Chuong
2013-12-17

Eye Of The Slide

where are those happy kids
who were jiggling
though this joyful slide
if
they
are
still alive
and struggling
on different playgrounds
in the adult
world

they
probably
would miss
the wonderland
of their childhood
big time!

Thao Chuong
2013-06-13

The Love of Flying

like
a baby bird
stands on the edge of its net
elatedly looks around, up and down
slowly spreads its wings
then takes a plunge
for its first
flight

he
jiggles
as he�s taking off and becoming fully airborne
after his short flight
and the safe landing onto
his mommy�s hands
the toddler
joyfully
laughs
aloud

why do featherless and wingless humans often have a wild dream of flying up high in the blue sky like a bird?

Thao Chuong
2013-12-18

Weightlessness..?

If you haven't yet made a very glossy online catalogue of all
your F.A.A. art - try the iOS and Android app named Flipboard

Here is a collection of some of my favourite poems and also
two online catalogues of my saleable art.

http://flip.it/kU4jt - for poetry
http://flip.it/nawSk - F.A.A. catalogue
http://flip.it/Z8Kvx - Zenfolio catalogue

Don't forget the exciting new mini-blog platform over at https://medium.com - see my art & poetry 'mashup'...

https://medium.com/@JackTorcello1

@ Good morning Maria. Thanks your thought of weightlessness. I

@ Thanks Jack. I've visited the site, yet I was unable to read your poetry. Please feel welcome to post some of your favourite poems and share your poetry here.

Time Gone By

rotten leaves
from last year
still remain on the ground

another fall has just come
green trees start turning
into colourful
canopies
again

time has swiftly gone by
as in a dream

I'm still hanging around
like a brown leaf on an old tree
through many autumns

when will it come
to my own
downfall?

Thao Chuong
2013-07-15

To Maria about my thought of weightlessness


Off Weight

like a child happily rides on a merry-go-round and ever wants to get off
I enjoy my comfy journey
on vast land of
yummy food
and sweet
treats

I feel a little bit heavy
otherwise, I am quite well

I
don't
wanna
be starved
on a yo-yo
diet

unless for the healthy lifestyle
why
should
I sweat myself
in an endless roundabound
of fruitless
weight
loss

the billion dollar industry always tries to make me believe in fancy - the beauty of those bonny models
it's a psychological war
trying to change the perception of my own image
and draining the last cent from my pocket

flying
into the orbit
and becoming somewhat weightless
is my only hope to defy gravity of the weight loss industry

Thao Chuong
2013-12-19

Of Suffering

Buddha once said: life is a sea of suffering
then
he taught
his flowers how to
peacefully sail to a shore of enlightenment
but neither to tolerate suffering
nor to learn how to suffer
in order to
suffer
less

I
am
not lotus
in a veggie state
growing from mud

I
am
a mortal human being
swimming a sea of suffering
I have to pull myself out
before I drown

suffering is stronger than acid
it
cruelly
eats my flesh
rusts my bones
sucks my blood
sinks my life in an eternal hell

why would those victims of torture continue enduring constant suffering without finding a non-violent way to end it?

Thao Chuong
2013-12-18

Description:

�One of the few original hanging gallows remaining in the United States is of the trapdoor scaffold design, with a traditional set of 13 very unlucky steps leading up to the platform. In all, seven men dropped through it's trapdoor to their death and was used for the last time on December 30, 1939.� By Fran Riley



The Execution

captured by the invader�s powerful army
in a foxhole
at a farmhouse

after
the trial
through a kangaroo court
the newly formed puppet government
convicted the former president of its country
of war crimes against humanity and genocides
and sentenced to death
by hanging

his request to be shot was rejected
his captors led him to the gallows
put a hood
over his head
against his last wish
of seeing the execution
himself

executioners insulted and shouted at him
while securing the hangman's noose
around his neck

fallen
through the trap door
he died instantly
his body was stabbed six times
in an undignified manner
after the execution

don't winners always hold just ice in their hands
regardless?

Thao Chuong
2012-04-15

Romantic Fall (chained Senryu)

dangling on branches
colourful leaves in autumn
wait for breezing wind

dancing in mid air
scattering on rural path
two lovers walking

leaves fall on her hair
their footprints fully covered
season of romance

Thao Chuong
2013-07-12

Metal Love (chained senryu)


it's karma, honey!
our lives are really attached
no more loneliness

your sugary lips
lock into my thirsty mouth
our kiss forever

press me in tight hold
against your solid body
till end of the world

all thing�s corroded
our love's always eternal
we'll die in one piece.

Thao Chuong
2010-12-26

Falling Out Of Love

you�ve
flown away
gone with the wind
and disappeared to horizon

we are drifting far apart to the two opposite ends of the universe

without
your tears
I cry no more

without
your smiles
I no longer laugh

without
your love
I live in hell

you took my heart
you crushed my mind
you ruined my life

my world is collapsed in emptiness
what else from love
you left for
me?

Thao Chuong
2013-12-21

So prolific! Mum is staying with me this christmas holiday and asked me the other day how is Viet tram, Vien Taram, you know the poet? haha. She had been reading the book before falling asleep, On the Wings O' Butterflies. It must have been in her room on the shelf.I said, he still writes, everyday on FAA. :)
Have a wonderful christmas Viet with friends and family.:)

It�s nice to have your mom coming a long way to stay with you and your family during the Christmas. Enjoy a wonderful holiday with her.

It must be my boring poetry that made your mum feel dizzy and fall asleep while reading the book. I could make tons of money by selling my poems as sleeping pills to ease insomnia (lol). Send my best regards to her.

Love, Sex, or Companionship?

you
laughed
and mockingly said:
�honey!
you must know
the love you think you have had
it's
all for
yourself
and your own need
it could be sex, companionship, and something else
but not about
your love
for me�

now
you've long gone
I sit alone and recall what you've said
it isn't true
about
sex

yet, you was right
I've been addicted to your companionship
and still badly in need of you
for my loneliness
but neither for my love to you nor for the love from you

Thao Chuong
2013-12-21

Artist�s statement of the featured photographer Fran Riley

�A Mechanical Drafter by trade with a BS in Multimedia Web Design, Fran Riley struggles to free her mind of the constraints of the 'mechanical' to that of organic forms in photography. She favors subjects in the throe's of decay, especially rusting metals.

'Rust is representative of life. All things return to the earth and rust shows this at a basic level. Even the strongest steel will eventually be reduced to nothing through natural processes. On one level I am intrigued by man-made objects that fall apart. On another, I am fascinated by nature and the mystery of the smallest forms of life. Nevertheless, I still cannot break away from Digital Art. I find that form of creating Art phenomenal'

Fran hopes to break out of her 'mechanical' mind and explore fully the world at a basic level in microscopic photography and infra-red photography.� By Fran Riley

Artist Fran Riley is a photographer who has artistically captured beauty of the rusty, rotten, and shattered side of her subjects. Please enjoy more of her work by visiting her galleries at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/francis-riley.html

Fran, thank you very much for allowing me to feature your art in this book, Fran. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Featured artist Ed Meredith.

Ed Meredith is an artist with different talents. He is a painter and sculptor of traditional media, a digital artist, a photographer, and also a thought-provoking poet.

Ed is a photographer whose professional career before his retirement was in the field of commercial photography. Ed used to take a manual camera, set up for his own environment for shooting, and developed his own photos in darkroom.

I only featured some of his black and white photos in the book On The Milky Way








The Poet
(To my friend Ed Meredith)

like a pregnant women
in her morning sickness
the poet put his head
into a toilet bowl
started throwing up dangerous words
from inner self
polluting the world

he pissed off all logical minds of the general public
he was poetically intoxicated
vomited his messy thoughts
on computer keyboards
howled through the hangover
his drilling headache
from last night heavy drink
he kept pounding on the screen
his tremble verses
until he was exhaustedly
dropped
dead

snoring
in his nightmare
on the concrete floor
of a basement suite
.
Thao Chuong
@2012-01-15

Silence In Poetry

without
blank spaces in between
letters or characters in any language
could mean nothing
or something else
completely
different

sound always shatters any serene moment of silence
regardless
how
poetic
melodic
and rhythmic
those words would be penned

could
a poet
take a deep breath
and do nothing, but silently enjoy the most instant
of his profound thoughts from the mind
and of raw feelings
in his emotional
heart?

what
the heck
I�ve been struggling for - in language
isn�t the so-called poetry more addicted to - than any antipsychotic drug?

Thao Chuong
2013-12-22

He's Sucha Mattress Monkey

come here my little mattress monkey
perform your act and amuse me
i'm tired of all your old tricks
i've seen them all but six
i want something new
something so taboo
my monkey boy
bedroom toy
lover man
you can
touch
me
here
arouse
me please
you may tease
when i tell you to
taste my honeydew
be my bedroom animal
'cause we are so compatible
we seem fit like a hand ln glove
the sex is great but then so is love

Ed Meredith
2013-05-02



Sex or Not Sex. It's the Question
(echo to Ed's poem He's Sucha Mattress Moneky)

he's running his fingers on her breasts
thinking that he could arouse her
by his new trick for exotic sex
he learned it from the girl
selling meat on street
he tries for hours
nothing works
disappointed
stubbornly
he ever
stops
his
mind's
in heat
well burnt
yet she's cold
like an ice cube
not any response
to his inflamed mood
all of a sudden she jiggles
as he's itching her funny bones
oh man! he don't know what he do
it's neither sex nor love, but a crude joke

Thao Chuong
2013-05-02

Is Love a One-way or Two-way Street?

she
expects
he falls in love with her
neither for her beauty
nor her sexy
body

he
expects
her true love for him
not for his social status
nor his fat
wallet

love is likely a two-way street
on which she and he could meet somewhere in between
and have their own needs
and expectations
mutually
met

wouldn�t it be safer to be on a one-way street
where one blindly drives in love
without any head-on
collision
at all

Thao Chuong
2013-12-23

Dead End/No Outlet Senyru echo to Viet's street question...

can't live with out her
Miss Gravity is her name
let me down gently

An echo to Ed's echo Dead End


Dead End

you
tie the knot
put your fate into her hands
and expect she would give you
something called love
in return

it's too bad
as soon as your head gets stuck inside the loop
it becomes her game
she could kick the chair off
to see you dangling
in the air

for
the love
you expect
you must beg for her mercy
or it would be the dead-end of your damned world

Thao Chuong
2013-12-23

Is Love Really a Dead-end Street?

taking
any joy ride
so often
I either end up in a ditch or get stuck at a cul-de-sac
whether I am driving
on a two-way street
or on a freeway
of love

I�ve already
known thoroughly
love defies all scientific logics
and my problem only starts each time I follow my heart and don�t listen to my mind

still
I
have
no choice
as whatever move I make
it�s likely always too late for me
I�m easily fallen down and tightly getting trapped
under your well-manicured feet

Thao Chuong
2013-12-23

Romance In The Rain

shoes
pounding
on pavement
melancholy sound of water droppings
dancing in rumba
on black umbrellas

on a miserable day
in downtown
no one is around
only
an old couple's
strolling
about

their crazy days of hot romance have long gone
not much hand holding
no longer kissin' on the streets
no more desire of moaning
in his sporty car

nowadays
they love walking
side by side
quietly
enjoy their new way of deep romance
in the rain



Thao Chuong
2013-08-14

An Early Exit

life is the most precious gift
no one wants to die than to live
unless
it�s a living hell
as suffering becomes too much for
a body
to physically endure
a mind
to mentally bear
a heart
to emotionally beat

when
all hopes are lost
all dreams are collapsed
even the strongest belief in god is shattered
one could no longer take nor have any desire left for his living
he has no choice
but to take
an early
exit

when one loses all possible options to retain his life
what else could it be expected?
so
live free
and die well
whether in God�s hands
or not

Thao Chuong
2013-12-24

John And Betty

he loves her
whether
it�s bright
she sits under sunlight
turns her face
and smiles at him
he would feel
as if she could touch his warm heart
or
it�s gloomy
he holds her hand
they both walk in the rain
he could feel her body heat warms himself up

he loves her
the way she is
not only
when she acts like an innocent, soft, sweet, and dreamy cat
lazily lying her head on his lap
turns it back and forth
and makes him feel it hard
but
also
when she gets mad
as tigress furiously screeches her sharp paws on the concrete floor
and pours out millions of words flooding his ears
then fully retreats into her own world of nothingness

they were born for the love
of each other
as is
regardless

Thao Chuong
2013-06-15

An Echo of Thao Chuong's "John And Betty"


Thank Goodness for Betty... She Saves My Day

looking out from the safety of the doorway
across the troubling landscape
of life's events
covered in the rubble
of personal history
and relationships
he slouched
like the aging architecture around him
in shame of his facade-stripped nakedness
his mind stalled
and filled with growing despair
in a world void of people
only a ghost of memories
where they once walked
laughed
lived and
loved

"Thank Goodness for Betty
She Saves My Day..."

Ed Meredith
25 December 2013

Christmas Spirit

I�m hungry
thank you
for giving me
a piece of bread
to fill my empty stomach

I�m homeless
my gratefulness to you
for the warm place
to lay my back
in the winter
it�s bitterly
cold

on the Christmas eve
we are in festive mood
I am full and warm
and you�re joyful
with your loved ones
at a dinner table
by a cozy
fireplace

your compassion makes us both happy
we all enjoy the loving spirit of
Merry Christmas

Thao Chuong
2013-12-25

Ed, your new avatar make you look sharp and handsome (lol)

I like your poetic echo Thank Goodness for Betty... She Saves My Day

Here is an echo of mine to your echo Thank Goodness for Betty... She Saves My Day



John - You Fell Out Of Love and Trapped In a Marriage

you
could be
either insane
or absentminded
in our fancy thought
that Betty still saves your day

how
could you
easily forget the best time
when you first
fell in love
with
her

not only
you could retain your independence
but also you were in a perfect relationship at your own free will
without commitment
nor responsibility

stand
in front of
a full-sized mirror
you would see how you look
after so many years
badly beaten
in a rocky
marriage

like
a bird
in a small cage for too long
it knows not how to fly anymore
you can no longer rock and roll

the
sky is
still blue
and bright
high up
forget about your Betty and her little den for a moment
just look outside and
let the sun shine
on your
days

Thao Chuong
2013-12-25