Pulasan grows at branch’s end Harvest keranji with a wooden rod O Man! Do not seek to be praised. Know that all praise is only for God. Ambil galah jolok keranji Buah pulasan di hujung dahan Manusia janganlah suka dipuji Segala puji kepunyaan Tuhan As durian season peters out, a couple of marginal fruits make […]
Tag Archives: pantun
Malay Garment Technology
Last weekend featured the most exciting Malaysian cultural event I’ve heard of in a long time: a flash mob of people wearing sarongs descended on the LRT lines in Kuala Lumpur. I would have joined in solidarity from Kuching, but, alas, we have no trains. We have Jalan Keretapi, but the train, tracks and station […]
International Poetry Translated
If you’ve enjoyed my feeble attempts to translate Malay poems and songs over the years, perhaps you’d like the Poetry Translation Centre. Contemporary poets of Asia, Africa and South America are translated into English by a two-step process: a native speaker translates the words literally, then the poets of PTC render it in poetic English. […]
Di dalam kuali bertemu juga
Garam di laut, asam di darat Di dalam kuali bertemu juga — Limes* from dry land, salt from the sea In the pot may meet eventually After ten years, I’ll finally be returning to the motherland with my whole family. Five of my children have never set foot in the US before. Of all […]
Buah Macang Buah Kuini
Buah macang buah kuini, Masak sebiji dalam daun; Mengapa begini hatiku ini, Habis bulan berganti tahun. A pair of fruits, Machang and Kwini Each one ripening wrapped in a leaf Oh why does this poor heart of mine feel like this? Each month of passing has turned into years Sarawak is blessed with an abundance of […]
Eid Mubarak, Selamat Hari Raya
Two, three cat running Not the same dog running Two, three day more raya coming Everything is ready huh?? Pandan Island far-far in the middle Daik Mountain has three branches During Ramadhan everybody struggles So during Syawal don’t spoil the chances Jump frog jump Jump high-high What knowledge u try Ketupat rendang very delicious High-high […]