MIGRANT WORKER
POETRY
COMPETITION 2023
Shortlisted Poets and their work - 2015
Zakir Hossain Khokon
Zakir, 38, was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He graduated from the National University and arrived in Singapore in 2003. He was the first prize winner in the inaugural Migrant Worker Poetry Contest in Singapore. He is currently working as a construction supervisor and freelance journalist. He has also published his own poetry collection, ‘The River reaches the town’ and a non-fiction work titled, ‘Singapore riots and a love story’
দুঃখিত
I am Sorry
Sorry, I am sorry,
for hanging on your spotless wall
this painting, mere strokes of colour
Don’t worry,
I’ll take it down right away
The subject of this painting:
Life in exile
Name:
The happy bird
(A beloved’s endearment
for a migrant worker)
To the right after the crossroads
and there you are at the cluster of households
the fun-filled playgrounds of the child
and that green patch you see
moving from opaque to light
the half hearted lights that become yellow
spread out to the plane
From here begins the caress of the brush
that has dissolved slowly into the smoky brass of the sky
To the left lies diffused the abir-covered evening
standing still at the doors of the stars
Excellent, says the rain
and showers its many greetings
An old man stands
close to the painting
and says in a moist voice:
The whole canvas dyed
in the tired eyes
of innumerable workers
Unloved faces
And the poetic biography
that grows around stories of faded dreams
their grotesque domestic furniture
the pollen of love, beyond touch
the fading signs of a kiss
Some people from the crowd said:
Craftsman of civilization
this world will bow before you in gratitude
forever
Embarrassed
I am removing the picture
and again I say sorry
I am very sorry
আপনাদের পরিচ্ছন্ন দেয়ালে
রংতুলি দিয়ে আঁকা চিত্রটি ঝুলিয়ে দেওয়ার জন্য দুঃখিত
নামিয়ে নেব এই এক্ষুনি
চিত্রকর্মটির বিষয়, পরবাস
নাম, সুখ পাখি
কোন এক প্রবাসী শ্রমিকের প্রেয়সীর রাখা নাম এটি
ডান দিকটায় অবিন্যস্ত বসতবাড়ি, শিশুদের আনন্দময় মাঠ পেরিয়ে
সবুজ যে আভা দেখতে পাচ্ছেন
গাঢ় থেকে হালকা হয়ে হলুদের ভেতর অনিচ্ছায় ঢুকে
ছড়িয়ে পড়েছে দিক থেকে দিগন্তে
এখান থেকেই শুরু হয়েছিল তুলির আদর
ধীরে যা ধোঁয়ায় আচ্ছন্ন তামাটে আকাশে মিশেছে
বাম দিকটায় আবির মাখা সন্ধ্যা
থমকে দাঁড়িয়ে আছে নক্ষত্রের দরজায়।
অসাধারন বলে তুমুল শুভেচ্ছা বৃষ্টির ভেতর থেকে
এক বয়বৃদ্ধ উঠে
ঘনিষ্ট হয়ে চিত্রটি দেখে
ভেজা কন্ঠে বললেন,
পুরো ক্যানভাস জুরে আঁকা
অসংখ্য শ্রমিকের ক্লান্ত চোখ, অনাদুরে মুখ
তাদের সং সাজা সংসারী আসবাব
স্পর্শাতীত ভালবাসার পরাগ
চুম্বনের মলিন দাগ
রঙ ওঠা স্বপ্নকে ছুঁয়ে কাব্যিক জীবন গল্পের সোহাগ।
সব দেখ শুনে ওই পেছন থেকে দু’একজন বলে উঠল-
ওহে সভ্যতার কারিগর,
তোমাদের সামনে কৃতজ্ঞতায় নুয়ে থাকবে
এ দুনিয়া জনম ভর।
বিব্রত আমি চিত্রাঙ্কনটি সরিয়ে নিচ্ছি আর বারবার বলছি দুঃখিত খুব দুঃখিত।।
Translated by Gopika Jadeja and Debobrata Basu with inputs from Souradip Bhattacharya and Thanks to P. Mukherjee for his reading of the poems.
Mohor Khan
Mohor Khan, 34, was born in Munshiganj, Bangladesh. He came to Singapore in 2007 and works in the construction sector. Mohor writes sonnets but he has also written short stories, novels and non-fiction. His sonnets typically reflect social realities in Bangladesh and Singapore. Mohor likes to write sonnets because the formal structure challenges him to be more creative. He has been writing since he was 13 years old and has also acted in plays. Mohor’s favourite poets are legendary sonnet writers Michael Modhusudhan and Petrarch.
ল্যাম্পপোস্ট
Lamp Post
-
খান
নিকৃণ যানবাহনের জনদুর্ভোগমুক্ত সমাকীর্ণ এ পথ -
এই শহরের সভ্য জাতির হিয়ার মত অম্লান।
প্রাসাদের কারুকার্যে বৈচিত্র্যময়
এই শহর,
মানব শিশুর মত অত্যন্ত যত্নে গড়া বৃক্ষরাজি
পাতার ফাঁকে ফাঁকে কোকিলকন্ঠে চিরবসন্তের যাদুকরি সুর।
এতদিনে এই স্বপ্নের শহর আমার অস্তিত্বকে গ্রাস করেছে !
রোজ আমার হৃদয়ের নিতল ভালবাসার নিখুঁত ছোঁয়ায় -
এ শহর, এ সিংহজননী যৌবনের ক্রমাগত আতিশয্যে উজ্জীবিত বিশ্ব সারথি হয়ে উঠেছে যেন
দিনের পর দিন শ্রম বরণে
এই শহরের প্রতিটি স্তরে স্তরে আমার ঘামের নোনাগন্ধ তাই
আমি আজ উন্মাদি এক শহরপ্রেমী।
আমি কি ভুলেছি?
আমার জননী, জন্মভূমিকে ?
সময়কে সংবরণ করা প্রতীক্ষিত আমার বধুকে?
আমার বংশীয় চিহ্ন রাখবে যে ভালবাসার শিশু তাকেও ভুলেছি আমি?
না ভুলিনি!
প্রতি রাত্রে একই স্বপ্ন বার বার আমায় তন্দ্রাহীন করে তোলে,
বিরতিহীন স্বপ্নের পাতাল রেল চলে অবিরত,
অর্থের লোভে অচেনা হয়ে যায় আমার গন্তব্যের স্টপেজ,
স্বপ্নের মোহনায় সোডিয়াম ল্যাম্পপোস্টের মত আমি একাকী,
স্বপ্নের ভিতরে
এক পা দু পা'য়ে মৃদু আলোয় এসে আমার প্রিয় পুত্রের কন্ঠে শোকের আর্তধ্বনি,
আমি একাকীত্বে শুনতে পাই,
সে বলে
বাবা তোমার কোলে চড়ে প্রিন্স বাজারে ঘুরবো আর কবে?
তোমার কাঁদে চড়ে আকাশছোঁয়া স্বপ্ন গেল ফুরিয়ে,
আমি হাটা শিখেছি, দৌড়ুতে শিখেছি
আমি এখন বড্ড বড় হয়ে গেছি বাবা
এত দিনে তোমার ভালবাসার সমস্ত সত্ত্বা ভুলতে শিখেছি।
বাবা আমি বড্ড বড় হয়ে গেলাম।
ঘুম ভেঙ্গে প্রতি রাতের মত আমি হই মধ্য রাতের নিশাচর।
আমি শুধু প্রবাসী শ্রমিক নই, একটি পরিবারের ল্যাম্পপোস্ট।
Streets with no madding crowds, its traffic melodious
spotless as the hearts of the civilized people of this city
diverse with crafted monuments
Trees nurtured as carefully as children
Among their branches the kokila sings
with the magical voice of forever spring
Everyday, with the perfect touch
of the bottomless love of my heart
this city, mother Singapore, has turned into
the chariot of the world
riding on the extravagance of youth
Day after day I labour
Layers of this city are infused
with the salty smell of my sweat
Today I am a mad city lover
Have I forgotten
My mother, my motherland?
My wife waiting for me all this time?
The child who will carry the flag of my family
Have I forgotten him too?
Every night, sleepless in the same dream
The underground train of dreams moves relentlessly
And the greed of money blurs my destination
At the delta of my dreams
I am as lonely as a sodium lamp post
Slowly in the dim light of my dreams
enters the miserable cry of my son
In my loneliness I can hear him say:
Father, when will I go to Prince Bazaar
holding your hand?
The dream of reaching the sky
riding on your shoulders is over
I have learnt to walk, run
Father, I have grown up
I have learnt to forget your dear existence
Father, I have grown up
Every night, unable to sleep
I turn into a nocturnal creature
I am not only a migrant worker
I am the lamp post of a family
Translated by Gopika Jadeja and Debobrata Basu with inputs from Souradip Bhattacharya and Thanks to P. Mukherjee for his reading of the poems.
Sharasyamsi Yahya
Sharasyamsi comes from Indonesia. She has been working in Singapore for nine years as a domestic worker. Her hobbies are singing and teaching music. She believes in learning continuously so that in the process, she can also help her family.
ENGKAU
Engkau,
Jadilah angin bagi awan-awanku
hingga aku tak lagi ragu berarak
Ke tempat niat tujuan kita
Engkau,
Jadilah angin bagi layang-layangku
hingga aku tak lagi takut mengarungi
angkasa harapan kita
Engkau,
Jadilah angin bagi semua kehidupan
Yang bisa menuntun jalan mereka
dan jalanku untuk kembali
meniti inspirasi dua hati
Engkau,
Jadilah angin yang menghidupkan angan-anganku
cita dan cintaku
hanya engkau mimpiku
berharap kita bersatu
satu dalam restu
yang tak lagi tabu
You
You,
Be the wind to my clouds
so that I may go forth confidently
to our destination
You,
Be the wind to my kite
so that I no longer fear crossing
the skies of our hopes
You,
Be the wind to all life
Show them the way
and my way back
treading the inspiration of two hearts
You,
Be the wind that gives life to my dreams
my hope and my love
you alone are my dream
may we be joined
in a blessed union
that is no longer taboo
Translated From Bahasa Indonesia by Looi Siew Teip
N Rengarajan
N Rengarajan, 29, was born in Pudukkotti, Tamil Nadu, India. He came to Singapore in 2014 and works in the construction sector. Rengarajan’s poems are often satirical and make fun of politicians and social ills. He has won awards in several poetry competitions in India. His favourite poet is the Tamil poet and lyricist Vairamuthu
"வெளிநாட்டு வாழ்கையின் கூட்டலும் கழித்தலும்"
The calculations of migrant life
கூட்டல்
* எங்கள் தாய் நாட்டில் சிலர்
விளைநிலத்தை விற்று படித்துவிட்டு
வேலை தேடி அழைகிறார்கள்!
நாங்கள் இங்கு வேலையால் உழைப்பை விற்று
அங்கு விளை(லை) நிலத்தை வாங்குகிறோம்!
* தாய்நாட்டின் நாணய மதிப்பு
சொந்த நாட்டில் இருப்பவர்களை விட
வந்த நாட்டில் இருக்கும் எங்களுக்குத்தான்
அதிகம் தெரியும்!
* நாங்கள் இங்கு இருப்பதால்தான்
அடிக்கடி வங்கிகளுக்கே !
சென்றுகொண்டிருந்த எங்கள் வீட்டு நகைகள்
நிரந்தரமாக தங்குகின்றன வீட்டிலேயே!
* வங்கியில் கடன் கணக்கிலேயே
பணம் செலுத்தி பழக்கப்பட்ட
என் பரம்பரை
இப்போதுதான் சேமிப்பு கணக்கில் செலுத்துகிறது!
* அருகில் இருந்தால்
வயது கோளாரில்
என் ஆண்டவர்களிடம் (அம்மா , அப்பா)
சண்டையிட்டாலும் இடுவேன் என்று
தொலைவில் கூட்டிவந்து பாசத்தை அதிகப்படுத்திய
வெளிநாட்டு வாழ்கைக்கு நன்றி!
கழித்தல்
* இது ஒரு
பணவாசம் தேடிய
வனவாசம்!
* திருமணம் ஆனவர்களுக்கும்,
ஆகாதவர்களுக்கும்
கிடைத்த தற்காலிக துறவு வாழ்கை!
* திருமணத்தை தள்ளிப்போடுவதில்
ஜாதக தோஷத்தை விட கொடியது
இந்த வெளிநாட்டு வாழ்கை!
* காதலுக்கும்,வெளிநாட்டு வாழ்கைக்கும்
ஒரு சிறு வித்தியாசம்தான்
காதலில் நடக்காததை யெல்லாம் கனவு காண்போம்!
இதில் நடப்பதையே கனவாக காண்கிறோம்!
ஆம்! நாங்கள் இங்கே! எங்கள் உறவுகள் அங்கே!
ஒற்றுமை என்னவென்றால்
இரண்டிலுமே! வலிகள் அதிகம்!
* என்னதான் பணம் இருந்தாலும்
பரம ஏழைகளும்
நாங்களும் ஒன்றுதான்
நல்ல சோற்றுக்கு ஏங்குவதால்!
* வெளிநாட்டு வாழ்கையில்
விலைமதிக்க முடிந்த
எல்லாவற்றையும் வாங்கிவிடலாம்!
விலைமதிக்க முடியாத
அன்பையும், பாசத்தையும் தவிர!
* நாங்கள் வாழ்வது
வெளிநாட்டு வாழ்கை அல்ல!
எங்கள் வாழ்கையே வெளிநாடு!
என். ரெங்கராஜன்
Pluses
Back home, people have sold
paddy fields to pay for education
but have no jobs.
Here we sell labour
to buy paddy fields back home.
**
We who labour
know the true exchange rate
of our home currency.
**
Our jewellery was often with the bank.
Now that we are here
our jewellery remains home.
**
Our forefathers
used to pay money into loan accounts.
Now, we have savings accounts.
**
Our dynasties used to grow
on the strength of loans.
Now we save for our progeny.
**
Perhaps, proximity
and vagrancies of youth
led to arguments with my parents.
Thanks to migrant life,
distances have increased
and so have affections.
Minuses
We are lured
by the smell of money
into exile
**
Both the married and the unmarried
are temporarily transformed
into ascetics.
**
When it comes to marriage
life in a foreign land
proves crueler than a
flawed horoscope
**
There is little difference between love
and life in a foreign land.
In love we dream of events that may not happen.
In exile, life is a waking dream.
We are here, our relatives are there.
Both love and life in exile
mean pain.
**
We have money
yet are no different from the poor –
like them, we long for good food.
**
Living in a foreign land
we can buy everything that has a price
but love and affection
**
Ours is not a foreign life
Our lives are foreign to us.
Translated from the Tamil by Krishna Udayasankar and Gopika Jadeja.
Thanks to Mythily Anandakumar for help in reading the poem. She works at the café at the United World College of South East Asia, Dover.
Sandeep Kaur
Sandeep is from Punjab (India) and has been in Singapore since 2013, working as a domestic worker. She has many dreams and is confident that she will achieve her dreams one day. She is hard working and likes to write in her free time. On her off day, Sandeep goes to AIDHA to learn financial management. She looks forward to running her own business one day.
Untitled Poem
Untitled Poem
ਮੇਰਾ ਨਾਮ ਸੰਦੀਪ ਕੌਰ ਹੈ । ਮੈਂ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਲੜਕੀ ਹਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਸਿੰਘਪੁਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਪੌਣੇ ਤਿੰਨ ਸਾਲ ਤੋਂ ਕੰਮ ਕਰ ਰਹੀ ਹਾਂ ।
ਭਾਰਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਬਹੁਤ ਹੀ ਬੁਰੀ ਬਿਮਾਰੀ ਫੈਲੀ ਹੋਈ ਆ ਕਿ ਕੁੜੀਆ ਨੂੰ ਜਨਮ ਲੈਣ ਤੋ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਹੀ ਮਾਰ ਦੇਣਾ । ਕਹਿਣ ਨੂੰ ਅੱਜ ਸਬ ਜਾਣਦੇ ਆ ਕਿ ਭਰੂਣ ਹੱਤਿਆ ਕਿੱਨਾ ਵੱਡਾ ਪਾਪ ਆ ਪਰ ਫਿਰ ਵੀ ਆਏ ਦਿਨ ਖਬਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਹ ਪੜਣ ਨੂੰ ਮਿਲਦਾ ਆ ।
ਇਸ ਕਵਿਤਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਅਣਜੰਮੀ ਧੀ 'ਤੇ ਉਸਦੀ ਮਾਂ ਅਪਣੇ ਦਿਲ ਦੀਆਂ ਕੁਝ ਗੱਲਾਂ ਕਰ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਆ ।
ਧੀ...
ਹਸਰਤ ਸੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਵੀ ਜਿਊਣ ਦੀ
ਹਸਰਤ ਸੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਵੀ ਇਸ ਦੁਨਿਆ 'ਚ ਆਉਣ ਦੀ
ਹਸਰਤ ਸੀ ਤੇਰੀ ਗੋਦੀ ਦਾ ਸੁੱਖ ਪਾਉਣ ਦੀ
ਹਸਰਤ ਸੀ ਬਾਪੂ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ ਰੁਸ਼ਣਾਣ ਦੀ
ਹਸਰਤ ਸੀ ਵੀਰੇ ਦੇ ਗੁੱਟ ਤੇ ਰੱਖੜੀ ਸੁਝਾਣ ਦੀ
ਹਸਰਤ ਸੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਵੀ ਜਿਊਣ ਦੀ
ਹਸਰਤ ਸੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਨੀ ਮਾਏਂ ਤੇਰੀ ਧੀ ਅਖਵਾਉਣ ਦੀ
ਹਸਰਤ ਸੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਤੇਰੇ ਆਂਗਣ ਚ ਕਿਕਲੀ ਪਾਉਣ ਦੀ
ਹਸਰਤ ਸੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਨੀ ਮਾਂਏ ਤੇਰਾ ਦੁੱਖ-ਸੁੱਖ ਵਡਾਉਣ ਦੀ
ਹਸਰਤ ਸੀ ਇਸ ਸੋਹਣੀ ਦੁਨਿਆਂ ਦਾ ਅਨੰਦ ਪਾਉਣ ਦੀ
ਹਸਰਤ ਸੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਅੰਬਰਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਉਚਾਈਆਂ ਛੂਹ ਜਾਣ ਦੀ
ਹਸਰਤ ਸੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਨੀ ਮਾਂ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਮਾਂ ਬੁਲਾਉਣ ਦੀ
ਹਸਰਤ ਸੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਵੀ ਜਿਉਣ ਦੀ...ਹਸਰਤ ਸੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਵੀ ਜਿਉਣ ਦੀ...।
ਮਾਂ....
ਖੁਸ਼ ਹੋਈ ਸੀ ਬੜਾ ਮੈਵੀ
ਪਤਾ ਲੱਗਾ ਜਦੋਂ ਮੈਨੂੰ, ਮੇਰੇ ਅੰਦਰ ਹੋ ਇੱਕ ਨਿੱਕਾ ਜਿਹਾ ਜੀਅ
ਦਿਨ ਗੁਜ਼ਰੇ ਰਾਤਾਂ ਗੁਜ਼ਰੀਆਂ ਸੰਜੋਇਆ ਇੱਕ ਮੈਵੀ ਸੁਪਣਾ ਤੇਰੇ ਲਈ
ਮੇਰੇ ਕਾਲਜੇ ਦਾ ਟੁਕੜਾ ਤੂ ਸੀ ਬਣ ਗਈ
ਕਦੀ ਮੈ ਇਹ ਨਹੀ ਸੀ ਚਾਹਿਆ ਕੀ ਤੂ ਬਣ ਜੇ ਮੈਰੀ ਅਣਜੰਮੀ ਧੀ
ਮਰਦ ਪਰਧਾਣ ਸਮਝ ਨਾਲ ਮੈਂ ਲੜ ਨਾ ਸਕੀ
ਇਸ ਦੁਨਿਆ ਦੇ ਕਾਲੇ ਰੀਤੀ ਰਿਵਾਂਜਾ ਕੋਲੋ ਮੈ ਵੀ ਡਰ ਗਈ
ਹੁੰਦਾ ਦੇਖ ਕੇ ਅਤਿਆਚਾਰ ਨਿੱਕਿਆ-ਨਿੱਕਿਆ ਬਚੀਆਂ ਤੇ ਇੱਕ ਕੌੜਾ ਘੁਟ ਮੈਂ ਵੀ ਗਈ ਪੀ
ਹੁਣ ਤੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਸੀ ਮੇਰੇ ਕੋਲ ਬਸ ਸੀ ਮੇਰੇ ਸੀਨੇ ਚ ਹਰ ਵਕਤ ਤੇਰੀ ਪੀੜ
ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਲਈ ਮੇਰੇ ਅੰਦਰ ਹੀ ਦਫਣ ਹੋ ਗਈ ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰੀ ਅਣਜੰਮੀ ਧੀ..।
Daughter—
I want to live
to come into this world
lie happy in your lap
make my father proud
tie a rakhi on my brother’s wrist
I want to live
I wanted to
be called your daughter
play in your courtyard
share in your happiness and your grief
I wanted to live in this beautiful world
To touch the skies
I wanted to call you mother
I wanted to live too
Mother—
I was happy too
when I knew I had a little life growing
inside me
Days passed and nights
I sowed a dream for you
You were a part of my being
I never wished for you to become
my unborn daughter
I could not fight this patriarchal society
I was afraid of the dark customs of this world
I saw the victims, little girls
and swallowed the poison
You were not with me
But your pain remained in my heart
You were buried forever within me
My unborn daughter
Translated by Gopika Jadeja with Manpreet Kaur
Glory Ann R. Balista
Gloria is a proud Filipina and proud to be a FDW in Singapore for almost 5 years. Whatever she writes is based on her experiences and feelings. The poem that she has written for the contest is all about a mother's feelings and wishes for her children, for being away or for leaving them at their young age. She dedicates her submitted poem to her son and to all FDW's children, to let them feel how the parents loved them and to let them know that they're not the only one who feel sadness, pain, and suffering; their parents feel the same too. She is also one of Aidha students in UWCS.
Pangungulila at Hiling ng Ina sa kanyang Anak
Sa aking pag-alis
Dibdib ko'y puno ng hinagpis.
Nadaramang lungkot sa puso ko'y..
Sadyang aking tinitiis.
Sa pagtulog ko sa gabi
Iniisip ko na sana,
ika'y aking katabi
Pilit kung pinipikit,
ang aking mga mata...
Ngunit di mapigil ang pagpatak ng mga luha.
Patawad anak ko...
Dahil sa murang edad mo,
ako'y lumayo.
Sana'y maunawaan mo
Dahil hangad ko lamang maibigay..
Ang magandang kinabukasan para sa iyo...
Sana antayin mo, ang aking pagbabalik
Dahil ako'y sabik na sabik ,
na makasama ka ulit.
Huwag ka sanang magtanim,
ng matinding galit..
Dahil ang malayo sayo'y..
Sadyang napakahirap at napakasakit.
Sana'y dinggin mo, Anak!
Itong aking munting hiling,
Na ako'y bigyang pagkakataon..
Na muling ipadarama sa iyo,.
Ang pagmamahal ko at paglalambing.
Desolation and Request of Mother to Son
My departure
filled with resentment.
Feelings of sadness in my heart
I just endure.
When I sleep at night
I wish,
you are next to me
I try to close my eyes. . .
But cannot stop the tears flowing.
Forgive me my son
Because I have been distant
Since you were little.
I hope you understand
I just wanted to make
A bright future for you
I wish that you wait,
for my return
Because I was so eager,
to be with you again.
I wish you will not hoard,
so much anger.
Because being far with you
Is very difficult and painful.
Hopefully you hear, Son!
This is my little wish,
That I have to create opportunities
To again express to you
My love and tenderness.
Translated from the Tagalog by Dawn R Flores and Shivaji Das.
Rolinda O. Espanola
RoIinda is from Bacolod, the Philippines, the city of smiles. She has been employed as a domestic worker for 3 years with her ‘very supportive and kind’ employer, the Sim family.
Her poem is a very personal message for her daughter who celebrated her 7th birthday recently and for all those missed events while working here.
My Wish
I wish to see you blow those candles each year
To be a part of the crowd who sing and cheer
I wish to be on that stage every school end
To see those beaming smile when medals and ribbons pinned
I wish to give you bathe, dress up and tie your hair
To hold your hand and walk to school
and be glad if you say its my mom standing there
I wish to hug you every time you come home crying
To make your milk and on the light if your dreaming
But more than that I wish to be a good mother
And the fact that I can't be if I have to stay there
So here I am going far from you
And wish someday you'll understand what did I do
To work abroad is the only decent act I know
To support your education and give a better tomorrow
Those are simple wishes that can easily be granted
But the reality I have to stay here though going home is what I wanted.
Hou Wei
Born in Nanchang, Jiangxi in China, Houwei, holds a diploma from Jiangxi Technological Institute of Education. Hou Wei came to Singapore in 2011 and works in a logistics company. He writes in his leisure time and favors Chinese classical poems, especially the 8-line poems. His favorite writers include Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Juyi, and he loves “Three Kingdom” and “Three Hundreds poems from Tang Dynasty”. His hobbies include watching movies, reading, playing basketball and traveling.
乙未杂诗
Random poem in 2015
千里过番落南洋，廿岁卅载未还乡。
孤衾残枕话凄凉，夜闻霪雨入寒窗。
沧桑羁旅多少秋，转徙图存鬓白头。
艋艟难载桑梓愁，唯把星洲作神州
I crossed a thousand miles and settled in the foreign land of Nanyang.
It has been twenty to thirty years since I returned to my hometown.
Loneliness left its residue all over my pillow and blanket,
At night I heard the downpour seeping through my shabby window.
How many autumns have it been since I got trapped in a strange land?
Moving around and struggling until my hair has gone grey.
Even the ship cannot bear the load of my homesickness,
All I can do is to imagine Singapore as China.
Translated from the Chinese by Yolanda Yu and Yu Yan Chen.
Grimaldo Nora Rioflorido
Nora Grimaldo is from Manila, the Philippines. For the last six years, she has been working as domestic worker in Singapore. Prior to arriving in Singapore, she was employed in a Hotel Restaurant. While in Singapore, she has developed passion for local culture. She believes in lifelong learning and is undertaking micro-business entrepreneurship course at AIDHA.
The Journey of My Life
There is a woman in my mind
As I wrote a poem tonight
I feel like she is always in my side
And become my candle that gives me a light
She decided to leave the country
As she faced her own journey In a place that has a lot of opportunity
For the sake of her beloved family
As her journey starts on
She knows she needs to be strong
From the time she felt alone
She will stand on her own
Because she wants to earn money
To achieve on the glory
Not only for herself and also for the family
She needs to work in other country
When she woke up in the morning
She starts the day with a Prayer
Praying for the health and safety of everyone
And thanking for what He done
While at work she always thinking
In her mind she always asking
She will do is look up in the sky, and answer is searching
And everytime she do that she always keep smiling
Because she know God is there watching everybody
Watching everybody and also with her
So she got a peace of mind day by day
While she is in the other country that stay
She will get a box and put something
Her heart, gifts and all everything
For the little boys and girls, she has everything
Although for herself she left nothing
And when the night fall, after tiring the whole day
She will sat and stare in a wall
Thinking what will gonna say
Then she will end her night
Praying For the God she always wishing
Always strong, healthy, happy long life
For the success of her JOURNEY
she went by She will sleep late at night
And she will wake up before the sunrise
That’s all she do all her life
This is her THE JOURNEY OF MY LIFE
For her love that never been lost...
Anjia Mutiara (Ratini)
Ratini, 28, is from Kebumen, Central Java, Indonesia. She began working in Singapore since 2013. She likes reading and writing because it makes her feel like she is living through the story.
KEPAKKAN SAYAPMU
Let my Wings Flap
Di sana, dalam wadah penuh cita
Menunggu gesit jiwa kesatria
Memapah semangat yang membara
Kuat, hengkang dari segala prahara
Di sana, sinar kesuksesan melambai
Mengayuh pedal diri tanpa lunglai
Membangun di atas pondasi
Hingga menjulang tinggi
Kepakkan sayapmu
Hingga mewarnai mega biru
Melesat secepat kilat tanpa ragu
Membubung tinggi hingga tercapai semua asamu
Terhapus derai air matamu
Terbayar tunai tetesan peluhmu
Tanpa ragu,
Kau tersenyum pada dunia
Dan kau teriakan
Inilah ketegaranku!
There, in a vessel full of hope
Waits nimbly the spirit of a warrior
Fostering burning zeal
Tough, far from all storms
There, the light of success waves
Pedalling without weakness
Building on the foundation
Rising high
Let my wings flap
Till they fill the pale clouds with colour
Streak like lightning, single-minded,
Soar high to reach all my goals
Banish my stream of tears
Wipe my dripping sweat
With my wages.
Single-minded
You face the world with a smile
And shout
I have persevered!
Translated From Bahasa Indonesia by Looi Siew Teip
Pujiati
Pujiati is from Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia. . She likes to write micro-poem when she has free time, especially Haiku and Sonian. She has joined HaikuKu Indonesia, Sonian,
Haiku and micropoetry International group on facebook. She finds sharing her feelings in a short poem an amazing experience. She is also active at Sekolah Indonesia Singapura as a student of the Open University and volunteers at PMUT (Perhimpunan Mahasiswa
Universitas Terbuka ),Singapore on her off-day.
KERINDUAN
Yearning
Memandang lautan
Rasa tenggelam
Paling dalam
Hatimu
Debur ombak laut
menghanyut rasa
Biru rindu
Cintaku
Lambaian sang nyiur
Memanggil rasa
Dua hati
Menyatu
Gazing at the sea
I feel myself drowning
In the depths
Of your heart
The roar of the waves
washes away
the melancholy
Of my love-longing
The waving coconut palms
Tell of how it feels
When two hearts
Become one
Translated From Bahasa Indonesia by Looi Siew Teip
Guan Zhiqiang
Guan Zhiqiang is from Luoyang, a historical and beautiful city in China. He loved literature and calligraphy from a young age. Wang guozhen, Xu Zhimo and Zhang Ailing were his idols during high school. He never gave up calligraphy though he doubted his capability after getting only consolation prizes in competitions in high school. After Guo started working, these hobbies started fading. Now, in Singapore, being far away from home and wasting less time with friends, he finds that he has started reading again. On the day of his birthday he heard about the poetry competition which brought his memories back. He is glad to find back his old passion.
今天
写个自己作为生日礼物
Today
To myself as a birthday gift
小时候
今天
是个喜庆的日子
因为
可以吃一顿专为我做的
面
里面还有两个
荷包蛋
长大了
不知道
从哪一年的
今天
我讨厌了今天
不是因为
我妈做的
面
比饭馆的面好吃
也不是因为
小时候的面里有
荷包蛋
或许是
小时候觉得
今天以后
所有一切都是属于
我的
而现在
觉得
今天以后连我自己都越来越不属于
我
小时侯的盼望
长大后的盼望
一个天上
一个地上
When I was young,
Today
Used to be a happy day,
Because
I could have a feast, all for myself,
Noodles,
With two poached eggs!
As I grew up,
Unsure
Since which year’s
Today,
I started to hate today
Not because
My mum’s
Noodle
Tastes better than the restaurants’
Also not because
There were poached eggs
In the noodles from my childhood
Maybe because
As a child, I felt,
After today
Everything would belong to
me
But now
I feel
After today,
More and more so,
Even I will not belong to
myself
My childhood wish
My grown-up wish
One is in heaven
The other on earth
Translated from the Chinese by Yolanda Yu and Yu Yan Chen.
Zhang Haitao
Zhang Haitao is from Shanxi province, China. He currently does technical work at HP in Singapore. Writing poems is his hobby. He loves Chinese classical literature and is very interested in poems though he has not read a lot of them. He has tried to write poems on various themes and forms and one of his work is called “Collection of poems in SG”, which the submitted poem is selected from.
夜殇
Night Elegy
殇
殇叹
叹世事
事事扰心
心身已聊残
残梦夜复难眠
眠不觉天已微凉
凉出透对月空追忆
忆故里旧景毫无厌倦
倦眼婆娑凝幽窗一灯孤
孤人独醒小阑干外寂无声
声声歌入耳却是辗转难入梦
梦里遥看春日里几番细雨梨花
花枝头处蜂蝶飞舞暖风绿了万物
物事人非只觉光阴飞逝窗棂外天白
白昼黑夜日复一日梦回长安情归西府
-选自《坡国诗集》
Mourning
Mournful lament
Lamenting worldly things
Things that trouble the soul
Soul and body have already been broken
With broken dreams, the night is sleepless
Falling asleep not aware that it is getting cooler
Against the cool moon remembering the past
Remembering my hometown and never getting tired of the old scenery
My tired eyes tear up at the sight of a lone lamp by the window
Lonely is the man who is still awake, quiet is the little balcony outside
Outside the songs creep into my ears, though I twist and turn before entering the dreamland Dreaming of Spring days with drizzle and pear blossoms
In the blossoms bees and butterflies dance while warm breeze paints the world green
World moves on. How time flies – dawn arrives again outside the window
Day in and night out I dream of returning to Chang’An where my love belongs
Translated from the Chinese by Yolanda Yu and Yu Yan Chen.
Shromik Monir
Shromik Monir, 28, was born in Shariatpur, Bangladesh. He came to Singapore in 2010 and works in the construction sector. Monir writes under the pseudonym ‘Shromik’ or ‘Worker’ and considers himself a rebel poet. He also writes short stories and non-fiction. Monir has been writing poems since 2008 and has won awards for his poetry in competitions organized by literary groups in Bangladesh. Monir is always thinking about what to write and uses his time during the commute to work and during coffee breaks to write poetry using his mobile phone. His favourite poets are Kazi Nazrul Islam and Sukanto.
Shromik
The Labourer
Craftsman of this beautiful civilization
the touch of your sweat has been erased
from the bricks of these mansions
Layers of damp cement
colour the courtyard and your image
will never surface in the cities crafted
like weaver birds’ nests
In this empire of pleasure
you will live in the dense loveless forest
with your inherited hunger
No one knows that you also have
Love
dreams within dreams
The spirits of the moon-lit night shed
the perfume of the heart on your body
smelling of sweat
Craftsman, after adorning the heart of the earth
one day you will lie in eternal sleep
Like Aminul, perhaps you will become
an unclaimed corpse by the lake
Maybe like Ruhul Amin, your dead body
will lose the right to touch the soil of your land
for the crime of being a migrant
Drowning in the brick and mortar of Rana plaza
burning in the fire of Tazreen
maybe you will disappear from the earth
Ignoring your sweat and blood
the earth will shine in rainbow colours
On an earth without your grave
On a page in the diary of a heaven dweller
you will be a history, an unread history.
Translated by Gopika Jadeja and Debobrata Basu with inputs from Souradip Bhattacharya and Thanks to P. Mukherjee for his reading of the poems.