Bulan Kalangan

Dingin udara mencekam

Malam ini langit kelam

Temaran sinar pudar

Terkurung dibulan kalangan

 

Rembulan kau tampak sayu dan sendu

Tersembunyi didalam lingaran itu

Warta apakah yang ingin kau siarkan?

Makna apakah yang kau coba gambarkan?

 

Sekelilingku semua hitam

Suara jengkerik terasa menghujam

Kerangka dahan tampak keperakan

Bergoyang goyang ditiup angin malam

 

2 Juli, 2009

Ngengat si Kupu-kupu Malam

Pada suatu hari aku lihat kupu kupu yang aneh dihalaman belakang rumahku. Cukup besar ukurannya, bentangan sayapnya kira kira 15 cm. Anehnya kupu kupu ini antena atau sungutnya tidak panjang dan melengkung seperti umumnya kupu  kupu, tapi  yang ini  pendek, lebar dan bersirip. Cepat cepat kupanggil suamiku terus dia bilang itu bukan kupu kupu tapi itu adalah “moth” yang bahasa Indonesia-nya adalah ngengat. Aku baru tahu kalau ngengat itu ada yang sebesar itu, begitu besar hingga bisa kelihatan jelas bulu-nya yang  halus…….

Terus kami ambil photo-nya. Dibawah ini adalah gambar ngengat tersebut dan yang dibawah  adalah close-up  antena-nya bersirip seperti bulu. Dugaan kami ngengat ini adalah jenis  Emperor Gum Moth (Opodiphthera eucalypti) yang merupakan species asli dari Australia:

Terus kucari di internet info mengenai ngengat, engga tahu-nya juga dikenal dengan nama “kupu kupu malam”, karena kalau siang istirahat dan aktif terbang dimalam hari.

Apakah perbedaan antara kupu kupu dan  ngengat?

Dibawah ini adalah info yang kuambil dari:http://australianmuseum.net.au/What-are-the-differences-between-butterflies-and-moths

Kupu kupu adalah serangga yang termasuk dalam order Lepidotera yang terdiri dari tiga bagian yaitu: Kupu kupu asli (Papilionoidea) , Skipper (Hesperiodea) dan Ngengat (Hedyloidea).

Walaupun ketiga kelompok ini termasuk dalam order Lepidotera, tapi ada berbedaan tertentu yang bisa membedakan apakah itu kupu kupu asli, kupu kupu skipper atau ngengat.

Diseluruh dunia, terdapat lima keluarga kupu kupu dan satu keluarga skipper, dimana keduanya memiliki persamaan tertentu pada bentuknya. Sedangkan ngengat memiliki 125 keluarga.

Ciri ciri tertentu yang bisa membedakan kupu kupu, skipper atau ngengat:

Antena:

• Ngengat: Antenanya bersirip seperti bulu dan ujungnya tidak melebar/membesar.
• Kupu kupu dan skipper: Ujung antenanya melengkung atau membesar dan sama sekali tidak bersirip.
• Kecuali untuk ngengat jenis Casniidae(Sun Moths/Ngengat Matahari) mempunyai antena yang melebar/membesar ujungnya.

Warna:

• Ngengat: Warna kurang cerah/kusam dan kurang warna warninya
• Kupu kupu dan skipper: berwarna cerah dan warna warni.
• Kecuali untuk ngengat jenis Alcides metaurus (Uraniidae) dan Agarista agricola  yang bagus warnanya.

Sayap:

• Ngengat:  Kedua sayapnya dihubungkan satu dan lain dengan frenulum
• Kupu kupu dan Ngengat: Sayapnya terpisah tak memiliki frenulum
• Kecuali untuk skipper jenis Regent Skipper Euschemon rafflesia (Hesperiidae) dari Australia yang merupakan satu satunya skipper yang memiliki frenulum.

Posisi Hinggap:

• Ngengat: Kalau hinggap sayapnya membentang.
• Kupu kupu dan Skipper: Kalau hinggap sayapnya berdiri menyatu.
• Namun banyak juga ngengat yang sayapnya beridiri seperti kupu kupu kalau sedang hinggap. Sedangkan ada kupu kupu seperti misalnya Lycaerid dari sub keluarga Riodininae, dan skipper dari sub keluarga Pyrginae sayapnya membentang kalau sedang hinggap.

Kaki Depan:

• Ngengat: Kaki depannya tumbuh lengkap.
• Kupu kupu: Kaki depannya tidak tumbuh lengkap/tidak beruas
• Skipper:  Walau seringya kaki depannya tumbuh normal tapi ada beberapa yang tak lengkap seperti kupu kupu

Pupa:

• Ngengat: Pupa membuat kepompong
• Kupu kupu dan Skipper: Tidak mempunyai kepompong
• Namun banyak juga ngengat yang tak memiliki kepompong dan banyak kupu kupu dan skipper melekatkan diri didaun.

Kegiatan:

• Ngengat: Terbang dimalam hari.
• Kupu kupu dan Skipper: terbang disiang hari.
• Kekecualian:  Ada beberapa kupu kupu dan skipper yang aktif disenja hari dan cukup banyak ngengat yang juga terband disiang hari.

Gambar Kupu kupu yang warna warni:

 Menarik juga perbedaan antara kupu kupu, skipper dan ngengat. Terus aku mikir nih, kalau kupu kupu dan skipper itu mirip ciri cirinya……Bagaimana bisa membedakan keduanya? Inilah perbedaan antara kupu kupu dan skipper:

• Skipper itu rata ratanya lebih kecil ukurannya jika dibandingkan dengan kupu kupu 
•  Seringnya skipper bertubuh pendek dan gemuk.
•  Pada umumnya skipper warnanya oranye, kuning, putih atau coklat.
•  Kalau terbang cepat dan bergerak naik turun seperti melompat lompat.

Gambar Skipper:

Papa

Lembut tutur sapamu, tenang penampilanmu

Seandainya hidup ini pertunjukan pentas

Dibelakang layarlah peranmu

Tidak banyak tampak tapi penting itu jelas

 

Setiap pagi kuberi makan burung tekukur dihalaman

Untuk mengenang dirimulah ini kulakukan

Kalau sampai bicara tentang binatang dan tanaman

Kurasa kau dan aku punya banyak persamaan

 

Kau dan akupun suka dengan lagu2

Musik keroncong dan gamelan Jawa

Merenung diri adalah kebiasaanmu

Aku jugalah yang melakukan hal yang sama

 

Papa, cintamu  kepada kita semua dulu

Kau wujudkan dalam dongeng dimalam hari

Rasa humorpun tercurah dicerita lucu

Yang membuat kita tertawa geli

 

Jika mungkin akan kujaring masa kecil kami supaya abadi

Karena waktu itu hidup ini terasa begitu indahnya

Saat itulah kenangan dirimu yang paling berarti

Kalau saja bisa kebahagiaan ini akan kupegang seeratnya

 

Papa, kini kau telah tiada lagi

Namun jika kudengar nyanyian tekukur bersahutan

Dan disaat alunan keroncong atau gamelan kunikmati

Keberadaanmu masih bisa dekat kurasakan

Bid The Last Farewell

How do you want to be remembered after death? It has made me think about a Chinese Emperor who was found buried together with thousands statues of his army and officials. It is believed that he wanted to take them to his next life. I’m not very sure if his morbid ambition would be true but did he realize that he had left one of the greatest archeological wonders in human civilization? The first Qin Emperor ‘Qin Shihuang Lin’ was laid to rest together with 8000 human size statues of his soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 250 cavalry horses.

 

The picture is a replica of a Qin Emperor’s Statue that my hubby gave me as a Christmas present few years ago.

 

Last year, I had a chat with a relative of mine and she said that she told her sons and daughter to be kind and generous for her while she is still alive and it is no use and just waste of money to give her an over the top funeral and tomb stone. Then she told me a story about some of the rich mausoleums. They resemble miniature opulent mansions all made of marble stone. She said that too many poor people didn’t even have enough money to eat, how could you be laid to rest in peace with such waste of money?

The other day my son saw me re-potting my bonsai trees and for awhile he was standing there watching what I was doing. I said to him that he has to learn how to look after bonsai so in the future after I have died he will know how to do it. I also said that in Japan and China bonsai trees are passed on from generation to generation. I know that he hates gardening and jokingly he said that he can bury me with all my bonsai trees so that I can look after them over there. Yes, yes very funny, I said and we both ended up laughing.

After that conversation with my son, I have started to think about life, death and funeral. I remember one time I attended a funeral and in the speech for the celebration of life, there is a very long list and details about all the places from all around the world that the departed visited during her life time. I know that she loved to travel, but I started to think if it was necessary to tell everyone all those travel details while there were more important things to recall like for examples the personality, the life struggles, the pain and joy of life…..

I think a speech to celebrate a life during a funeral should be an honest account about the person, about his/her positive and negative traits. It reminds me of a daughter who talked about her mother on her funeral and she did it cleverly and honestly. In a nostalgic way she reminisced some of the squabbles between herself and her mother when she was younger. She mentioned how tough, stubborn and pig headed her mother was a lot of times, but she was thankful for her strong upbringing and true motherly love that had lead her to a successful achievement in her life. The speech was delivered casually and it was beautiful, funny and sad all at the same time.

I can’t imagine to be buried with all my bonsai trees on the top of my coffin. Instead I prefer to be cremated and then toss my ash at the open sea so that I will forever travel all around the world.   

 

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there, I did not die.

Mary Elizabeth Frye (1905-2004)

Australian Hibiscus A. huegelii

This Alyogyne huegelii plant  is a newly addition to our garden. During the long drought last year some of our plants suffered and were dying. So we had replaced them with native plants  that are more dry tolerance. I find that this species of Australian Native Hibiscus is thriving nicely.

Alyogyne huegelii which is also commonly known as Lilac hibiscus is found naturally growing in Southwest of Western Australia. It is one of many other species of Australian native hibiscus. Although it is the mauve colour that is commonly cultivated and sold for garden plant, there is another one with cream colour.

The plant can grow up to 4 meters high and it needs to be pruned regularly to keep it in a reasonably compact shape. The bright green leaves are divided into five sections with irregular margin. They are strongly veined and covered by fine hair (pubescent). Both the leaf and flower stems are also pubescent.

The single flowers have five soft and thin overlapping luminous petals, they almost look like crepe paper in appearance. The yellow center of the flowers is a pretty contrast to mauve petals. The flowercan grow up to 7 cm long.

Hibiscus A huegelii will grow best in sandy soil but it also grow well in any ordinary garden soil. It tolerates extremely dry condition and frost.

The name Huegelii was derived from the name of a German botanist and naturalist Baron Charles von Huegel (1795 – 1870) who was an avid collector of Australian native plants.

Like any other Australian native hibiscus, it is sometimes hard to find this plant in garden nurseries. Maybe you have to go to a special nursery for Australian native plants. However, once you find it and have it grown in your garden, it will be one of your very versatile plants with pretty purple flowers.

Happy Gardening!!

Sahara

Bentangan butir butir pasir menggunung

Dibagian bumi ini gersang dan dahaga

Silau terik mentari membakar membara

Dinginnya kelam malam mencekam raga

 

Disini bumi ini berganti pandang

Gelintiran pasir pasir itu tidak diam

Angin sahara melukiskan banyak gambar

Ombak pasir menggulung lembut dibukit curam

 

Dari jauh datang seorang kelana

Pasir pasir gugur kena injakan onta

Oasis hijau itu tujuan mereka

Untuk beristirahat dbawah pohon kurma

 

Jumat, 5 Juni 2009

Senja

Senja

 

Putaran siang hari hampir usai

Dengan enggan mentari pergi

Lembayung senjapun membingkai

Bukit batu memerah warna api

 

Detik demi detik jingga memudar

Pelan pelan bukit itu menghitam

Bayang bayang gelap terhampar

Tidurlah surya dipelukan malam

 

Rabu, 3 Juni 2009

Cyberfriend

Cyber Friend

 

Jari jemari menari nari

Menuliskan kata kata

Dengan cara ini

Kita berdua berbicara

 

Tertuanglah kata hati

Tercurahkanlah semua hasrat

Dengan asyiknya

Kita menjalin kasih mesra

 

Namun siapakah engkau sebenarnya?

Siapakah aku ini gerangan?

Nama kitapun bukan yang sebenarnya

Cyberworld telah menciptakan kita berdua

 

Namun apakah kau hanya satu satunya?

Ataukah banyak bayang bayangmu?

Bagaimana aku bisa tahu

Sama semuakah bayang bayang itu?

 

 

Kumpulan Sajak dan Gambar oleh Lois/Wulan

22 Mei, 2009

Bermuka Dua

Bermuka Dua

 

Berseri  paras secerah surya

Gelap hati sehitam kelam

Dialah perempuan bermuka dua

Manis diluar tapi keruh didalam

 

Bagaikan kupu hinggap dibunga

Iapun terbang kesana kemari

Sambil asyik menghisap madu

 Bergunjinglah ia kesana sini

 

Dibalik ramahnya tutur kata

Sembunyilah iri dan dengki

Kepada mereka yang tak disuka

Tak segan ia menyakiti hati

 

 

 

Sajak dan Gambar oleh Lois /Wulan

Jumat, 22 Mei 2009

Mother’s Day Lunch in Marysville.

For celebrating Mother’s Day, my son M took us to Marysville. Since they had re-opened the roads around the area after the Black Saturday Fire in February, there was a Café Bakery in Marysville remained standing untouched by the fire. It was now open its business again. We heard it on the radio that we should visit Marysville and had a nice lunch there so that we could helped them with the business. Part of the profit from this Café would be donated for helping the area.

The travel along Maroondah Hwy was quite busy. How fortunate that the area around Healsville was not touched by the fire at all. The cool and leafy garden at the Maroondah Reservoir remained beautiful. Some varieties of old pine trees that grew there add the charm of the garden that was perfect for a picnic.

When we were getting closer to Marysville Rd, my heart was saddened to see many tall gum trees along the highway were black and charred. It was surprised that the area around Black Spur remained cool and green. The Black Spur Motel and Pub was still standing there and it was open like usual.

Soon after our Nissan Patrol turned right into Marysville Rd, from far away we saw many of the gum trees were covered by green colour similar to moss on their burnt trunks. Soon as I caught the glimpse of them closer, I realized that the process of regeneration had started to happen. How amazing, after exposed to the extreme heat and completely engulfed by fire, in a matter of few weeks, these trees had started to re-grow soon after the rains fell. Other fierce survivors were those tree ferns. Though the trunks were burnt black, the fresh green leaves were still proudly growing to tell us that there was still life remained.

Here and there we saw the remains of the burnt houses scattered in many properties along the road. There were stacks of corrugated iron-sheets twisted and turned by the extreme heat of the fire. Almost all buildings in Marysville perished. The petrol station and the police station were not there anymore. But there in the corner we saw this local Café Bakery was still standing and it was very busy with customers. Before eating at the café, we decided to drive to Stephenson Fall, but the water fall park was still closed. I could imagine that beautiful place was all destroyed.

Lunch at that local Café Bakery in Marysville was very appetizing. The queue was very long but everyone was happily waiting for their turn. There were various pies, sausage rolls, pasties, chips, sandwiches etc on the menu, but the display of various sweet pastries and pies attracted me the most. I had an apple slice and it was delicious. The apple crumble pie and granny slice were also very yummy. They were cooked just like in the olden days. A cup of fragrant and frothy cappuccino completed our lunch.