Rahman shaari’s poem for IWABOGDANI
Rahman Shaari was born on 5th Sept 1949, in Perlis. Received primary education in Perlis, then at Alam Shah School, in Cheras, KL. He entered Sultan Idris Teacher Training College in 1970 and continued his education at the National University of Malaysia (UKM) in 1973 and gained his Bachelor’s degree in Literature 1976. After working at the Ministry of Education for 6 years, he continued his stuies at UKM, and obtained his Master’s degree. He was appointed as a lecturer at the Faculty of Education ini 1988. In 1991, he attended a course on international writing at the University of Iowa, USA. In 2003, he was appointed as a Professor at Media Studies Department. Rahman Shaari received the S.E.A Write Award in 2007. He is currently the President of Malaysian Poetry Association (Penyair) .
Deep Effect in My Heart
Quiet around me
No one passed by
Effect of covid attack
I see tree one by one
All freezing
Breeze becoming lazy ?
Or it is my heart that froze
Burdened by duress environment
Conscience touched
World speaking sadly
In the lock up/cell
Self talking to myself
Repeated questions in silent language
The answers are boredom
Surrounded by meaning after meaning
Weak and slow
Is my movement
Seized by restlessness and doubt
I observed once more
From this window pane
Hundred of cars stalled
Quiet for many days
Colour all the quietness
For a long time I am not hearing
Challenging idea
Meaning cover by meaning
For a long time not seeing Friend’s face Happy and full of fun
All left in memory
I waited for weeks
For worry and anxious voices
Random by sad news
If canary whistle
At this very moment
Surely will leave deep feelings in the heart
But worry still exist
If covid pandemic didn’t end
TERKESAN JAUH KE HATI
Kelilingku lengang tiada lalu Lalang kesan covid menyerang.
Kulihat pohonan satu-satu semuanya kaku, malaskah bayu?
Atau yang kaku ialah hatiku ditekan suasana sendu kalbu terharu, alam berkata sayu.
Dalam kurungan diri bicara dengan diri soalan berulangan dalam bahasa sepi.
Jawapan ialah kebosanan terkepung erti berkali-kali.
Yang lemah dan lambat ialah gerakku dicengkam resah dan ragu.
Kuulangi perhati dari kaca jendela ini puluhan mobil terhenti diam puluhan hari mewarna segala sepi.
Lama tak kudengar hujah mencabar makna menutup makna.
Lama tak kulihat wajah teman-teman segar riang kejenakaan.
Semua hanya dalam ingatan
Kutunggu berminggu-minggu ada suara bimbang ragu berselang berita pilu.
Jika bersiul kenari saat-saat begini tentu terkesan jauh ke hati
Namun resah tetap berlangsung selagi covid tidak berhujung.
POEM WRITTEN BY RAHMAN SHAARI TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY DR. RAMLAH JANTAN UNIVERSITI PENDIDIKAN SULTAN IDRIS, TG.MALIM, MALAYSIA. EDITED BY SITI RUQAIYAH HASHIM. COPYRIGHT RESEREVED