Sunday, December 23, 2018
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
The Other Love Poem is the poem that I read in Singapore Writers Festival on 10. November 2018. The festival was from 2.11 to 11.11. Most events took place at the Art House Singapore Occupying the almost 200-year-old building that was Singapore's first Parliament House, The Arts House has played an active role in promoting Singapore arts and cultural events...
The other love poem
The other love poem
A sailor is in love with the waves
And eventually like the waves
He become a hopeless lover
A poet is in love with his words
And eventually the net of words
Entangled him from meaning
The sea is a fascinating spread
The jungle a passionate net
The poet is an ardent speaker
But the sea will not reveal its secret
The jungle will not reveal its secret
And one own self
Is the peak of all mysteries
All creation is a mean
Of getting to the creator
Yet how do I write a love poem
So that the purpose will not be hidden
By the medium
The World is a Shopping Mall
Shakespeare had said
All the world’s a stage
Men are merely actors
With many roles and many parts
In the hand of Beckett
The actors become slaves
Imprisoned on the stage
In a scene of waiting
In a play without ending
Today what if we say
That the world is a big market
We are traders or buyers without exception
Uttering the dialog of business transaction
This is a shopping mall for all
Also a display hall
With cunning promoters
Catching the social conscious
Who go on searching
And shopping for status
Whether this is a Shakespearean stage
Actors with many roles
And many faces
Or in the play by Beckett
The act of waiting on the set
We are no different from them
We’re being directed by materialism
The World is a Shopping Mall
Shakespeare had said
All the world’s a stage
Men are merely actors
With many roles and many parts
In the hand of Beckett
The actors become slaves
Imprisoned on the stage
In a scene of waiting
In a play without ending
Today what if we say
That the world is a big market
We are traders or buyers without exception
Uttering the dialog of business transaction
This is a shopping mall for all
Also a display hall
With cunning promoters
Catching the social conscious
Who go on searching
And shopping for status
Whether this is a Shakespearean stage
Actors with many roles
And many faces
Or in the play by Beckett
The act of waiting on the set
We are no different from them
We’re being directed by materialism
Monday, November 19, 2018
It was an honour and great pleasure to be invited to Singapore Writers Festival. I was happy to read poems to an attentive and appreciative audience. The event took place at the Art House Singapore. Happy to have the opportunity to meet fellow writers from all over the world. What a moment to remember.
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
De un Amor Que Nunca Sucede
El error fue
que no fuiste articulado
y yo no interpreté.
El error fue
que querÃes que yo compartiera un sueño
como si organizara un hermoso álbum
con fotografÃas
que nunca he visto.
El error fue
quen nos encontramos
en un suêno, dulce y feliz
pero me siento mucho más feliz
de haber despertado del sueño.
Of a Love that Never Happen
The mistake was
you were not articulate
and I did not interpret.
The mistske was
you wanted me to share a dream
like arranging a beautiful album
with photographs
that I've never seen.
The mistake was
we have met
in a dream, happy and sweet
but I feel much happier
to wake up from the sleep
Ingatan Pada Satu Kasih yang Tak Jadi
Ingatan Pada Satu Kasih yang Tak Jadi
Kesilapannya
Kau tidak berdaya berterus terang
Dan aku tidak berjaya mentafsir
Kesilapannya
Kau membina harapan
Bagai mengatur gambar-gambar
Pada sebuah album yang indah
Sedang aku tidak pernah melihat
gambar-gambar itu
Kesilapannya
Kita telah bertemu
dalam mimpi yang menggembirakan
Dan aku lebih gembira
Bila terjaga dari mimpi itu.
Sunday, September 23, 2018
KHALID SALLEH won the Best Actor Award for the Asia Pacific Film Festival.in 1999 for his role in Johgo directed by U Wei Haji Shaari. Khalid was the second actor after our legendary P.Ramlee to achieve such distinction. He passed away in July 2018. Yesterday we held a poetry and book launching event to commemorate him.
Suatu ketika bila saya menonton arwah Wak Khalid di pentas saya terkesan dengan dialognya yang padat dengan kritik sosial. Tetapi Wak Khalid agak pendiam dan sopan santun bila tidak berlakon. Dari sini terfikirlah saya bahawa Wak Khalid dan seniman2 rakyat sepertinya menggunakan pentas untuk melontarkan segala kekesalan yang terbuku terhadap golongan yang tidak membela rakyat. Di luar pentas mereka lebih diam dan menelan perasaan. Maka terfikirlah bahawa di pentas itulah mereka menjadi diri yang sebenar tetapi di luar pentas itulah mereka terpaksa berlakun. Lalu dalam sajak Pelakon Terbaik Kami saya menulis: "Sebaik turun kami pun berlakon" yang saya terjemahkan sebagai "The acting begins when the p
lay ends"
Andainya saya telah dihubungi untuk menulis tentang arwah sudah tentu saya akan kemukakan sajak ini..
Pelakon Terbaik Kami
Dia terpilih sebagai Pelakon terbaik
Dan kami cukup puas hati
setiap kali dia beraksi.
Antara lain yang paling kukenang
Dia melakonkan watak pawang
Dengan getar suara membaca mantera
Begitu lantang menghalau hantu jembalang
“Hey jin kepala tujuh
Jin bernama Jin khianat
Keluarlah kamu dari jasad rakyat
Anak cucuku sudah lama sakit tenat
Sudah lama melarat
Hey hantu segala hantu
Hantu pembelit hantu penipu
Jangan ganggu anak cucuku
Sehingga mereka lari ketakutan
Ke pinggir pinggir hutan
Tinggallah kamu dan para kroni
Menguasai kota ini.
.
Aku pernah bertanya dia
Sungguh hebat kau berlakon
Semua penonton terpegun
Bagaimana kau menjadi pawang
Bengis dan garang
Menghentak dan menendang
sangat berlainan dari dirimu
Yang sopan dan pendiam
Dia hanya tersenyum menjawab
Seperti biasa kata-katanya cukup terhad
yang kau lihat di pentas itu
Sebenarnya adalah aku
Di luar pentas aku adalah pelakon.
Yang menelan kemarahan
Menjadi sopan santun
Kerana di luar pentas
lebih ramai penonton
lay ends"
Andainya saya telah dihubungi untuk menulis tentang arwah sudah tentu saya akan kemukakan sajak ini..
Pelakon Terbaik Kami
Dia terpilih sebagai Pelakon terbaik
Dan kami cukup puas hati
setiap kali dia beraksi.
Antara lain yang paling kukenang
Dia melakonkan watak pawang
Dengan getar suara membaca mantera
Begitu lantang menghalau hantu jembalang
“Hey jin kepala tujuh
Jin bernama Jin khianat
Keluarlah kamu dari jasad rakyat
Anak cucuku sudah lama sakit tenat
Sudah lama melarat
Hey hantu segala hantu
Hantu pembelit hantu penipu
Jangan ganggu anak cucuku
Sehingga mereka lari ketakutan
Ke pinggir pinggir hutan
Tinggallah kamu dan para kroni
Menguasai kota ini.
.
Aku pernah bertanya dia
Sungguh hebat kau berlakon
Semua penonton terpegun
Bagaimana kau menjadi pawang
Bengis dan garang
Menghentak dan menendang
sangat berlainan dari dirimu
Yang sopan dan pendiam
Dia hanya tersenyum menjawab
Seperti biasa kata-katanya cukup terhad
yang kau lihat di pentas itu
Sebenarnya adalah aku
Di luar pentas aku adalah pelakon.
Yang menelan kemarahan
Menjadi sopan santun
Kerana di luar pentas
lebih ramai penonton
Di pentas aku bebas beraksi
Sebagai diri sendiri
Sebaik turun
Aku pun mula berlakon.
Sebagai diri sendiri
Sebaik turun
Aku pun mula berlakon.
Cerita dalam Cerita, ITBM, 2014
Our Best Actor
He won the Best Actor award
We did not question
As he was excellent
I remember he played so well
The role of a medicine man
His coarse angry voice trembled
chanting sermons
to drive away evil spirits and demons
“Hey, you seven-headed devils
Your name is treachery
Your name is corruption
Get out of the body and soul
Of my people
Whose life you had strangled
you plagued and tortured my grandchildren
that they ran into the jungle frightened
leaving you and your cronies
free to own the cities.”
Once I asked him
Your acting was marvellous
The audience was stunned
You rampaged the stage in rage
Shouting and kicking
This is different
From you that we know as a person
Gentle and soft spoken
He smiled and answered
As usual his words were limited
What you see on the stage was the real me
Screaming at the people in power
Off the stage I became an actor
swallowing my anger
and forced to remain silent
watched by the larger audience
On stage I am the real man
Who need not pretend
the acting begins.
when the play ends.
Our Best Actor
He won the Best Actor award
We did not question
As he was excellent
I remember he played so well
The role of a medicine man
His coarse angry voice trembled
chanting sermons
to drive away evil spirits and demons
“Hey, you seven-headed devils
Your name is treachery
Your name is corruption
Get out of the body and soul
Of my people
Whose life you had strangled
you plagued and tortured my grandchildren
that they ran into the jungle frightened
leaving you and your cronies
free to own the cities.”
Once I asked him
Your acting was marvellous
The audience was stunned
You rampaged the stage in rage
Shouting and kicking
This is different
From you that we know as a person
Gentle and soft spoken
He smiled and answered
As usual his words were limited
What you see on the stage was the real me
Screaming at the people in power
Off the stage I became an actor
swallowing my anger
and forced to remain silent
watched by the larger audience
On stage I am the real man
Who need not pretend
the acting begins.
when the play ends.
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Malaysian literature was brought about and developed as an impact of printing press. Literary works such as novels, short stories and poems were being printed and published in great numbers and as such no longer restricted to the courts/palaces or to the rich . The government contributed in this development by setting up reading centres where printed books, newspapers and journals were shared widely in the community.
besides the printed books, literature in the middle of the 19th century appeared in special columns in the newspapers. syair and pantuns were popular . translated news and features, printed mass media took over some of the functions of the traditional tellers of tales.
there were special space for short story, ushering of literary modernism in the first decades of 20th century 1920-1930s. Attracted young talents who later grow to be important writers and novelists,
earliest novel entittled hikayat panglima nikosa by ahmad shwal. one of eraliest tale about northwest borneo, first published in 1876.
The Dawn of Modern Malay Literature.
Abdullah munsyi came into the print age and wrote his work with idea that they were to be printed. His work were among the first to be published in Malaya and Singapore syair kampung gelam terbakar syair of the burning of gelam village 1847, hikayat pelayaran ke juddah, syair of the journey to jeddah 1820 and syair singapura terbakar. 1830. In
1838 Abdullah Abdul Kadir Munsyi published Kisah Pelayaran Abdullah ke Kelantan. The book is considered as the first Malay travelogue.
In
1849 Abdullah Abdul Kadir Munsyi
published a first memoir in Malay literature entitled Hikayat Abdullah, This,together with his travelogue Kisah Pelayaran Abdullah, and some other tittles, carry clear
authorship. They mostly contained his
observations and descriptions of
contemporary everyday events and happenings during his time, and much of his
opinions and social critiques. He spoke
freely of what he considered as the injustices and immoralities of the rulers and royalties under whose rules
the people (rakyat) were deprived of proper education.
Both
of the books and several other tittles did
away with realm of superhuman princes and princesses. For this individualism
and realism, Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir
Munsyi (1796-1854) is considered as
forerunner of modern Malay literature. The dawn of modern Malay literature is
said to begin with him.
However, Abdullah did not have immediate
followers. Development of modern Malay literature was marked years later.
1913- The birth of modern Malay poetry, known as
sajak with the publication `Angan-angan Dengan Gurindam` by Omar Mustaffa.
1925- The birth of novel in Malaya when the first
Malay novel Faridah Hanom, by Syed Sheikh Al Hadi was published. Although
the novel was an adaptation of Egyptian work, it discussed social problems relevant to Malay
society .
1925-
The emergence of short stories mostly in newspapers and magazines. Newspapers
regarded as important in the development of Malay short stories. Most short
stories discussed local issues especially in exhorting the Malays to work
towards progress and gain their rightful place in the advance of other races.
Among famous writer was Abdul Rahim Kajai who was named “Father of Malay Short
Stories”.
1929- Ahmad
Rashid Talu published his novel Kawan
Benar. This novel had been accepted as the first original Malay novel
with local Malay characters and Malay social background.
1930- The appearance of the first Malay women
magazine, Bulan Melayu, under the
leadership of Ibu Zain. The first issue was in June 1930. The magazines
contributed much to the awareness of the importance of education for women.
1934- the
publication of a short story by a woman writer, Hafsah, entitled Kesedihan Perkahwinan Paksa (The Misery
of Forced Marriage) in a magazine, Pengasuh.
Later
in the same year, a fiction entitled Waktu
Isyak Menangkap Pencuri written by Siti Nurmah, was published.
1934, THE new form of poetry gained importance
through the publications in Majalah Guru. A regular periodical
of Sultan Idris Training Cillege in
Tanjung Malim (SITC). SITC is noted for its contributions in the
development of Malay literature.
Mohd Yasin Makmor (Punggok) has been name as a pioneer in Malay poetry.
1941-
Novels written by women writers began to surface, after about 15 years after
the first novel written by a man writer. The novels are Panggilan
Ibunda (1948) by Kamariah Saadon and
Cincin Kahwin (Wedding Ring, 1948), by
Jahlelawati
1950.
The most significant event in the growth of Malay literature took place in
Singapore, with the formation of ANGKATAN
SASTERAWAN 50 or ASAS 50 on 6 August. This Writers’ Movement thrived as the oldest
Malay literary association and is still going on in Singapore today. It
represented the voice of the Malay community with its slogan Seni untuk Masyarakat or Arts for Society. Pioneers and leaders were well known writers
and journalists Muhammad Ariff Ahmad, Kamaluddin Muhammad, Masuri S.N.
Frente al Puerto
Cómo me molesta
cada vez que veo las luces del puerto
son las luces de nuestras fronteras
que nos recuerdan que nadie puede vivir sin un nombre
ni lealtad a un paÃs.
Pero nadie puede escoger su nombre
ni el paÃs en el que ha de nacer.
Translated into Spanish byPatricia Vazquez Marin
(Frente a Puerto/ Menghadap ke Pelabuhan: 2)
En Busca de Espacio
Repentinamente él se
levantó y apagó la luz
diciendo " Esta
habitación es más grande en la oscuridad
ya que no podemos ver los muros".
Yo encendà otra vez la luz
diciendo "Esta luz es
verdaderamente el espacio
y más frecuentemente estamos aprisionados
por los muros no podemos ver".
Translated into Spanish by Patricia Vazquez Marin
Frente a Puerto/ Menghadap ke Pelabuhan:, ITBM (Institute of Translation and Book, Malaysia 2012):
The Poet : ZURINAH HASSAN
Zurinah Hassan is the first Malaysian female writer to be conferred The title of National Laureate. She received the South East Asian Write Award in 2004.
Monday, September 10, 2018
The whole country is talking about Anwar Ibrahim,
Breaking news: He is contesting a by election in the Port Dickson parliamentary constituency. This by election is to facilitate his taking over premiership from Tun Mahathir. After all Pakatan Harapan had made it clear that Anwar is the prime minister in waiting. Anwar is currently the president of Parti KeAdilan Rakyat and the leader of Pakatan Harapan the parti ruling Malaysia after winning 14th General Election.
The constituency’s current Member of Parliament, Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah, has vacated his seat, to make way for this by-election.
But we still dont know what will happen? Some observers fear the by-election could cause instability
within the Pakatan Harapan government, which is still finding its feet
following five decades of rule by the Barisan Nasional coalition it toppled.
.
.
Thursday, September 6, 2018
This is a translation of my poem into Spanish. The original tittle is "Semut" . The same poem has been translated into English, French, Russian and Japanese. What inspired me about the ants?
1- They have no voice and no language but they communicate well with one another. This remind us of the wonders of God's creation.
2- Whenever one of them found food, it will transmit signal to others. Do we human do the same if we find anything good?. Most probably we will keep to ourselves.
3- Animals can talk to each other but they can only tell the truth. They cannot lie. This is different from us humans.
LAS HORMIGUITAS
Derramo un poco de miel sobre el suelo
Unas cuantas hormingas llegan
Unos minutos despues
Mas hormigas se aglutinan
Y en cuestion de segundos
Cientos de hormigas
Caminan en una linea
Observo y me pregunto como
Sin voz y sin sonido
Retinene a sus amigos
Siempre que encuentran comida
He leido de este hecho
Que los animales se communican
Observe y me deje llevar
Hasta que eccuche lo que uno hormiga tenia que decir
“No olvides que solo somos animales.
Nos comunicamos al pasar
Pero no podemos decir mentiras
No somos sofisticadas como los hombres
Ellos son la unica creacion de Dios
Bendicidos con la habilidad
De crear declaraciones inexactas
Y difundir historias falsas”
THE LITTLE ANTS
I drop a little honey on the ground
A few ants came around
A few minutes later
More ants gather
And in no time
Hundreds of ants
Are walking in a line
I watched and wondered how
Without voice and without sound
They gather their friends around
Whenever food is found
This fact I have read
Thet animals communicate
I watched and was carried away
Until I heard what an ant has to say
“Don’t forget we are just animals
We communicate as we pass by
But we cannot tell a lie
We are not sophisticated like men
They are the only God’s creation
with the ability
To make up untrue statements
And spread false stories.
Frente al Puerto (Menghadap ke Pelabuhan )published by Institute of Translation and Books, Malaysia, 2012.
THE JAPANESE TRANSLATION BELOW.
 |
The cover of French version . En Regardant la Port published by L Harmattan Paris and itbm Malaysia 2015. |
 |
Saturday, July 28, 2018
A JOURNEY THROUGH PROSE AND POETRY (ZURINAH HASSAN, 2018) was launched at Singapore National Library on July 22nd 2018.
The book is jointly published by International Islamic University dan Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
This book is about my involvement in writing. It covers a part of the long journey that I have gone through, from scribbling short poems in the unused pages of my exercise books during my childhood days, to being the first woman writer to be conferred the National Literary Award. This personal account of my experiences gives an insight into the sociological and cultural background that influence literary production of women writers in Malaysia. The book begins with a brief introduction of the early development of modern Malaysian literature and the emergence of women writers significant in the Malay literary scene. I talk of personal involvement in writing as a woman writer, the beginning and the struggle that followed. The long and winding road taken manifested the hardship that a woman in Malaysia has to overcome in pursuing the aspiration of becoming a writer. At the earlier stage, before the mid-70’s, writings by women did not receive due attention and review as they were usually considered of lesser quality than works produced by male writers.
This personal account of my experiences gives an insight into the sociological and cultural background that influence literary production of women writers in Malaysia. The book begins with a brief introduction of the notable women writers, some of which did not survive and vanish particularly after marriage.
I was born in 1949 in a rural area in the
north of Malaysia, and brought up by customs and norms typical of the place and
time. Being confined indoors by overprotective grandparents, my introduction to
literature was through traditional Malay poetry, mainly pantun and syair that
I encountered in folk songs and over the radio. I came to love reading and
writing at the time when the elders were not happy to see their young girls
spending so much time with books.
This personal account of my experiences gives an insight into the sociological and cultural background that influence literary production of women writers in Malaysia.
The
subject of women in patriarchal society is of interest and concern everywhere. For centuries human societies have tended
to assign different roles, codes of behaviour and morality, and even different
feelings and thoughts to men and women. In any society, especially so in Malay
society a few generations ago women were supposed to devote themselves almost
exclusively to the domestic sphere and avoid having strong desires and strong
opinions, especially in opposition to the men who were seen as their
‘guardians’. This situation influenced the ways in which men and women could
participate in public life including literature as writers, readers or critics.
The second part of the book contained excerpts of poetry
and short stories.
There
are mostly poetry and short stories on plight of women and other issues in
society which include poverty, the concern
for the younger generation, and the future of the nation.
This
book is a primary source of information on
the life and authorship of the only female Malaysian literary laureate, enriching the reading resources and
references on contemporary Malaysian
literature. It give an insight into
sociological and cultural background that influenced literary production of a
woman writer in Malaysia. The samples of short stories and poems in translation
included here would benefit students of
Malay literature particularly the foreigners.
The book is divided into two sections. The first part began with a brief
introduction of the early development of modern
Malaysian literature and the emergence of important women writers in
the Malay literary scene
The issues in writings are also
common in the literary works of other contemporary Malaysian
writers. This will serve as an insight especially to foreign
students and readers , into contemporary Malay literary scene and the
background that mould the thought and creativity of Malaysian
writers.
