Alan Maley has been involved with ELT for over 50 years. He has lived and worked in 10 countries worldwide, including China and India. He is a prolific author. He is a founder member of the Creativity Group (The C group). In 2012 he was given the ELTons Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a regular contributor to HLT Mag. Email: yelamoo@yahoo.co.uk

 

Introduction from Alan

I have called this series of haikus 'Poloniaikus.  The reason is that they resemble the advice given by pompous Polonius to his son Laertes in Hamlet.  They are so obvious that they should not need to be said ...  Never mind, as a set of observations on the way life works, maybe it's worth reminding ourselves anyway!"

 

 

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everything changes

do not expect love to last –

give thanks when it does.

 

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learn to say thank you –

if you want something, say please –

it keeps the wheels oiled.

 

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don’t take quick offence,

try not to offend others –

it’s a waste of time …

 

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give thanks for your life –

we never know our luck

till our luck runs out.

 

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give thanks to others,

don’t expect them to thank you –

that’s not how it works.

 

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don’t make promises

if you know you can’t keep them –

but when you can – do …

 

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learn how to listen

but don’t forget to speak too

when the moment’s right …

 

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don’t expect too much,

you’ll avoid disappointment –

but learn how to hope …

 

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people do not care

how much you know, what they need’s

to know how much you care.

 

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your bravest act is

to get up each morning

and face a new day …

 

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try to enjoy life,

even when it feels like shit –

who knows what’s next?

 

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learn how to rejoice

when life treats you well, and to

grieve when it doesn’t.

 

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put on a brave face –

it costs you nothing to smile –

train your face muscles …

 

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you can choose your friends

but you can’t choose your family –

so choose your friends well …

 

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always remember,

even gods have feet of clay –

always wipe your boots!

 

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there is no heaven,

nor hell on earth: it’s just that

thinking makes it so…

 

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what goes round, comes round –

actions have consequences:

think before you act …

 

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alone, not lonely:

you have to live with others

but you die alone.