Mother’s Day

Today: not any Mother's Day -

Unique a day comes now...

Tomorrow, this eleventh May:

Your hundredth birthday - wow!

You died aged fifty-four - I vow:

As if it's yesterday!

As deep your love, as deep my bow -

You gave me Life and Way…

Muttertag

Ein Tag, der wie kein zweiter sei:

Dein Muttertag, und schau -

Geburtstag heute, elfter Mai:

Dein Hundertster schon - wow!

Nur vierundfünfzig?! frage ich,

was Dein Geschick wohl lenkte?

Verbeugend vor der Liebe mich,

die mir das Leben schenkte ...

Closeness

 You are so near

 But far away -

 Oh, simply here

I wish you'd stay...

Down to the core,

Hit what came true!

So far before,

So close now - you...

Nähe

 Du bist so nah

 Und doch so fern -

 Ganz einfach da

 Hätt' ich Dich gern...

Bis auf den Kern,

 Traf, was geschah!

 Du warst so fern

 Und bist so nah...

Love

Liebe

There is no word for it to say it

Togetherness comes close -

There are no scales to truly weigh it

No paintings, fairly to portray it

So great and so grandiose...

Kein Wort kann ihren Wert besagen

Kommt Zweisamkeit doch nah -

Kein Wiegen ihr Gewicht befragen

Kein Bildnis sie zu meistern wagen

So groß und wunderbar ...

There is no phrase for it to trace it

Affinity, it shows -

No life as long as to embrace it

No honoring, enough to grace it

How blossoming this rose...

Kein Satz wird je zur Tiefe passen,

Die so verbunden war -

Kein Leben sie umfassen lassen

Kein Ehren ihre Würde fassen

Erblüht sie Jahr für Jahr ...

No book might ever comprehend it

As destiny, it flows -

No limitation to transcend it

No space and time, to ever end it

As inner light, it glows...

Kein Buch mag ihren Sinn ergründen

Fließt ihr Geschick so klar -

Kann alle Grenzen überwinden

Doch nichts lässt ihre Grenze finden

Ihr Licht strahlt immerdar ...

Hilmar Alquiros, 2022

Godchild's Sonnet

Once upon a time, was on my arm

The sweetest little baby as my niece

My godchild, too, to grow in love and peace

So well cared for, unfolding childhood's charm

Soon youthful strength in sports, as well in school

From shy to confident, the kiss of life

From girl to woman, from engaged to wife

As student and as teacher, quite a jewel

A loving mother with two sons to raise

The serious life by many journeys framed

Her sense of Faith and Hope and Love inflamed

The hidden meaning of all life to praise 

The seeds of future, destiny implanting -

Towards life's mystery, so well-enchanting...

Patenkind-Sonett

Es war einmal ... auf meinem Arm es haltend

So süß ein kleines Baby - meine Nichte

Und Patenkind, von liebem Friedens-Lichte

Umsorgt, der Kindheit Zauber wohl entfaltend

Wo Jugend Kraft in Sport und Schule fand

Der Kuss des Lebens - scheu erst, sicher dann

Ein Mädchen reift zur Ehefrau heran

Als Schülerin und Lehrerin brillant

Zwei Söhnen Mutterliebe zu erweisen

Des Lebens Ernst von Reiselust umrahmt

Wo Glaube, Hoffnung, Liebe nie erlahmt

Des Lebens sanft-umhüllten Sinn zu preisen

 Die Saat der Zukunft pflanzt das Schicksal ein -

Das Lebensrätsel lässt verzaubert sein ...

After-Midnight Limerick

An old Homo sapiens said "Hi!

To his favorite chatty AI -

  As a dream team of thought

  About something and naught

With their limit beyond any sky...!

Hilmar Alquiros

Why?

Meaning of the newborn cry:

“What the heck, I'm here - but why?!” :-)

  If a blessing or a curse,

If for better or for worse,

Most of all I would deplore:

“I was never asked before!”

How to know if life is better,

Why I couldn't be pure matter?

And if life, why not a possum

Or a charming little blossom?

Consciousness with all its stress

I would never choose, I guess -

Many are - take that for granted:

Disappointed, disenchanted!

And my body, this foundation,

Had no better situation:

When infected, so inferior

To the tiniest bacteria!

Yes, there's Love and there's excitement,

But with Jealousy’s indictment...

Ups and downs in peace and war -

I was never asked before!

So aware that I exist,

I became a nihilist.

Well, yet in my sweetest dreams,

There is still some hope, it seems...

Dark or bright, all tunnels end:

Wait and see, I recommend -

Destiny of my creation

Be Nirvana… as Salvation?! :-)

h.a.

Warum?

Als Neugeborener, wie dumm,

schrie ich: „Bin da, jedoch - warum?!“ :-)

  Ob nun zum Guten oder Schlechten,

ob Segen oder Fluch zu flechten?

Bedauerlich, nun hochbetagt:

„Ich wurde vorher nicht gefragt!“

Wieso zu leben besser wäre,

warum nicht einfach bloß Materie?

Und wenn schon Leben, meine Güte,

warum nicht Biene oder Blüte?

Bewusstsein kann auch Schmerzen zählen -

aus freien Stücken kaum zu wählen.

Gar manche sind, wie mich nun deucht,

vom Existieren arg enttäuscht.

Mein Körper, dieses Fundament,

von allem, was man geistig nennt,

ist, wenn sich Infektionen regen,

den kleinsten Keimen unterlegen!

Die Liebe, die Erregung wagt?

Von Eifersucht dann angeklagt!

Von Frieden oder Krieg geplagt...

Ich, wie gesagt, blieb ungefragt.

Gewahr, was Existenz so ist…

Nun denn, ich wurde Nihilist.

Und doch - wo süße Träume reimen,

da scheint noch Hoffnung aufzukeimen?!

Ob hell, ob dunkel - Tunnel enden.

Ich lasse es dabei bewenden:

Ob meiner Schöpfung letzter Schrei

Nirwana als Erlösung sei…?! :-)

h.a.

→ SPRING!

PRELUDE

CHESS!

THINK!

→ SUMMER!

KIDS

GERMANY

PUBLICATION

→ AUTUMN!

POETRY

VACATIONs

PHILIPPINES

→ WINTER!

ODE to LUCBAN

ENLIGHTENMENT

FRIENDS!

“Most beautiful quatrain ever” ❤

Komm, o Tod! Doch komm so leise,

daß es nicht bemerkt die Brust,

damit nicht des Sterbens Lust

mich zurück ins Leben weise …

Come Death, so subtly veiled that I

Thy coming know not, how or when,

Lest it should give me life again

To find how sweet it is to die.

Viens, Mort, mais si cachée

ue je ne te sente pas venir,

pour que le plaisir de mourir

ne me rende pas à la vie

Morte vieni sì celata

Ch'io non senta il tuo venir,

Onde il gusto del morir

Non mi torni a vita odiata.

*

Ven, muerte, tan escondida

que no te sienta venir,

porque el placer del morir

no me torne a dar la vida.

Cervantes, Don Quixote

English by John Ormsby

 In my youth, at the tender age of 15, I had three wishes for life’s fairy godmother.

 Despite my success in a special class for mathematics and physics, and completing my school a year early, my heart was set on studying psychology and philosophy. This decision, fueled by early readings of many relevant works, set me on a path to pursue these studies swiftly and effectively, first earning a diploma and then embarking on a second scientific journey for a doctoral degree in psychology.

 My second dream was to become a freelance author, with a particular focus on non-fiction books and articles spanning various topics. Though my classmates often teased me about this ambition, I eventually proved it right.

 The third wish, concerning life and love, was the most profound. In my culture, it's said: “Love is not everything in life, but without love, everything is nothing.” The desire to share life with a true great love was a yearning the fairy godmother of life seemed to understand instantly.

 Life accelerated rapidly from there. At 22, I achieved my first dream, becoming a psychologist (as the youngest at my university). However, life's unpredictable nature soon became apparent. Within just a year and a half, I endured the heartbreaking loss of both beloved parents. An early marriage blessed me with two gifted sons, but the relationship, marred by her infidelity, eventually became more of a nightmare than a dream, ending in divorce. After several mostly good relationships, some evolving into deep friendships or ending due to the challenges of distance, true love finally found me at the age of 52, marking the blissful beginning of Phase 2 with my beloved wife, Lilian, a German Filipina.

 After completing my doctorate in experimental psychological research, I found myself feeling somewhat unfulfilled by the work in research institutes. I yearned for a more direct connection with people, to use psychology in a way that tangibly benefited individuals like you and me.

 This longing has led me down a long road as a practicing psychologist. In this role, I encountered a diverse array of individuals grappling with all kinds of physical or psychological disabilities, to the aftermath of accidents and illnesses, and numerous other challenges. My team and I have dedicated ourselves to providing comprehensive scientific advice and psychological expertise to offer a new, scientifically tailored, government-funded education and thus a new, self-determined life.

 Over four decades, I've had tens of thousands of such encounters. The psychological reports alone filled 60 thick volumes. Each page in these volumes tells a touching story of a life, a journey of renewed hope and empowerment. These experiences have profoundly shaped my understanding of resilience and the human spirit.

 I found solace and joy in writing. Over time, I wrote more than 25 books and many other publications - my brainchildren, each a testament to my second dream fulfilled. In my youth, I was a regional chess champion, but I soon transitioned from the smoke-filled tournament halls to the sanctified realms of writing and teaching, also about chess: ten books and more.

 My writings often reflected the ethics of Jesus and increasingly, the unique wisdom of Lao Tzu. I found the concepts of naturalness and harmony in Daoist philosophy to be sophisticatedly simple yet breathtakingly beautiful, and deeply convincing as a role model, particularly in the context of today's global challenges. This philosophy, with its profound yet accessible wisdom, resonated with me and became a guiding principle in both my personal and professional life.

 After years of in-depth research, I have published several first-rate books and articles on Laozi's unique and poetic work, Daodejing - a work known as the most translated book of all time, next to the Bible. Each page of these volumes reflects not just a long list of case studies, but human lives that have touched me with their journeys of renewed hope and empowerment. My translations, analyses, and commentaries were an attempt to bring the timeless wisdom of Daoist philosophy to a contemporary audience, offering insights and perspectives that I found crucial in navigating the complexities of modern life. Other books followed on nothingness, the quantum world, death, love and humor.

 I am eternally grateful for this rich and fulfilling life, especially for the love of my life. The metaphorical, elongated garden of my childhood home was but a prelude to the intricate, beautiful garden of the human condition.

 Memoirs are written accounts of an individual's personal experiences, thoughts, and feelings. They typically focus on a specific period of time or a particular aspect of the author's life and are often written in a first-person narrative style. Memoirs can be based on the author's own recollections, as well as on letters, diaries, and other personal documents. They are a form of creative nonfiction that aims to provide a deeper understanding of the author's life and experiences, as well as insights into broader social and cultural issues. Memoirs can take many different forms, from traditional chronological accounts to more experimental and creative approaches.

Forms:

1. Autobiography

2. Chronological

3. Thematic

4. Anecdotal

5. Epistolary

6. Fragmented

7. Conversational

8. Graphic

9. Dual Narratives

10. Coming-of-Age

11. Travel or Adventure

12. Essayistic

13. Creative Nonfiction

14. Personal Essay

15. Diaries and Journals

16. Travelogue

17. Spiritual Memoir

18. Bildungsroman

19. Memoirs in Verse

20. Oral History

21. Hybrid Memoir

 Autobiography: A comprehensive, chronological account of the author's entire life, with a focus on personal experiences and significant events.

 Chronological: This approach follows your life in a linear, chronological order, starting with your early years and progressing to the present. It is a straightforward way to structure your memoirs and allows for easy comprehension by readers. It provides a clear and easily understandable narrative.

 Thematic: A thematic autobiography focuses on specific themes or aspects of your life, highlighting key aspects of your life even if that means jumping around in time. It allows you to explore certain ideas, events, or experiences in depth and connect them through a central theme. This approach can provide a more focused and engaging narrative.

 Anecdotal: An anecdotal autobiography consists of a collection of short stories or vignettes that stand alone but also collectively paint a broader picture of your life. These stories can be arranged chronologically, thematically, or randomly depending on the desired effect.

 Epistolary: An epistolary autobiography consists of letters, emails, diary entries, or other personal documents. By presenting your story through correspondence or personal records, you can give readers an intimate insight into your thoughts and experiences.

 Fragmented: A fragmented autobiography tells your story through a series of unrelated, non-linear episodes or snapshots. This form allows you to explore different stages of life and experiences, creating a mosaic of memories for readers.

 Conversational: A conversational autobiography mimics the feeling of having a conversation with the reader. You can tell your story through casual, informal language and share insights, reflections, and personal anecdotes as if speaking to a friend.

 Graphic: A graphic autobiography is a combination of prose and visual art, often in the form of a comic book or graphic novel. This form allows you to use both words and images to convey your experiences and emotions, adding an additional layer of creativity and expression.

 Dual Narratives: Combine your autobiography with another narrative, such as a biography of someone else or a historical account. This approach can add depth and context to your story by showing how it intersects with larger events or experiences.

 Coming-of-Age Autobiography: Focus on your formative years, from childhood through adolescence and into early adulthood, and examine how these experiences shaped your identity. This approach can be more focused and relatable as many readers will have experienced similar transitions.

 Travel or Adventure Autobiography: Write about your travels or adventures and how they influenced your life, offering a unique blend of personal growth and cultural discovery.

 Essayistic Autobiography: Write a series of personal essays that examine various aspects of your life, experiences, and identity. These essays can be thematically, chronologically, or otherwise meaningfully linked.

 Creative Nonfiction: Mix facts with fiction by using elements of storytelling to create a more engaging narrative. This approach allows for more creativity and experimentation, but it is important to stay truthful to the core of your experiences.

 Personal Essay: A shorter, focused text that deals with a specific experience, theme, or idea from the author's life.

 Diaries and Journals: Personal, daily records of experiences and thoughts, often written informally and for private use.

 Travelogue: A narrative that focuses on the author's travels, often including personal reflections, descriptions of places, and cultural observations.

 Spiritual Memoir: A narrative that focuses on the author's spiritual journey, exploring their beliefs, religious experiences, and personal growth.

 Bildungsroman: A coming-of-age story that follows the emotional, psychological, and moral development of the protagonist from childhood to adulthood.

 Memoirs in Verse: This form of memoir uses poetry to tell the author's life story, allowing emotions and experiences to be conveyed in a concise and vivid way.

 Oral History: A collection of recorded interviews, conversations, or stories told by the author or other individuals about their experiences.

 Hybrid Memoir: A combination of different forms and styles, such as poetry, photos, or other multimedia elements alongside prose.

 Overall, there are many different forms that a memoir can take, each with its own advantages and potential for creative expression. From traditional chronological accounts to more experimental and creative approaches, there is no one "right" way to write a memoir. Ultimately, the best approach will depend on the author's goals, style, and personal experiences, as well as the intended audience for the memoir.

Curriculum Vitae

With zero years, cry number one:

Hey, I am here, my birth is done!

At 10 you start to see in truth

The time that is then called your youth.

At 20, grown in weight and height

In love, you see the park at night...

At 30, restless, energetic

Your way is proud, but less poetic.

At 40, you begin to doubt

The image of yourself - throughout.

At 50, you remove the valance

Of joy to start your lifelong balance

At 60, all your proving ended

Retire! Travels recommended.

At 70, feel glad and rise

And start to feel a little wise.

At 80, you feel here and now

How biblical your age is, wow!

At 90, God!, you also face

Inside your bones a touch of grace.

At 100, by your world retrieval

You are beyond all good and evil.

110(!), you ask and see:

Grim Reaper has forgotten me?!

*

As life can be, death always must

Let’s end these rhymes and turn to dust!

Lebenslauf

Null Jahre und ein erster Schrei:

Hurra, ich bin jetzt auch dabei!

Mit 10 sieht man am Firmament

Die Zeit, die man dann Jugend nennt.

Mit 20 ist man groß und stark -

Und nachts auch mal verliebt im Park...

Mit 30 stapft man rastlos-rege

Und stolzgeschwellt die eignen Wege.

Mit 40 fängt man dann und wann

Am Selbstbild leicht zu kratzen an.

Mit 50, statt zu jubilieren,

Beginnt man schon zu bilanzieren.

Mit 60 muss man nichts beweisen:

Man geht in Rente und auf Reisen.

Mit 70 fühlt man froh und leise

Ein kleines bisschen sich schon weise.

Mit 80 spürt man unaufschieblich:

Das Alter wird allmählich biblisch!

Mit 90, Gott!, schleicht obendrein

Ein Hauch von Gnade durchs Gebein.

Mit 100, fern dem Weltgetöse,

Ist jenseits man von gut und böse.

Mit 110 fragt man indessen:

Hat mich der Sensenmann vergessen?!

*

Das Leben kann, der Tod, der muss sein...

Drum muss mit Reimen nun auch Schluss sein!