#679 On Satori (Sunday Morning)

Waking up and praying Subuh
Reciting His uncreated Words
The gentle chirp of birds outside my window
An early morning hike through Bukit Kiara
Ice cold fruit juice on the way down
Roti canai and idli, with crisp fried chicken
Iced coffee with honey
Michael Bolton singing “Go The Distance”
Sitting here with my beloved
And a good book:

- This is Satori.

#677 On Bad Words

Five years in and I learnt all the bad words
The terms of endearment smeared with vulgarity
The hollerings of young impudent boys at ease with the barbarity
Of curses and cuss words

Take me not back to those years of
Savage putdowns and uncertain jocularity
Of ravaged hearts and ruinous hilarity
The cruel currency of teenage boys

Instead, let me meditate on the noise and din
Of classrooms and the boys and girls within
The drama of pining hearts, the original sin
Of birds and bees playing their own parts
To perfection

We laughed in artful jest and mannered scorn
To mask our youthful hurts and hearts forlorn.

#675 Tentang Kesibukan dan Hati Yang Berpalu

Di tengah-tengah kesibukan
Bangsar dan segala kekejarannya
Aku bersimpuh memohon keampunan
Mengucap nama-Mu Tuhan ar-Rahman
Mengucup dahi pada lantai maidan

Dengan jiwa penuh dahaga
Aku berteguk pada wadi Yang Maha Esa
Di lidahku mengalir kalimat-kalimat kudus
Mengalun mengubat hati yang tertandus

Tuhanku,
Redakan hatiku yang sering gering berpalu
Hanya pada-Mu aku berpaling mengadu.

#674 On This Red Line

This is where the line is drawn
Marked out here in crimson blaze
No white knight, no foolish pawn
I refuse your hollow praise
Go on, glance with murd’rous bile
My own stillness spurns your guile.

#669 Tentang Kedatangan Izrail

Masa merusuh lari
Usia pantas memburu
Sesal membungkam hati
Jiwa terluruh kelu

Apa erti gah dan harta?
Apa makna wang dan kuasa?
Hanya dedaunan kering di ranting usia
Datang Izrail, terasing hampa.