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ii Compilation of Poems and Short Stories: Arau International Poetry Festival 2023 Chief Editors | Nor Azira Mohd. Radzi, Dr. Lew Ya Ling Editors | Nadiyah Binti Hashim, Tun Mohd Firdaus Bin Azis Proofreaders | Muhammad Akram bin Sallahuddin Multimedia Editors | Dr. Razlina binti Razali, Nur Asiah Syafikah binti Mohamad Sazali, Muhammad Adri Nashriq B. Mohd Adam, Nur Aalia bt Arifin, Raisa binti Rastom, Noor Khairina binti Khairazmy, Muhammad Akram bin Sallahuddin All rights reserved. It is not allowed to reprint any part of this book in any form and technique electronically, photocopying, mechanically or in any other way before obtaining permission from the author and publisher. ISBN | 978-967-2801-46-7 COPYRIGHT 2024 @ Compilation of Poems and Short Stories: Arau International Poetry Festival 2023 Publication Date | April of 2024 Published and Printed by Publishing Consultant: Bitara Media No. 132, Tingkat Bawah, Taman Desa Damai, Jalan Hospital Daerah, 06000 Jitra, Kedah Darul Aman. Tel : 019 5251132 Published for: Academy of Language Studies, UiTM Perlis, Cawangan Perlis, Kampus Arau, 02600 Arau, Perlis. Tel : +604 9882000
iii Preface It gives us great pleasure to present the Compilation of Poems and Short Stories:Arau International Poetry Festival 2023, a new edition of poetry and short story collections. The source of the materials was the Arau International Poetry Festival 2023 (AIPF23), which was hosted by the Perlis branch of the Academy of Language Studies, Universiti Teknologi Mara. It gives us great joy to recognise and value the priceless "treasures" created during our yearly festival, which inspires individuals to express their creativity and life experiences via poetry and storytelling, among other mediums. International and local universities account for the majority of our participation. The book's contributors include staff members, lecturers, and students. A large number of them participate in the festival every year. Some have "blossomed" over time as a result of their attempts to actively dabble in creative writing. We get great practice in improving our writing skills. We develop language proficiency, a strong vocabulary, mastery of literary strategies, and proficiency with imagery through writing. It is also therapeutic and self-healing to put words of emotions on paper. We have received 74 responses. The theme for 2023 was Verses and Stories of Healing Hearts and Nurturing Minds. The languages used are Bahasa Melayu (Malay), English, Mandarin and Tamil. It is hoped that the readers of this book will enjoy and benefit not only personally but professionally as well. Finally, without a great lot of support and encouragement from numerous sources, the book would never have materialised. We must recognise the tremendous efforts of the individuals who tirelessly composed their masterpieces after channelling their creative energies into writing. We hope that they will continue to write as it is a way to allow people to express themselves. It is also a way to preserve and continue to inspire readers for many years to come. Nor Azira Mohd. Radzi Director of Arau International Poetry Festival 2023
1 Compilation of Poems and Short Stories: Arau International Poetry Festival 2023 Contents 【Poems】......................................................................................................................... 4 MALAY POETRY................................................................................................................. 5 Ujian dan Kehidupan (By Syed Mohd Hijan bin Sy. Hamzah)................................................... 6 Fikir Dirimu (By Nadiyah Hashim) ........................................................................................ 7 Penyembuhan Hati (By Fadhlina Binti Che Arshad)................................................................. 8 Konfeti Hati (By Siti Hajar Aznam)...................................................................................... 10 Di Bawah Reruntuhan Bata (By Tun Mohd Firdaus bin Azis) .................................................. 11 Rendah Kepala Menunduk (By Aeyneda Zairyn Abdul Jalil).................................................... 12 ENGLISH POETRY ............................................................................................................. 14 Mr Ride (By Nor Azira Mohd Radzi).................................................................................... 15 Rope Of Hope (By Nurfazira Erieka binti Abdullah) ............................................................... 16 Run (By Alifah binti Rosaidi).............................................................................................. 17 My Mom, My Life (By Nur Aryssa Qistina binti Nazrizal)........................................................ 18 Let Them In (By Nor Nadia Sulaiman)................................................................................. 19 My Sincere Gratitude to Lecturers and Mentors (By Nurul Aida Kamal Ikhsan) ........................ 21 Heart’s Healing Whispers (By Hafizah Hajimia).................................................................... 22 Wishes I Don’t Say Out Loud (By Hurin Nabihah Mohammad Noh)......................................... 23 Casket of the Past (By Nur Athirah Azim Haffiz)................................................................... 25 Her Healing Ways (By Angeline Ranjethamoney R. Vijayarajoo) ............................................. 27 Still looking for… (By Aidura Aiyub).................................................................................... 29 Be Kind (By Alia Farhana).................................................................................................. 30 Healing is Not Linear (By Alia Farhana)............................................................................... 31 Soon, My Heart (By Nur’Iffah Nadzirah binti Jefrisani) .......................................................... 32
2 In the Shadows of Gaza's Sorrow (By Sharina Saad)............................................................. 33 A Silent Cry of Hope (By Saraswathy Rathakrishnan) ............................................................ 35 The Nameless (By Aiman Bazli Roslan)................................................................................ 37 Instinct of Hope (By Marcia Jane)...................................................................................... 39 The Light of a New Tomorrow (By Zanurin bin Mohamad Safar)............................................. 40 Poetry in Mandarin and other languages.............................................................. 41 真有那么一个地方 Truly , There is Such a Place (By Lew Ya Ling).......................................... 42 信 Letter (By Cheng Siyu).................................................................................................. 44 微尘 Mote (By Guo Fang)................................................................................................. 46 富春山居图 Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains (By Jia Keru)................................................ 48 秋天的怀念 Fond Memories of Autumn (By Li Meina)......................................................... 53 听听林子 Listen to the forest (By Ma Yiran)........................................................................ 55 二十二年 Twenty-two years (By Qin Jiong)......................................................................... 58 浉河听雨 Listening to the rain in the Shihe River (By Shao Ting)............................................ 61 吟别情 Singing farewell (By Song Xinrui) ............................................................................ 63 私语Whisper (By Sun Jundie)........................................................................................... 64 我爱你如同我死亡 I love you as if I were dead (By Tu Jingyi)............................................... 66 忆秦淮 Recalling theQinhuai River (By Yang Mohan)........................................................... 68 黄昏 Dusk (By Zhang Bingjie) ............................................................................................ 69 如果这个世界是个苹果 If The World Were an Apple (By Zhang Naiwen)............................... 71 爱意 Love (By Zhang Xinyu) .............................................................................................. 73 牵挂 Care (By Zhang Zhihui).............................................................................................. 76 拥抱 Embracing (By Zhou Min).......................................................................................... 78 试着做一个更好的自己Try to be a better self (By Chen Xuhan)........................................... 80 永远积极向上，永远充满希望 Always Be Positive, Always Be Hopeful (By Wu Mengdi, Hu Mengzhen, Li Mengyao)....................................................................................................................... 82 踏叶记Step on The Leaves (By Liu Jiayi)............................................................................. 84 自由 Freedom (By Luna Kang Ruobing)............................................................................... 85 教师的赞歌 The Teacher’s Anthem (By Wang Han, Ren Zihan, Guan Xiaotong)........................ 87 治愈心灵与培育智慧 Healing Hearts & Nurturing Minds (By Yang Yunchuan)........................ 90 春暖花开 Spring Blossoms (By Zhang Wenjing)................................................................... 91
3 长大 Growing up (By Wu Ruofan)...................................................................................... 93 Payanam (By Mariamah Vellayan)...................................................................................... 96 Mente Potente Se Non Dormiente (Breve poesia scritta da: Piermauro Catarinella).................. 97 [SHORT STORIES]............................................................................................................. 98 MALAY SHORT STORIES................................................................................................... 99 Penyesalan (By Annur Umairah).......................................................................................100 Siapa Aku? (By Edna Pristy Fening)....................................................................................101 Empress’s Blunder (By Nurfarah Lidiya).............................................................................107 Walau Berbeza Tetap Serupa (By Qurratul Ayuni)...............................................................110 Darjat (By Adam Harith bin Ismail)....................................................................................116 Ajaibnya Integriti Tema “Integriti Citra Malaysia Madani” (By Allysa)...................................121 Mimi (By Ariatyirah Safiyya binti Noradli) ...........................................................................131 Hitam Putih (By Ifti Hawa)...............................................................................................137 Kaki Sembang (By Nur Azura Nabila binti Idris, Nor Aina Batrisyia binti Ahmad Naziri, Muhammad Hazim Qusyairi bin Mohd Huzirizal, Nur Amira Nadia binti Mohamad Ezam).....................................144 Mentaliti Muafakat Madani (By Nurul Syuhaidah binti Abdullah, Nur Syazliana Natasha binti Abdullah, Nurul Husna Izzati binti Noor Hisham, Nur Akmal binti Zakaria, Muhammad Hafiq Airell bin Zilhusam) 152 TANAH KAMI (By Tun Mohd Firdaus bin Azis).....................................................................156 English Short stories ................................................................................................157 Let Us Harness the Power of Our Minds (By Piermauro Catarinella)......................................158 Mind Your Action (By Nurul Nuwairah Aziz).......................................................................159 Mak Dah’s Beef Floss (By Latisha Asmaak Shafie)................................................................160 Tom (By Muhammad ‘Arif bin Roshaimizam, Abdul Hakim bin Nirut Hayihama, Muhammad Izharuddin bin Hairun Reza, Hakim Mirza bin Helmi and Muhammad Adib Hakimi bin Khairul Anuar) .............161 New Place, New People (By Syazliana Shahri).....................................................................162 Take Your Umbrella and Go to The Night Market When It Rains (By Angelina Ranjethamoney R. Vijayarajoo) ....................................................................................................................................163 My Path to Glory (By Muhammad Zahiruddin Norazli).........................................................164 The Clown (By Arni Ayuni) ...............................................................................................165 Not to Talk, But to Listen (By Aifa, Raqib, Aishah, Faris and Amirah) .....................................166 From Burnout to Balance (By Nik Marina)..........................................................................170 Diary’s Whisper (By Whisper Waltz Production Team: Sia Zi Yue, Tang Yvone, Sylvia Quek Zi Eun, Hoo Xiao Yan, Tan Chia Her).................................................................................................................174
4 【Poems】
5 MALAY POETRY
6 Ujian dan Kehidupan (By Syed Mohd Hijan bin Sy. Hamzah) Ujian di dalam kehidupan sangat berbeza, Kehidupan adalah anugerah sangat bermakna, Pelbagai ujian yang bakal kita tempuhi di dalam sebuah kehidupan, Kita semua pasti akan diuji mengikut kemampuan kita, Kita perlu bersyukur seandainya ujian yang ditempuhi disulami kejayaan, Gagal juga satu ujian, Janganlah berasa kecewa dan sedih, Jadikan kegagalan itu semangat untuk kita bangkit, Kegagalan bukan satu penamat atau satu noktah, Berusaha untuk mencapai sebuah kejayaan, Berusaha dalam mengharungi setiap ujian, Dalam mengharungi liku-liku kehidupan, Suka, Tawa dan riang, Duka, Kecewa dan sedih, Itulah kehidupan… Kehidupan abadi masih jauh, Kita melalui kehidupan di dunia dengan penuh ujian, Sabar adalah kunci mengharungi sebuah ujian Ujian itu ada di dalam sebuah kehidupan…
7 Fikir Dirimu (By Nadiyah Hashim) Kahwin itu meriah, tapi solo itu hidup tetap indah Punya anak tu rezeki, tiada anak juga kehidupan tetap bererti Punya harta itu nikmat, tapi berjimat juga penuh hikmat Berteman itu indah, tapi bersendirian juga lebih mudah Ketawa itu bahagia, tapi tangisan itu menyucikan jiwa Menang itu hati senang, tapi jika mengalah pun tak perlu rasa bersalah Berdikari itu nampak hebat, tapi bergantungan dengan lain juga 'smart' Tak perlu hitung bahagia dengan timbangan 'like' Atau hasil terpapar di cadar media Atau yang tular di pintu Tik Tok dan jendela Muka Buku Tak perlu jadi boneka Berpura senyum untuk dipeluk dan dijinjing Atau berlakon permata Kalau kita hanya kaca Aku gembira untuk aku bahagia Aku berduka untuk aku lebih menikmati erti bahagia Senyum dari mulutmu untuk jiwa kamu Tangis dari matamu untuk hatimu Fikir DIRIMU sebelum orang lain!
8 Penyembuhan Hati (By Fadhlina Binti Che Arshad) Dunia ini semakin tenat Nilai kemanusiaan semakin menipis Ada pihak yang berasa cukup bangga melakukan keganasan Berasa megah dapat menghunus senjata Berbesar hati dapat menindas pihak yang lemah Tetap angkuh dan mendabik dada Tanpa sekelumit rasa bersalah Tanpa sedikit rasa penyesalan Namun, mata ini seperti sudah tidak mampu lagi untuk memandang semua Apabila melihat susuk-susuk tubuh yang lemah Terkulai layu tanpa kata Terbujur kaku tanpa suara Ada bayi yang belum sempat melihat dunia Sudah pulang ke negeri abadi Ada wanita yang masih belum puas bergelar ibu Sudah dijemput Illahi Ada kanak-kanak yang masih belum lelah bermain Telah meninggalkan dunia ini Ada warga emas yang masih belum puas menikmati kehidupan Telah awal ditarik nyawanya Bagaimana hati ini akan sembuh? Jika nilai kemanusiaan masih lagi samar-samar Bagaimana minda ini akan lapang? Jika nilai intektual masih lagi dipandang remeh Desakan dan asakan diberikan, dari pelbagai pihak Dari segenap penjuru, namun tetap diendah Tetap dipandang sebelah mata
9 Jihat kecil yang kita lakukan Boikot yang kita lancarkan Meskipun terasa kecil nilainya, jika dilakukan bersama-sama Dengan kata sepakat dan muafakat Tetap besar impaknya di mata dunia Hati dan minda kita ini perlu dirawat Disemai dengan benih-benih ilmu Dibaja dengan nilai-nilai kemanusiaan Disiram dengan rasa keprihatinan Dijaga dengan perasaan kasih dan sayang Sebelum ia menjadi semakin tenat Untuk tatapan generasi yang akan datang
10 Konfeti Hati (By Siti Hajar Aznam) Dia lahir dan pergi dalam bulan yang dirai Disember itu datang lagi tapi sepi Sang Ayah yang sentiasa dirai di bulan itu juga dia pergi Hati yang kosong jiwa tak terisi Dihamburkan semuanya di kanvas ini Tak mahu menghitung hari Menghitung luka meratap sepi Ku zahirkan konfeti hati Kerana hidup ini bukan yang indah saja perlu dirai Tapi kesedihan meremuk jiwa perlu kilauan konfeti jua Dakap daku pada warna konfeti terakhir Kerana disitu terletak pengakhiran kehidupan ku Mengingatkan aku kepada tanah Menyembuhkan hati, memupuk minda Akhirnya dalam damai menemukan Tuhan!
11 Di Bawah Reruntuhan Bata (By Tun Mohd Firdaus bin Azis) Mengesot perlahan-lahan dia Dicuba meruang pada reruntuhan bata Disedut segala udara yang ada Dikerah sepenuh tenaga Diesot bahunya sedikit ke atas Suara yang kecil itu dipaksa Hanya debu dan habuk yang keluar Kerikil-kerikil semakin memberat Semakin perlahan dia bergerak Dikerah lagi segala otot Dari yang membujur dan melintang Semakin tidak berdaya dia Air matanya mengalir Turun dan naik dadanya Ummi Cubaan sekian kali memanggil Tetapi tiada suara yang keluar Nyawanya sudah dihujung Udara sudah tiada Maka dia pergi selama-lamanya Seorang diri dibawah reruntuhan bata
12 Rendah Kepala Menunduk (By Aeyneda Zairyn Abdul Jalil) Saat hati dipeluk hiba When despair hug the heart Minda berkabus The mind fogged up Tak nampak telus Vision went blurry Gentayangan waja jiwa The soul went fleeting Bibir sirna senyum The lips lost its smile Hanya embun bergenang di tabir mata Tears hangs by the eyeline Garis derita membenam lorek di wajah The line of sorrow deepened in the face Mengundang resah di dalam gerak Anxiety present in the action Menghumban diri ke sudut gundah Throwing me to the corner of worries Yang tak sudah Endless worry Jiwa terikat lara, tekad mahu kulerai I keen on untying this wreath of sorrow Lantas rendah kepala kumenunduk Thus, I bow my head low Tinggi tangan kumenadah I hold my hand up high Seluruh kalbu kuberharap My soul is full of hope Bertandang cahaya Al-Mukmin That the Light of Peace will descend Mengirim nyaman mudik ke hati Delivering serenity back to the heart Lidah berkalam tasbih The tongue uttering glorification Meluncur syukur Gratitude gliding out. Hati mekar berkelopak The petal of hearts blossoms Bak kuntum dimanja angin Like a flower loved by the wind Mindaku sungai mengalir tenang My mind is the calm river flow Mata redup memakna hidup Relaxed eyes valuing the life
13 PadaMu To You Aku mahu terus-terusan tunduk I want to bow my head forever Biar kedamaian selalu menakluk To let the peace always prevails Walau bising, biar hiruk pikuk Even in the chaos Jasad, minda terus khusyuk Body and mind fully concentrate Mendiami abadi Living in the eternity
14 ENGLISH POETRY
15 Mr Ride (By Nor Azira Mohd Radzi) The opportunity arises, One day, at one time. It beats the urge. Of wanting to do nothing at all. It took a lot of energy. Looking at the past… reminiscing. The history of self-destruction. Where did everybody go? Why wouldn't anybody stay? Why is it always cold like this? A ride that can turn. A world upside down. With many turns, many ways, One can learn to navigate The truth about life. Never thought about simple decisions. May change the course of action. Sometimes, the little urges. Might be a mighty push To discover you… a better you. Just like my ride! Try it, you never know what will come, of it.
16 Rope Of Hope (By Nurfazira Erieka binti Abdullah) While we’re wasting food, they’re starving on the road, while we’re lying on a sofa bed, they’re sleeping in the cold. We all know this issue is unbearable, Palestinian people live in a dive state, if we continue to close our eyes, there’s no more hope left for their future. Tied tightly to our rope, for those who still hope, we all know they’re in a war zone, unable to see light before the hope is gone. It’s a war not a joke, they’re suffering while we raise our hopes, it’s now or never, let’s fight for them, in this war with hope.
17 Run (By Alifah binti Rosaidi) At times, you feel like running away. Far from people Far from reality Far from judgment Far from burden Far from the uncivilized If you do…... Would people miss you? Would the time stop? Would the sentiment go away? Would your problem disappear? Would society change in your absence? Run From being too hopeful with people From mirage of the world From being conquered From fallacy of others From negativity
18 My Mom, My Life (By Nur Aryssa Qistina binti Nazrizal) Mom, Do you realise? That you are my sunrise, My sunshine, In my life. Whenever I fall, Gripped with feeling of despair, You never fail, You give me faith, Reviving my life, Again. Mom, You are my moon, The light to my darkness, You’re the only one, That gives me hope, The strength, To begin again. I pray, That you won’t leave me, I need you by my side, Because without you, Without your love, I can’t seem to rise.
19 Let Them In (By Nor Nadia Sulaiman) When I see a broken heart, with pain and flame scorched, I'm afraid. When I see a silent voice stays still under authority, I'm afraid; of not the broken heart or having my voice silent, But of being the person who holds the torch and commanded silence. To love does not mean to be loved, To make time- be paid dime. The gifts on the counter are none other than yours For him, for her, for whom it may concern; The one that receives, but never returns. For me and you, for everyone else; We tried too hard to fit in just nice, They don't even know our secret mess, But dare they say we're cold like ice. It is this fire beneath our skin, That we fought so hard to keep aflame Midst the thunders that kept roaringSuch a shame, our screams silenced under the rain, And in the scattered shadows we find home Despite having fun and hands to hold. It wasn’t long until smiles turned bitter and sweet laughs turned sharp. When there’s only myself at the mirror where you used to stand behind me, And hug. Still, deep within the rubbles from our fallen walls, There lays my unstinting dream, How I wish to turn back time- no, how I wish to turn over a new leaf. But the wide window has no meaning if I can’t shape my bones and flap my wings. I want my happiness back into my life, but my blood and tears were gone after your hunger sucked me dry.
20 Empty, that’s what I am. So easy to want something but to trust it in your grasp. And forthright were they, it’ll be worthwhile they say, For if one has wanted something, one must risk the mar. Will I fly instead of falling, or will another wound leave a new scar? Well I never- I am convinced, For if I yearn for the new lights to shine again, Then I really should let the new dawn in.
21 My Sincere Gratitude to Lecturers and Mentors (By Nurul Aida Kamal Ikhsan) From the lab and lecture hall where knowledge gleams, Wisdom lingers in the domain of dreams, Your lectures steer with desire ablaze, Unlocking mind that was tangled in maze. Your passion sparks aspiration, Our discussions give inspiration, With care you transfer the treasures of mind, You are a mentor, living legend that I can find. Beyond journals and academic lore, You teach and guide forevermore, Thank you for lending your guiding hand, Best mentor one can find. You sculpt the ideas of learning, Colourful, vibrant and shining, Guiding me through darkness at night, Now I feel I am bright!!
22 Heart’s Healing Whispers (By Hafizah Hajimia) In a world where anger, jealousy breed, Where suspicions, lies overshadow indeed. Do genuine hearts still have a place to reside? Or are they pushed aside, forced to hide? Inconsiderate assumptions, making people blind, To childlike hearts, so pure and kind. A paradox indeed, assumptions take hold, Leaving the genuine hearts out in the cold. Their beliefs and judgments, like tiny stings, A thousand cuts, the hurt it brings. Can society embrace clean, pure sincerity? Or mock its presence, with cruel disparity? But in the midst of this uncertain art, There lies a hope, a healing start. For in accepting sincerity's gentle embrace, Healing hearts find their rightful place. In the quiet spaces where truth resides, Healing blooms, where sincerity abides. Though judged and pushed, it plays its part, Mending wounds with its gentle heart.
23 Wishes I Don’t Say Out Loud (By Hurin Nabihah Mohammad Noh) I wish to sit comfortably in silence, Not because I hate people's voices, but because my brain is too loud. Someone once told me if I want silence I should stay in a vacuum, So, maybe I am in one right now because no one heard my soul screaming all this time. I lied, when I say I want to be alone, Honestly, I wish to lay down watching the stars with you and just breathe, properly breathe, But I am too scared to reveal this side of me, Because would you still be with me if I told you the truth? You know, I believe that my house never stays in one place, People are just visitors, they don't stay for long, Bonds fade away because I'm afraid to hold on, But at times, I wish that there's more to it than just simple exchanges. I also wish to not care, but this heart ... this fragile heart, It feels too much, feelings linger too long that some are buried deep, I might be their comfort but at what cost? I'm alienated, this world feels so huge and I'm drowning, Funny how my wishes keep increasing but I'm not sure if those are what I really want. Yesterday, I wished of something absurd, To disappear, to have people look for me, among the billions of us, To have someone said, "I'll find you," and learn how important my existence is to them, Because my mundane life is slowly sucked into the void, close to empty. Maybe the one thing that I really wish is to be remembered, I wish all of you will remember me, Because Addie Larue said, “what is a person if not the marks they leave behind,”
24 So, even if only for a small moment, Please, REMEMBER ME.
25 Casket of the Past (By Nur Athirah Azim Haffiz) My tongue sits heavily in my mouth, piled up rotten love pressing down on it, I cannot wash the taste away no matter how hard I try. I sit cross-legged on my bedroom floor and the ghost of my past lingers underneath me, leaving claw marks on the wooden floor. I spent eternities trying to tell you a story on love and tenderness but all that came out was the wailing of an empty person. Do you wait by the door like I do too? Do you try knocking, hoping that it will creak open just a little bit? The scent has changed. I can't find my torn notebook anywhere. There is an unfamiliar taste in my tongue and sounds of what i have forgotten are ringing in my ears. Knees kissing the floor with hope of failed defeat, I trace my fingers along the lines of my palms. There is life in every centimeter, if I try hard enough, can i remember all of those that have held my hand, those that have loved me? There’s a hand on my shoulder and a whisper to my ear and it shakes me to tears. The wind has passed and you can’t chase backwards. You don’t recognise anything anymore. The door creaks open but it is not mine to step into anymore.
26 In some other universe, you pitifully beg to enter this realm of life. You scratch and scratch until you bleed but bleeding does not warrant you anything. Nothing is enough to push you into the slit of the door. In this universe, though, you look at the door and you smile. There are tears in your eyes but you smile regardless. You learn that an offer does not equal to an order. You nod your head at the person behind the door and you get up. You dust your pants and close the door with certainty in your hands. Letting go means smiling at your past and telling them that they can also let go.
27 Her Healing Ways (By Angeline Ranjethamoney R. Vijayarajoo) A gentle touch A kind word An encouraging smile A reassuring glance My beautiful grandmother Nurtured us with love and affection Kindness and encouragement Always uplifting us Any sadness Was always momentary Because of my Grandmother would ‘fix it’. She made everything right. She is no longer with us But she lives on in our memories We treasure her more and more And wish she were here. I want ‘others’ to think Of my kind word My encouraging smile And be uplifted That as days go by “Others” feel better With what I can do To help them heal That I may nurture others with love,
28 Encouragement and Kindness Uplifting and Caring For many others I want to make others happy I want to fix things I want to make things right for others And drive away their sadness And one day, When I am no longer here They will continue to treasure me And wish I were there But for now, Let me Heal Just like her My darling Grandmother.
29 Still Looking for… (By Aidura Aiyub) Deafening sounds, I keep running on the ground, no shelter to make me feel safe and sound, cats, dogs… are all hungry and thirsty… no warmth, no hands to cuddle them anymore, not a drop of water, not a scrap of bread, no home to go back to… and me… still looking for… hmm…still looking for… my mother and father, if they are anywhere to be seen… all I can see are rubble and ruins, home… DESTROYED!! as well as childhood… َ ون ُ ِجع ا َ ِه ر ْ ي َ ل ِ ا إ َّ ن ِ إ َ ِه و َّٰ َّ ِ ل اِل َّ ن ِ إ “We surely belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.”
30 Be Kind (By Alia Farhana) Be kind— Even when your heart shatters into unrecognisable pieces, Please, gather the remains with your gentle hands, For within the broken, There lies strength. Be kind— Even when your heart fills with stormy anger, But your sake, please find an anchor. In turbulent seas, let resilience clasp, An unwavering shield against the tempest’s rasp. Be kind— Even when storms of sorrow cloud your skies, Beneath the grey, where sadness lies, Look for the lighthouse, where hope beckons, Guide your soul through life’s trying seasons. Be kind— For within you, there’s a remnant of a broken heart, The cracks and fractures display like an exquisite art, A canvas of resilience, Proof of your endurance.
31 Healing is Not Linear (By Alia Farhana) I tell myself to be kind, Even when the hurt messed up my mind. I tell myself to let it go, Especially when I want to settle the violent score. How do I move on from this? To carry forward with the void you left. Every day is a struggle, It eats away my soul. What’s there left to do but to pretend. To wear a mask and act okay. Life is a stage with roles we choose to play, It’s a performance, day by day. But, even when I’m afraid, I try to embrace the twists of the unknown force. Discover diamonds in laughter’s sweet flow, Notice the dirt in sorrow’s woe. One day I’ll let it go, Release the hurt to let my spirit soar. One day I’ll be okay, I’ll find the strength to welcome the happy day.
32 Soon, My Heart (By Nur’Iffah Nadzirah binti Jefrisani) O sweet child you need not hide your pleas, A crack on the dam was not intended; Nor trapped inside as a wanted white dove, I hear your cries yet deaf ears pretended; Soon, my heart— do not be offended. You wish a stone although a stone you are, Within the fires is the burning bright coal, Thought to burn but Icarus you are not; For ashes and remembered are not whole, Soon, my heart— burning pain taught this soul. Tripped into the ocean, sinked and asked "why?" Did not swim nor danced with pretty fishes; Just laid at the bottom cozed on the ground, Albeit the waves, stood neat without swishes; Soon, my heart— almost there at wishes. Are we lost? Of course not, don't be silly! Waiting has wonders not blunders you see, Remain sweet child for the lost soul to find, For a hope such as yours spread wide at sea, Soon, my heart— you will one day meet free.
33 In the Shadows of Gaza's Sorrow (By Sharina Saad) In the shadows of Gaza's sorrow, where echoes of war resound, Mothers bear the weight of anguish, on hallowed, scarred ground. A poet's plea rises, a whisper in the breeze, How can I heal your heart, and nurture your mind with ease? Her beautiful house…bomb Her entire neighbourhood…bomb Her beloved…bomb Her whole life…shattered Her promising dreams…devastated The massive destruction Broke her heart portion by portion. Dear, mothers of Gaza Let me sing you a song of sorrow. Let me pray for you a better tomorrow. Oh, mothers of Gaza, in your eyes, pain reflected, A symphony of sorrow, by conflict subjected. Yet in the verses of compassion, a refuge to find, To mend the wounds and bring peace of mind. I wish to weave for you a tapestry of calm, To shield your hearts, like a soothing balm. In the ink of empathy, let words unfold, Verses of healing, in a world untold. Through the rubble and chaos, where dreams may crumble, I yearn to be a beacon, when the nights grow humble. To nurture minds, like a tender spring rain,
34 Washing away the stains of grief and pain. Let the verses dance like raindrops on your soul, A gentle touch, making broken spirits whole. In the garden of resilience, let hope bloom, Dispelling the shadows, lifting the gloom. I offer these words as a humble gift, To mend the rifts, a healing lift. For in the poetry of compassion, may you find, A sanctuary for hearts, a haven for the mind. Mothers of Gaza, your strength inspires, Amidst the chaos, your love never tires. May these verses carry warmth, like a soothing breeze, Healing hearts, nurturing souls with ease.
35 A Silent Cry of Hope (By Saraswathy Rathakrishnan) In the somnolent echoes of a mother's respire, A painful journey unfolds beneath the sky. A tale of strength, resilience, and equanimity, As she voyages the divine space. A cradle of desire, once filled with delight, Now shadows loiter in the soft moonlight. Little footsteps that never met the ground, Yet in her heart, a love profound. Through weeping nights and bawling soundless, She finds spirit where yearning never dies. Grieving the loss, a heavy toll, Yet within her, a spirited soul. A garden of memories, both unbearable and angelic, Where tiny heartbeats and lullabies heard. In the tapestry of grief, she finds a thread, A love that endures, though her heart has bled. With each sunrise, a new dawn begins, A mosaic of healing, where love transcends. She gathers strength from the pain endured, In the memory of a life, though briefly secured. Whispers of laughter from a celestial shore, Echo in her heart forevermore. A bond unbroken by the hands of fate, A mother's love, strong and innate.
36 Through the grief, like a phoenix's flight, She rises above the darkest night. Her spirit mends, though scars remain, A testament of love that will sustain. For in the quiet moments, where memories dwell, She finds solace in the stories to tell. In the echoes of a lullaby's refrain, A mother recovers from the ache and pain.
37 The Nameless (By Aiman Bazli Roslan) The minds sometimes in a dark cloud, Yet there's no one to be talked about it or speak it out, The mind is overwhelmed by such emotions, It tears apart the heart and unconsciously hurts myself, But at that moment, for some reason, Myself believe in the lord or the highest being, Yet in that moment I starts to pray to that nameless, But why? In that moment, myself beliefs to that nameless soars like the skies and stars Only to be with that nameless mights, The nameless is the Lord that gives me happiness and hopes, Nurturing the minds and giving me what myself seeks During those times I cried, Like a rainstorm sweeping the place, During those weakest time, not even myself believe in me, Myself couldn't approved me, Couldn't love me, But the nameless, even with me, He loves me, He forgave me, He provided me with life, He provided me with knowledge, He provided me with people's around, Unknowingly would be a part of my life, They wouldn't be there or I wouldn't be in that picture, Those moments, even if myself is out of the picture, I will find just how much lovely it is, I will smile silently, Thinking myself are a part of them, Sharing with them some of their life, Even just for a little bit,
38 I would remember it, Giving strength to myself to keep living, To keep moving forward, Just like today's I am breathing healthily, For once, I courageously will grasp every opportunity to hold that pieces left, May myself be thankful to the nameless, Our lord, our savior, our caretaker.
39 Instinct of Hope (By Marcia Jane) The coldness of inflation, The harshness of icy price tags, The swirling demands of the global world, Has sparked cruel surprises. Dreams of bright future, Secured jobs for a brighter day to borrow, Now draped us in shades of despair, Our spirits dims hope falters Glimpses of glorious moment of scroll’s embrace, Through long cramped nights and fights, Now remains a memory so faint, The struggle is real, so is our fight. Though halfway we stand, The march will not halt, Bending, rolling, and crawling forth, We will strive to leave our imprints of worth. Life it is an intricate tapestry woven with trials, It is through hardships and trials, We find our strengths, Armed with resilience as our compass, We paint our stories, With an instinct of hope.
40 The Light of a New Tomorrow (By Zanurin bin Mohamad Safar) Gold turned to rust, Dream turned to dust, Hopes shattered on the floor, And unforgiving rain started to pour, Yet, I am still praying this seed of sorrow, Will grow a tree of tomorrow, My broken heart’s tuning a melody, To ease this momentary agony, Mending these pieces of broken dreams, Rewind, reroute and rewrite my regimes, I shall leave behind this sorrow, For me to breathe the fresh air of a new tomorrow. This journey may make me moan, For I must face the monsters alone, I may be drowned in the darkest zone, Yet, I am so eager to discover my golden tomorrow, Ardent to breath the new scent of a prospering meadow, Fervent to marvel the wonder of a mesmerizing rainbow, I must master the sea of fear, For my ship to sail further, Even though the mountains seem overpowering, Even though the ground is shaking, I must gather all my might to rise to a greater height, For my new tomorrow to shine a bright light.
41 Poetry in Mandarin and other languages
42 真有那么一个地方 Truly , There is Such a Place (By Lew Ya Ling) 真有那么一个地方 Truly, there is such a place, 好山好水好风光 With splendid mountains, waters, and scenic grace. 人是一颗种子 Humans, like seeds, 开出自己的花儿 Blossoming in their unique embrace. 不为争奇斗艳 Not for glory, nor to compete, 只愿透过湖面的倒影 孤芳自赏 But to admire one's reflection in the lake. 真有那么一个地方 Indeed, there exists that special land, 树和树的距离 那么远 Where trees' distance is perfectly planned, 不随便侵入他者的地方 Not invading others with an unwelcome hand, 树和树的距离 又那么近 The distance between trees is so close, 根部随时给予支援温暖 Yet offering support, close at hand. 真有那么一个地方 In this haven, 小草没有被玩弄践踏 Grass remains untamed, 绿油油一片真好看
43 A lush, vibrant sight, forever unblamed. 叶子随风自在飘散 Leaves dance freely, as the wind proclaimed, 为大地盖上了金黄的棉毯 Blanketing the earth in a golden flame. 花草树木的声响 The symphony of nature, soft and profound, 合成了天籁 Weaving a celestial sound. 我以为到了天堂 I thought I reached the gates of heaven's embrace, 原来是那个靠北的地方 But it was that northern dwelling place, A paradise of calm and grace.
44 信 Letter (By Cheng Siyu) 一个字如一阵风 A word is like a gust of wind 情绪从一个地方吹到了另一个地方 Emotions blow from one place to another 风停下来等我 The wind stopped waiting for me 交汇，在字的森林 Confluence, in the forest of words 像阿拉斯加山脉那样蜿蜒 Meandering like the mountains of Alaska 蒸汽、绿影、交错纵横的藤蔓 Steam, green shadows, crisscrossing vines 我呼吸着你的呼吸 I breathe your breath 我不想蜷缩了 I don't want to curl up 无论是手先麻木 Either hand first numb 还是心先潮湿 Or heart first wet 春天到来的时候
45 When spring comes 风会融化冬天的身体 The wind will melt the winter body
46 微尘 Mote (By Guo Fang) 我是天空之下的一粒微尘 I am a mote of dust under the sky 随树叶飘落地面 As the leaves flutter to the ground 阳光透过枝丫照耀万物 The sun shines through the branches 却无我半点影子 But there's no sign of me 恐惧！迷茫！摇摆！ Horror! So confused! Swing it! 可我只是一粒微尘 But I'm just a mote of dust 惊不起水面的一丝波纹 Not a ripple on the water 冷眼看着熊熊烈火燃烧 Watch the fire burn with cold eyes 这火光太亮，我无法睁眼 The fire is so bright, I cannot open my eyes 燃吧 Burn 燃尽过往的痛苦，燃起时代的希望 Burning away the pain of the past, igniting the hope of The Times 我是天空之下的一粒微尘
47 I am a mote of dust under the sky 我无拘无束 I am free 以星辰为背景，在夜空中翱翔 Soar in the night sky with the stars in the background 以暮色为衣装，在黑暗中起舞 Dress in the twilight and dance in the dark 撕裂！呐喊！咆哮！ Rip! Yell! Growl! 我是自由的微尘 I am a mote of freedom 藤蔓束缚不住我的脚步 The vine cannot restrain my steps 海浪卷走不了我的步伐 The waves cannot break my pace 风与我蜜语，月与我同醉 The wind talks with me, the moon drunks with me 终于 Finally 我即将自燃，成为光明 I am about to spontaneously ignite and become light