In the Midst
of Hardship
by Latiff Mohidin
At dawn they
returned home
their soaky
clothes torn
and
approached the stove
their limbs
marked by scratches
their legs
full of wounds
but on their
brows
there was
not a sign of despair
The whole
day and night just passed
they had to
brave the horrendous flood
in the water
all the time
between
bloated carcasses
and tiny chips
of tree barks
desperately
looking for their son’s
albino
buffalo that was never found
They were
born amidst hardship
and grew up
without a sigh or a complaint
now they are
in the kitchen, making
jokes while
rolling their ciggarete leaves.
He Had Such Quiet Eyes
by Bibsy Soenharjo
He had such quiet eyes
She did not realise
They were two pools of lies
Layered with thinnest ice
To her, those wuiet eyes
Were breathing desolate sighs
Imploring her to be nice
And to render him paradise
If only she’d been wise
And had listened to the advice
Never to compromise
With pleasure-seeking guys
She’d be free from ‘the hows and whys’
Now here’s a bit of advice
Be sure that nice really nice
Then you’ll never be losing at dice
Though you lose your heart once or twice.
Nature
by H.D. Carberry
We have neither Summer nor Winter
Neither Autumn nor Spring.
We have instead the days
When the gold sun shines on the lush green canefields-
Magnificently.
The days when the rain beats like bullet on the roofs
And there is no sound but thee swish of water in the gullies
And trees struggling in the high Jamaica winds.
Also there are the days when leaves fade from off guango
trees’
And the reaped canefields lie bare and fallow to the sun.
But best of all there are the days when the mango and the
logwood blossom
When bushes are full of the sound of bees and the scent of
honey,
When the tall grass sways and shivers to the slightest breath
of air,
When the buttercups have paved the earth with yellow stars
And beauty comes suddenly and the rains have gone.
Are You Still Playing Your Flute?
by Zurinah Hassan
Are you still playing your flute?
When there is hardly time for our love
I am feeling guilty
To be longing for your song
The melody concealed in the slim hollow of the bamboo
Uncovered by the breath of an artist
Composed by his fingers
Blown by the wind
To the depth of my heart.
Are you still playing your flute?
In the village so quiet and deserted
Amidst the sick rice fields
While here it has become a luxury
To spend time watching the rain
Gazing at the evening rays
Collecting dew drops
Or enjoying the fragrance of flowers.
Are you still playing your flute?
The more it disturbs my conscience
to be thinking of you
in the hazard of you
my younger brothers unemployed and desperate
my people disunited by politics
my friend slaughtered mercilessly
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