It's Malaysia's National Day

[jhameia]

... I really ought to have written something about this maybe 12 or 24 hours earlier, but instead I shall just link you to the 4th Asian Women's Blog Carnival's call for submissions!!!!!!


ETA OK, I shall also share a poem.

songsang (buat tok awang)
a. latiff mohidin

maafkan aku
jika aku sering saja
berlaku songsang

terutama
di perayaan tahunan
seperti hari ini

apabila orang
bangun berdiri
aku duduk

apabila orang
bertepuk tangan
aku diam

apabila orang
ghairah berbincang
aku tidur

apabila orang
lepaskan merpati
aku taburkan padi

orang lain
telah merdeka
aku belum

maafkan aku
jika aku sering saja
berlaku songsang

aku sekadar ingin
mengingatkan


My weak translation:

Forgive me
if I'm being contrary
and acting arbitrary (topsy-turvily)

especially
on annual celebrations
like today

when people
rise to stand
I sit

when people
clap hands
I am silent

when people
discuss actively
I sleep

when people
release doves
I spread (on the ground) (paddy) rice

other people
have gained [freedom / independence]
I haven't

Forgive me
if I'm being contrary
and acting arbitrary (topsy-turvily)

I only wish
to remember

Comments

[yiliang.livejournal.com]

Songsang! Ha!
Haven't heard that poem/seen that poem in a while. Saw it used in Lat's Mat Som as a kid, but only now have got the meaning.

kudos to reposting it :-)