i grew up in a volcano.
visitors marvel at the vegetation above me
- lush forests growing from fertile soil
failing to hear plates crashing
into each other.
deep within the dark earth,
high pressured liquid fires and deathly fumes
are ever on the verge of erupting
and i'm tired.
2019-02-13, 4.50pm
Showing posts with label nature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nature. Show all posts
67: the sole battle
at the end of the day
these rows of lustrous lots
these groups of vague vendors
these lines of scripted sentences
are operating
like an oasis
in the middle of nowhere;
offering
promises
to care less;
promises
that are careless.
because
as you get closer,
you would soon realise
your eyes wildly looking around to soak in the vision of what you are able to (par)take,
your mouth salivates with the thought of how that sparkling pond water would taste,
your fingers would carelessly reach out to touch, feel, things you have longed for.
all to satisfy
your natural instincts
your worldly desires
your own foolishness.
and yet, you make a run for it.
you run like your life depended on it.
does it?
does our life depend on whether we reach this oasis,
despite knowing that
we are still
lost
and
alone
in a desert?
perhaps we have lost sight of
or lost track of
or have completely removed ourselves of the thought that
there is
an untouched-as-yet lake
up in the virgin mountains
just waiting
for us
to have a swim.
may we all win the battle
against ourselves
when we face a mirage
in the comforting disguise
of an oasis.
may we all reach that lake.
ameen.
why are we killing each other
and ourselves
in a race
to reach an oasis
that is only a mirage?
these rows of lustrous lots
these groups of vague vendors
these lines of scripted sentences
are operating
like an oasis
in the middle of nowhere;
offering
promises
to care less;
promises
that are careless.
because
as you get closer,
you would soon realise
your eyes wildly looking around to soak in the vision of what you are able to (par)take,
your mouth salivates with the thought of how that sparkling pond water would taste,
your fingers would carelessly reach out to touch, feel, things you have longed for.
all to satisfy
your natural instincts
your worldly desires
your own foolishness.
and yet, you make a run for it.
you run like your life depended on it.
does it?
does our life depend on whether we reach this oasis,
despite knowing that
we are still
lost
and
alone
in a desert?
perhaps we have lost sight of
or lost track of
or have completely removed ourselves of the thought that
there is
an untouched-as-yet lake
up in the virgin mountains
just waiting
for us
to have a swim.
may we all win the battle
against ourselves
when we face a mirage
in the comforting disguise
of an oasis.
may we all reach that lake.
ameen.
why are we killing each other
and ourselves
in a race
to reach an oasis
that is only a mirage?
24: Nature vs Nurture
you always make it seem
like my sole purpose
in life
is to hurt you.
with the way i
walk,
talk,
argue,
and refuse;
the way i
hesitate,
aggravate,
disappoint,
and miss your point (of view).
i do wonder
if your image of me
is not entirely
untrue.
really,
i don't mean to be mean,
but there are times i think
subconsciously,
i do.
like my sole purpose
in life
is to hurt you.
with the way i
walk,
talk,
argue,
and refuse;
the way i
hesitate,
aggravate,
disappoint,
and miss your point (of view).
i do wonder
if your image of me
is not entirely
untrue.
really,
i don't mean to be mean,
but there are times i think
subconsciously,
i do.
12.12am
18: In the name of development
On my way to Melawati today,
I looked to my left
and saw the once-beautiful trees, uprooted.
I looked at my mom who was driving
and asked her what had happened to the trees.
She said the roads couldn't accommodate
the number of drivers;
our roads needed to be widened,
it's part of development.
On my way back from Melawati,
I looked to my left
and saw the once-glorious hills, flattened.
I looked at the notice on the zinc wall
and read what had happened to the hills.
It said the lowlands couldn't accommodate
the number of families;
our houses needed to be multiplied,
it's part of development.
"LOOK!"
Mom suddenly said, interrupting my thoughts.
I turned to see what she had seen;
and saw the off-late stormy skies, clearing.
I looked at the fluffy white clouds
and the evening sun behind it, glowing summery shades.
It made me wonder: how much time
do we have left before
our heavens disappear,
in the name of development?
---
080312 @ 21:26
I looked to my left
and saw the once-beautiful trees, uprooted.
I looked at my mom who was driving
and asked her what had happened to the trees.
She said the roads couldn't accommodate
the number of drivers;
our roads needed to be widened,
it's part of development.
On my way back from Melawati,
I looked to my left
and saw the once-glorious hills, flattened.
I looked at the notice on the zinc wall
and read what had happened to the hills.
It said the lowlands couldn't accommodate
the number of families;
our houses needed to be multiplied,
it's part of development.
"LOOK!"
Mom suddenly said, interrupting my thoughts.
I turned to see what she had seen;
and saw the off-late stormy skies, clearing.
I looked at the fluffy white clouds
and the evening sun behind it, glowing summery shades.
It made me wonder: how much time
do we have left before
our heavens disappear,
in the name of development?
---
080312 @ 21:26
Labels:
11-20,
awareness,
destruction,
development,
disappointment,
english,
environment,
free verse,
landscape,
malaysia,
nature,
nonhaiku-E,
poem,
poetry,
rain,
society,
storm,
sun,
weather,
world
10: Force of nature
Earth shakes violently
as giant Waves loom over;
their Spirit: intact.
as giant Waves loom over;
their Spirit: intact.
This is dedicated to the amazing people in Japan who are courageously dealing with the aftermaths of the recent earthquake and tsunami that hit several parts of the region. Countless lives are affected by this tragedy, but many remain positive, continuing to light the nation's beacon of hope.
Seeing all the positive messages from the young and old, from doers to observers of sheer kindness, from survivors as well as helpers... Japanese people, you are a force of nature yourselves.
My prayers are with you Japan. Stay strong.
がんばってください！
For more info about Japan's story and to find out how to help, visit this link.
8: The fallen trees
The chainsaw rumbles
as trees come tumbling down;
A part of me dies.
as trees come tumbling down;
A part of me dies.
Translation
Gergaji mengaum
apabila pokok menyembah bumi;
Sebahagian diriku mati
I don't like the constructions going on my campus right now. It makes me sad seeing the trees get chopped off and the general green areas get levelled, some lecture rooms getting destroyed, all these walkways being closed off... All this 'modernisation'... do we really need it? I mean, I like technology and all, but living in a concrete jungle all the time - it can't possibly be good for the mind, body and soul can it?
I miss walking around Canterbury University... now that's the closest place to heaven(ly campus) on earth.
4: Music from the outside
Outside, I hear sounds
of crickets, birds and cars
Music to my ears
of crickets, birds and cars
Music to my ears
Translation
Di luar, kudengar
cengkerik, burung dan kereta
Irama merdu
2: Senja negara orang
Waktu senja
bila ditempat asing
beza gelapnya.
Translation
Dusk
in a foreign land
in a foreign land
has a different kind of darkness
Where I come from, the day gets dark around 7pm. Where I currently am (at least in this season) it gets dark around 8.30pm. In a different season however, it can get dark much earlier - sometimes around 5pm.
It never fails to amuse me how darkness creeps in at different times - and at different speeds - in different parts of the world. In some places, these depend on the time of the year; in other areas, it barely changes, if at all. It feels almost as if each place has its unique kind of darkness to me. Maybe I'm not making much sense, but oh well.
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