Impresi

Pahlawan agung dalam lagenda
di belakangnya kepulan asap mengisi udara
kapal ditelan api menyala;
di depan tentera musuh menagih nyawa –
jika menang terkota janji
jika tewas syurga menanti
majulah ia meredah kematian
sekeping hati berbekal iman.

Beberapa kurun selepasnya kita saksikan
para hipokrit cuba menyamakan
diri mereka dengan pahlawan;
di belakang wang, di depan peluang –
jika menang harta direnggut
jika tewas penjara menyambut
teruslah ia menabur berita
sejuta kalam bersulam dusta.

Pengalaman sejarah mengajar kita
bahawa jenaka pun ada hadnya
bila terlebih nampak bebalnya
seluruh dunia bakal tertawa.

.
November 2011, Georgetown

.

Seeing you running into the crowd
it did not take me long to realise
that our time was almost up.
Suddenly it became cold and serene
with sounds from the clock tower
clicking bluntly through my rundown quarter.

As I found your remnants by the seaside
clinging to a laboured breath, dimming in dignity
I thought – ah, life and death, beautiful things
it was then that the sky was filled
with the fireworks;
and our existence turned into a panorama
epic but still hopeless.

Standing far away from the festive air
these blood-stained clothes
seemed more familiar to me
at the feet of unflinching destiny.

Behind those ash-covered traces
I looked around the exhausted town
and thought – there could be no better conclusion
to this memorable little excursion.

.
Rifhan Rasuli, October 2011
Georgetown
.