Pantun - Arus deras sungei Klang setelah hujan lebat (translated to English)
arus deras setelah hujan lebat
cepat ubah wajahnya sungei klang
bagai kuala lumpur di susuli ekonomi pesat
dulu pekerja ladang skrang towkay kilang
the water is treacherous after the rain
the klang river is fast to change her image
like kuala lumpur after the fast economic progress
those farmers some are now factory owners
arus deras sungei klang setelah hujan lebat
bagai kuala lumpur di susuli ekonomi hebat
bangunan tingi lambang pembagunan pesat
ibu kota yang mulai dari lumpur ke suatu pusat
river klang is choppy after a bout of rain
like kuala lumpur after its economic growth
high buildings are signs of development
the city that grows from a mud estuary to an important centre
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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Related quotes
I saw a tree a-falling...
I saw a tree a-falling
a-falling down on me
I had no way to turn
it was close on me
I thought it was a plot
to force me out
I knew I could not
even hold it or shout
It was a tree I sheltered
on many a longing day
And now it was so altered
coming to make me pay
I asked it why it longed
to touch its upmost brim
When all around no foe
turned the sun down dim
I touched its bark to hear
I thought I heard a cry
Two leaves it shed on me
and brushed its bark up high
I asked it why it stood
alone and left to brood
It shook its sticks in emphasis
as if to say it was good
(©: T. Wignesan - Kuala Lumpur,1957, from Tracks of a Tramp. Kuala Lumpur-Singapore: Rayirath Publications,1961.)
poem by T. Wignesan
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Malaysiana - Rejang River
POETRY IN PROGRESS
I never knew you are a giant
until i went around the country
i saw the Klang and Gombak rivers
in Kuala Lumpur and and were surprised
to learn that they even called them rivers
arent them really just little rivers or streams?
the ones we put pavements over at the old market in Sibu
malaysians should see the Sarawak and Rejang Rivers
to know what Sarawakians mean by rivers
that would be a real integration of
geographical standads and how we see things
when after a rain and the sun begins to set,
a walk at the Rejang Esplanade does feel like
on a beach, the water lapping and splashing
the cool and fresh air revitalising the lungs and body
at sweet and pulpy pineapple town Sarikei
and sugary green orange town Bintangor
and at Kerto where vases and colourful pottery
are moulded out of the Rejang quality clay
Poetry in progress
(to be continued)
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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Off To Bangkok
off to bangkok
then to kuala lumpur
back to shanghai
on to Ho Chi Minh
proceed to Jakarta
and stop over
in Kota Kinabalu
we end up in Cebu
then have a
week of white sands
and blue sea and
clear white skies
in the island of Boracay
summer has come
i leave all sadness behind
and with you my love
how can i be so alone?
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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First Encounter - Ramli Ibrahim
Ramli Ibrahim
his advice that still caught my heart
'do what knocks on your heart'
Ramli is the foremost exponent of Indian classical dance, bharata natyam and Odissi in Malaysia. For more than 35 years, he has indulged in the arts, though controversial to his faith, Islam. Muslims think the dances of hinduistic elements are in contradiction to the tenets of Islam. However to Ramli, who has an engineering degree from Australia thinks the art is close to his heart and that he cannot live without choosing it as a profession.
Ramli was named the recipient of the 2004 Boh Cameronian Lifetime Achievement Award, the most prestigious arts award to those promoting the theatre and arts in Malaysia.
The first time I met Ramli was in Kuala Lumpur some 25 years ago. He was then a young man still in a dilemma as to whether to be a dancer or an engineer. He somewhat sensed I should be doing something what I really wanted too and gave me a similar advice.
Ramli this May and June organised the first Odissi dance festival in Kuala Lumpur featuring a series of interesting workshops, exhibitions, and performances of Odissi dancers from around the world.
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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Corn
Nibbling
Your kernels
Layer to layer
How sweet
How supple
Unlike your husk
You are palatable
(Written on October 06 2011 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia)
poem by Chester Maynes
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First Encounter - Leslie Cheung
when first meeting
is last meeting
Cheung leaps to fame and suicide
Young hopeful leslie cheung
he leaps to fame
and a suicide
The late Leslie Cheung was named Asian Biggest Superstar by China Central Television, and voted as The Most Favorite Actor in 100 Years of Chinese Cinema in 2005. When he came to Kuala Lumpur in the mid 80s, he was like any other young Cantopop singer, excited about fame. I however was not taken in by his talent and even wondered how he was going to make it in the tough and tumble world of showbiz. He did not seem to have an edge over other singers such as Alam Tam who was also a rising star then. But perhaps lady luck was with him.
It was a brief meet and one impression stuck - his legs seemed to be all on the move. What kept memory so fresh was that he even looked back as he walked away from us at one of the leading hotels in Kuala Lumpur. It was our only meet.
He walked away to a great acting and music career and surprisingly, a suicide at the height of his fame on April 1,2003. Cheung leapt from the 24th floor of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, in the Central district of Hong Kong. He left a suicide note saying that he had been suffering from depression. He was 46 years old
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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Latches
Where there are complicated relationships
We are the latches
When there are bolted doors
We are the latches
Chances are mending
There are dying dreams
There are falling angels
We do not trail transgressed roads
Everything for us is a good expectation
We do not quail, we do not lose hearts
(written on August 4,2011 Kuala Lumpur City Malaysia)
poem by Chester Maynes
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The Storm
Stormy weather
this time of year
in Kuala Lumpur
it always comes
in the late afternoon
it sounds like gods
are moving houses
the heart thumping thunder
several years ago
the rain even pulled
down a high rise building
on the hillslope
this time it sounds like
the gods are nailing down
some deviant angels
and they try real hard
to get them down
the heart thumping thunder
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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First Encounter - Jericho Rosales
jericho rosales
a young man who thinks
he has the world in his hands
jericho rosales
another young man who needs
the money to keep going
(Jericho is famous Filipino actor and singer)
met in the mid 2000. he was having a concert in Kuala Lumpur.
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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Visit Malaysia Year Poem - Pulau Ketam (State of Selangor)
pincers, white fluffy flesh
red hot, spicy shells
under our white
plastic hammers
each leg, pincer,
carapace broken
licked clean
the two eyes
now jutting out of
the auspicious
light as flight
red orange shell
so cleaned up of life
so meaningless
and emptied
of existence
a loser of
the world
except for
its rich delicious
steamy white
vein laced flesh
the shells
stripped of all the limbs
straddle the table
play out the animals in us
some are upside down
some in upright position
some helter skelter
loose signatures of the
delicious triumph of a two legged
over a ten legged wonder
now only our hands are
crawling all over the table
grabbing parts, positioning legs,
pincer for hammers
we are nothing
more than dinosaur
when it comes to crabs
they are but fluffy, juicy, spicy,
pulpy, squeaky rich protein to
fill up the stomach
to build the muscles
of our own limbs
more customers coming?
get ready the crabs
get ready the rice
and the hammers
how many of them please?
how many crabs?
ketam ketam ketam
plankwalk that make
our walk sound crab
and.....dinosaur
Ketam is the malay word for crabs. pulau ketam is an island 30 minutes away from port klang in selangor. port klang is about an hour by commuter train from kuala lumpur and the same amount of time if one drives in one's own car. the island is famous for its seafood. the wooden plankwalk to the numerous restaurants makes one's walk sound crab because it goes ketam ketam ketam.
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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No more dragons to chase
I was driving near the awesome river
Just after sunrise, en route to work
Today is a misery
I’d no longer say hello to the streams
Which used to accommodate occupants
Along it’s bank
Injecting source of life to dwellers
And immigrants
Before brightly urbanizations and skylines
Engulfed its playgrounds
It’s not a usual morning
Scorching of black crows
Flying pass and transit near it’s terminal
Where the mid streams meet
With the southern streams
Cutting thru’ all corners of Kuala Lumpur
Yes, this tea colored Klang River
Has an untold story
Which could rip apart any sacred hearts
Like a roof tumbles down on your head
Whilst having a hard earned meals with
Your loved one
You just shook your head in disbeliefs
Two days ago
At the heart of the unforgiving river
At the spot under the bridge
A bridge too far
Hidden and secluded
And yet transparent
In the middle of the city
Its bank was hosting
Scores of dragon chasers
Heroin worshippers
At a moment notice
Become landlords
Of the land of stoned
And drugged
A rendezvous for addicts, runners and pushers
In their own world of unbounded
The honky tank sounds of vehicles
Above them
Or if the skies were grounded
Would not stop them from derive
From scouting
But, that afternoon
Helter skelter strike upon
Awaken the dragon chasers
From it’s den
Down they dive
Jump into the unforgiving waters
Running for their lives
And from the narcotics police
The wild river has no mercy
Downstream current wiped them too easy
Next day headlines were so breaking
Nine lives vanishing
Caused of drowning
Who took their lives?
The police
The river
Mass suicide
Massacre
Or God
poem by Sulaiman Mohd Yusof
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First Encounter - Siti Nurhaliza
Siti Nurhaliza
a simplicity with touching
sophistication
Siti Nurhaliza
a balance of village and
urban sophistication
Siti Nurhaliza
her eyes cut through one
like her songs
Siti Nurhaliza is the queen of pops in Malaysia. She has been the reigning songtress in the country for years as well as in neighbournig Indonesia. She is married and lives in Kuala Lumpur.
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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Real Treasure
When did you last see a rainbow?
I asked my son, I really don’t know.
Have you seen frogs during the rains?
They were a familiar sight on our lawn and lane.
What about the fire flies?
No mom he uttered with a sigh.
I am sure you have seen butterflies?
Oh yes, in Kuala Lumpur, in butterfly park, I don’t lie.
Have you seen a moonlit sky at night?
I have no time after a hard day’s grind.
Have you ever watched the dawn?
No mom, he replied with a yawn.
On a crisp winter noon, have you felt the warmth of the sun?
Where is the time I am always on the run.
Oh mom. I am done
You have no clue, what you miss my son.
Come on son, let’s explore nature,
And together discover real treasures.
poem by Mamta Agarwal
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First Encounter - RabindranathTagore's paintings
Tagore's Last Harvest
a child putting wings
to his imagination
Tagore's Last Harvest
behind the colours and lines
a child
Tagore's Last Harvest
the nobel laureate dances
with ink and pen
Tagore's Last Harvest
the colourful images
of a colourful life
Last Harvest an exhibition of 49 of Tagore's paintings
are exhibited in Kuala Lumpur Visual Arts Museum for three months
April to July.
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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First Encounter - United Buddy Bears
United Buddy Bears
men, stand up for
world peace
United Buddy Bears
getting bears to
teach the men
United Buddy Bears
one by one they line up
for peace
The United Buddy Bears were paraded around the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur early 2012.
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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First Encounter - Mustafa Noor (Malaysia)
mustafa noor
he carries the theatre
with him
mustafa noor
i heard the london
that applauds
mustafa noor
the air charged with
his art and friendliness
mustafa noor
a voice made for
theatre arts
mustafa noor
his eyes roll with
his london experience
mustafa noor
i join the excitement
of his london experience
met in the early 1980s. He was just back from London and had strong ambitions to activate the theatre world in the city that is Kuala Lumpur.
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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First Encounter - Jean Todt
another kind
old gweilo
Jean Todt
thank god
he doesn't talk fast
as the Grand Prix cars
I met him and the Malaysian Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Ng Yen Yen
at a dinner the Royale Chulan Hotel in Kuala Lumpur in June when Todt was chosen as a tourism ambassador of Malaysia to help promote the country particularly in France and Europe. Todt came across as a very friendly man. He was very obliging in his conversation
answering one reporter at a time. He told us that he loves Mechelle Yeoh and Malaysia. Todt is the founder of Peugeot Talbot Sport; Team Principal for Scuderia Ferrari,1993-2007 and was the CEO of Ferrari from 2008-2009.
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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First Encounter - Jackie Chan
wow, he thinks
everybody is hard out
to be a star
For whatever reason Jackie did not come across as a friendly person. I met him twice and he somehow gave me the feeling that he thought everybody wants to be a star and so treated everybody in such cold manner. Two years back, I asked to take his picture at the Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur after he opened his own gym here but good lord, after the picture, he just walked away without even saying a word.
There were not even any fans around in the private function. The first time was way back in the 90s when he gave me a cold handshake. He made me feel he had the habit of snubbing people.
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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Coal-Truck
I am a coal-truck
Carrying gold dust.
Someone threw some
Coal-dust upon
My gold-dust.
I am a coal-truck
In a gold mine.
Someone struck a coal vein
And piled me full in vain.
I am a coal-truck
Covered in subterranean dust.
Someone shovelled my soil
And found an ancient bone
All coiled.
I am a coal-truck
Waiting for the rain.
The sun is my rail
The night my shed.
I am a coal-truck
Rumbling all the way.
Wash me in the rain-storm
And fill me full of coke
Until I choke.
(©: T. Wignesan,1957 - Pub. in 'Forum Academicum', Heidelberg University,1957; from the collection: Tracks of a Tramp. Kuala Lumpur-Singapore: 1961)
poem by T. Wignesan
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First Encounter - Najib Tun Razak
Najib Tun Razak
such big fat
palm
I stayed in Brickfields and never had I thought I would be at the same Indian restaurant with Najib the second day he was sworn in as Prime Minister. He had made it a priority to visit the Chinese and Indian sections of Kuala Lumpur to show his appreciation to the two communities. Everybody stood up when he entered the Kortumalai Indian Restaurant. When he shook hand with me, I suddenly realised that najib has such big fat palm. It is sign of prosperity for Chinese. Let's wish he could bring Malaysia to an era of prosperity.
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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