lone traveller br from kuala lumpur to tokyo to china br cold places, strange people warm and cold br so many unknowns that became knowns br that resulted in an occasional shopping tete-a-tete br and at those fortunate birthday celebrations br thrown by foreign friends br met at school, work place br we uttered words usually made between br friends of mere days br a coldness in between br as we sung and tried to break the ice br between the candles br lighted and blown br and they were usually in the nights br when lonely hearts sought out avenues br to brighten things up br for themselves and their newly acquired friend br and also workplace friends br who try to punctuate the life of a foreign soul br with things famliar, to light up the candles of his life journey br br inspired by: br br A Birthday Poem br Just past dawn, the sun stands br with its heavy red head br in a black stanchion of trees, br waiting for someone to come br with his bucket br for the foamy white light, br and then a long day in the pasture. br I too spend my days grazing, br feasting on every green moment br till darkness calls, br and with the others br I walk away into the night, br swinging the little tin bell br of my name.