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Permalink Reply by Selina Cheong on May 25, 2008 at 9:02am

Hi - I was one of the pioneer members of the Kotekitai in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was formed in 1976 and I was 13 then!

Here's the poem. We used to recite it before every practice.

ANGELS OF PEACE

Angels of Peace, you bearers of culture
Ah, the fervent breath
Of my friends on fife and drum
You fashion a single ever-fresh flower
Dressing up our dreary world.

Marching to the flanks, or forward, or pinwheeling
At the Drum Major's bidding
The elegance of close-order drill
Creates a divinely fluid dance flowing from the fervour
That charges your minds, charges your bodies.

Along the chilly paths of discipline
In our chaotic and jaded age
Your radiant circle (a ring of life ringed with precious life)
Emits the sparkling good sense of youth
And a well-wrought song of triumph

Daughters of the nameless masses
Pioneers in smashing the walls between people
As you melt the seasoned ices of ideology
You are the unofficial envoys
True and trustworthy Angels of Peace.

Strangers to political craft
Strangers to diplomatic strategems
Without speaking a word, you spread our philosophy of peace
You extend the frontiers of friendship
Touching the people where they are.

Using neither bullets nor bayonets
But only simple fifes and drums
You play the basic rhythms of the Mystic universe
None can help responding from deep within
Certainly you shall spur the world to peace.

Yes, we find in you a florid oasis
Greening our spiritual desert!
Your light-hearted "Do-Re'Mi"
Your lyrical and lucid "Moonlight above the castle ruins"
Your "Symphony of Joy"

I shall never forget
Tears gleaming in the eyes of those angels
Who see from afar the bulwarks of world solidarity
Beyond the soaring horizon
I cheer the tunes in every glistening pearly tear.

As you evade the flames of war,
Clearing the din of progress
And announcing to all the New Truth
You light now one, now another
Light of life among us.

The lights you've lit merge into patterns
Spreading everywhere over the gloom,
Over the ugliness of these latter days
Your light soon will generate the passion'
To fire all our tomorrows.

p.s. I found the music piece as well - although a little faded. If you interested, I will re-write it and try and find a way to post it here.

Permalink Reply by kumi on May 25, 2008 at 8:52pm

Wasn't it a poem Sensei made? This is nice to see. I remember receiving this also but can't find it.
This is great! I am still determined to find my copy? Those were golden memories. Thank you Selina.