Stone

Stone

it did not dream
it did not desire
to become a house

it kept still
while being transported
from the hill of its origins

it did not complain
while its body was smashed
to become gravel for the roads

when its blood flowed
it did not cry out in pain

it was too good for human beings.

This poem of mine was translated by Muhammad Haji Salleh from the original in Malay and collected in his Emas Tempawan (Burnished Gold) published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

Batu

dia tidak bermimpi
dia tidak berhasrat
menjadi rumah

dia hanya diam
waktu dipindahkan
dari bukit kampung asalnya

tidak juga dia membantah
waktu tubuhnya dipecah-pecahkan
menjadi kerikil lebuhraya

waktu darahnya mengalir dari tubuh
dia pun tidak mengaduh

dia terlalu baik buat manusia.