Category Archives: Language

On Children

[one_two_one_first] [/one_two_one_first][one_two_one_second] [dropcap background=”yes”]A[/dropcap]nd a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, “Speak to us of Children.” And he said: Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you, yet they […]

Nothing Left to Say – Blues Gang

Nothing Left to Say Translation by Bin Gregory Productions Riding my bike down to the store Middle of the day, in the middle of the heat Who’s got the strength to tap rubber Nothing left to say If I could, I’d be a school teacher Down in Kuala Pilah Fields of paddy, buffalos all over Water […]

Tapai ubi, tapai nasi

A banana leaf wrapped and held with lidis could hold just about anything. In this case, it holds tapioca root, ubi kayu, that has … crossed over. Normally a dense, bland, starchy tuber considered poverty food or at best home cooking, it is transformed into a pillowy soft sweetness soaking in a fiery liqueur

Man Papaya

“As large as papaya, as small as keranji,
Break a branch and the fruit falls down
A face so lovely with manners so ugly
Is like rain falling murky and brown”
Growing papaya, or betik, from seed is easy enough – sow them on loose soil straight from the fruit and they’ll come up without trouble. The tough part is figuring out if your tree is a boy or a girl…

Gurindam 12 Fasal 5

by Raja Ali Haji (1808-1873) [two_first] This is the gurindam of the fifth issue: If you wish to know the people of high birth, in manners and speech are shown their worth. To know the people of happiness, avoid involvement in the meaningless. To know the man of high distinction, look upon his deeds and […]

Daun Inai

Daun inai banyak getahnya, Ambil segenggam pewarna kuku, Wahai adik abang bertanya, Apa obat penawar rindu. Thick with sap run the henna’s leaves Take some in hand your nails for dying O young maiden, your lover asks you What salve is there to heal longing?   Gadis ditegus lalu dikenyit Baik perangai pandang tak jemu […]