Melayu Afrika

Melayu Afrika yang aku cari
sawo matangnya semakin gelap
putih hatinya bertambah cerah
pencak silatnya bertukar rentak
dan kalaulah kata-katanya
menikam Afrikaan dengan lidah
Melayu tidak akan hilang di Afrika.

Dan kalaulah hatinya
tidak kecut kerana benar
Melayu akan besar dengan kemanusiaan.

Pretoria 14.4.97


The Malay of Africa
dark skin getting darker
white heart getting brighter
his martial art changed rhythm
how if his words?
punch Afrikaans with tongue
the Malays will not disappear in Africa.

And if his heart
aren't scared from the truth
the Malay will be bigger than human-kind.

Sweetening the Bend

Can you feel the difference
rivers meander through dense jungle
pristine environment
rough seas in arrogant cities
cities of dream.

Or have you build up
a mountain of animals
to be king in the seas
with all watery world
sweetening the bend.

Kemanisan Di Seberang Tanjung

Bisakah engkau bezakan
hutan belantara daripada sungai yang merentasi
daerah sepi
laut yang bergelora daripada kota yang bersengketa
kota mimpi.

Atau bisakah engkau himpunkan
segala serigala dari gunung
menjadi raja di muara
menghimpun segala kemanisan
di seberang tanjung.

Sarikei
1 Apr 1991

The Story of a Glass House

That's how it goes;
the story of a glass of the house
built of what is left of the winds
and burnt - out energies.

The Rio Summit a decade ago
filled with green promises
remembering the senses
waving the flags of equality
all set to save the world.

A glass house is built
on the top of a great mountain
mankind has no choice
the glass house means life
a polluted atmosphere
birds have disappeared
ships stranded ashore
fishes and poisoned
forrests without trees
the sun's rage is hell
the moon losses its lustre
and cities arre moments of past fury.

And that's how it goes;
the story of a glass house
on the top of a great mountain.

Cerita Sebuah Rumah Kaca

Demikianlah;

cerita sebuah rumah kaca

dibangunkan dari sisa-sisa angin

dan kuasa-kuasa yang terbakar.

Sidang Rio sekurun lalu

penuh dengan janji-janjai menghijau

menghimbau deria

mengibar panji-panji saksama

berazam selamatkan dunia.

Sebuah rumah kaca terbina

pada puncak gunung teragung

manusia tiada pilihan

rumah kaca adalah kehidupan

atmosfera yang tercemar

burung-burung telah menghilang

kapal-kapal tersadai di pantai

ikan-ikan tertuba diri

hutan-rimba ketiadaan belantara

amarah matahari adalah neraka

bulan hilang sinarnya

dan kota adalah tugu-tugu dendam silam.

Dan demikianlah;

cerita sebuah rumah kaca

pada puncak gunung teragung.

miri 16.11.92

There is a secret yet to be explained

They say the jungle is full of sounds
of wolves and animals
of birds warbling
and dense vegetation
harbouring
poisonous spiders.

They say there is a river flowing wearily
between hills and mountains
and a voice rustling
among the frail and dried branches
they say there is a river drifting
between the trees.

They say there is a fractured mountain
between two islands and sea pebbles
and fishermen have drowned
between the ripling waves.

They say between us
between jungles, river and sea
there is a secret coiled around a drream
there is a secret yet to be explained.

Kampung Ini

Kampung ini
kita jadikan sebuah kota
putera-puterinya kita berikan mahkota
jampi serapahnya kita jadikan puisi
sepi rindunya kita dendangkan lagu dan irama
makan minumnya kita hidangkan martini dan steak
dan malamnya kita taburkan bulan dan bintang

Akan bangunkah nanti seorang nelayan
dengan sebuah luncur angin.

Sarikei
10.3.88









My Village

This village
let's turn it into a city
let's crown its citizenry
let's make poetry out of their chants
let's sing their loneliness & longings
let's serve them martini and steak
and let's sprinkle the moon
and the stars across their night.

Will a fishermen then rise
on a sky glider?

Our Village

We build and develop our village
On a history of bloodiness and restlessness
We are farmers ploughing the rise-fields
We are fishermen ploughing the wide seas
Though we are poor
We will develop the village
Throughout the land.

And our village made of brilliant glass
Our village has a crystal clear river
There are the famous from amongst us
Wisely promoting for the good of many
Our village are peopled by civilised beings
Sophisticated in every way.

We build and develop our village
Among the trees in the jungle
among birds and animals
our children grow into perfect beings
Our village is inhibited by the famous
Who value the jewel of life
And we will continue
to build our village
in all corners of the land
to attain glory.

So that's how it goes;
A story about our village
One decade after the year of the vision
lost in the mega-cities.

Kampung Kami

Kami membina dan membangunkan kampung
dari resah berdarah menempa sejarah
kami petani mengerjakan sawah ladang
kami nelayan mengharungi lautan luas
meski kami masih miskin
kami akan bangunkan kampung
seluruh negeri.

Dan kampung kami dari kaca bercahaya
kampung kami ada sungai mengalir jernih
ada manusia penghuninya orang termasyhur
bijak membangunkan kebaikan umat
kampung kami dari manusia bertamadun
canggih dari segala sifat.

Kami membina dan membangunkan kampung
di celah pohon-pohon kayu hutan
di antara segala burung dan margasatwa
anak-anak kami membesar manusia sempurna
bijak menilai permata kehidupan
dan kami akan terus
membina kampung kami
ke seluruh pelusok negeri
mengukir gemilang.

Dan demilianlah;
cerita dari sebuah kampung kami
seabad setelah tahun wawasan
hilang di kota mega.

Kuching 16.6.99