An alphabet soup
of earnest dreams repackaged
for artless wallets.
#551 Tentang Pemergian Seorang Sahabat
Malam ini aku dikejutkan
Dengan berita pemergianmu, sahabat
Terlalu lama kita tidak bersua
Dan kerinduan itu kini takkan terubat
Kau telah pergi meninggalkan kami
Malam ini aku mengenangkan
Satu demi satu ingatan padamu, sahabat
Terlalu lama aku bertangguh untuk berjumpa
Kini saatnya sudah terlewat
Kau telah pergi ke alam abadi
Damailah di sana, sahabat
Kita bakal ketemu nanti.
(buat sahabatku Abas, moga Allah merahmati)
#550 Tentang Kecewa Yang Enggan Terpadam
Jiwa terpatah
Mungkir amanah
Nanah menular
Marah mengakar
Porak peranda
Merana jiwa
Hayat terkandas
Berang terlafaz
Kasih tercalar
Hati terbakar
Pendam kecewa
Terluka hampa.
#549 On Getting Here
How did I get here?
Those days were dark and heavy.
I know I’ve earned this.
#548 On That Two-Bit Crook
I cannot fathom
An entire nation, deceived
By a two-bit crook.
#547 On Your Own Time
You think of Time
As the continuum of your own reality
The ebb and flow of history
As it weaves around the fabric of your Life
But this Time
Your Time
- is but one Time amongst many
Just another wave
Amongst each successive wave
Beating against the beach of Existence
And you think of Time
As the ticking of your own clock
The coming and going of your days
The sunrises and sunsets of your Life
But this Time
Your Time
- is but one Time amongst many
And when your time is done
Time will still be here
Like the waves of an endless ocean
Beating against the shores of Being
At the sunset of God's great Creation.
(inspired by Kat Rahmat and Michel Serres)
#546 On Distracting Ourselves from Thoughts of the Scythe of Death
We talk of medicines and supplements
Procedures and cures
Pontificate on surgical practices
Speculate on therapeutic panaceas
In the vain hope
That speaking of technology and treatments
Can help to stave off
The scythe of Death.
#545 Tentang Pembunuhan di Bumi Aqsa
Berbunuhan di bumi Aqsa
Nyawa kudus melayang gampang
Dulu mangsa, kini pemangsa
Rasuk shaitan bersorak menang.
#544 On Things That Remain Unsaid
Seventy years old today:
I thought of sending you a text
To wish you Happy Birthday
A small gesture of kindness
But that moment passed
Just that one second
Because I realised
That I don't really know you
And you never really wanted to know me
So things will remain unsaid
Because you were never interested in listening
And I have given up trying.
(This is my way of asking for God's forgiveness. No, not yours. It is you who need to seek mine.)
#543 Tentang Kesabaran Yang Telah Lebur
Kumat kamit merungut marah
Satu alam menanggung berang
Sabar hati terlebur sudah
Mohon tuan berambus pulang!