sounds of Taipa Park
computer faces me
sitting at a stone table
wordless, observing
babies in strollers
suck their thumbs
coo
kids on swings
eyes wild
screaming
young Filipino women
red lips and handbags
they spin tales
dogs on leash
run tongues out
bark
sleeveless shirted men
jog round, faces of determination
making out-of-breath sounds
grey haired ladies
stretch their joy
to music
old men sit
warm with their tea cups
reminiscing
as I do with these sounds
now the words
are here
suara-suara di Taman Taipa
di hadapan komputer
pada meja batu
aku memandang tanpa kata
bayi-bayi dalam kereta dorong
menghisap jempol mungil
mendekut lirih
anak-anak pada ayunan
tatapan nakal
bersama teriak
gadis-gadis Filipin
bergincu dan tas tangan
bertukar cerita
anjing-anjing terantai
berlari lidah terjulur
menggonggong
lelaki berkaus kutung
berlari keliling bersimbah peluh
terengah-engah
wanita-wanita berambut putih
meregangkan suka cita
berirama musik
kakek-kakek duduk
menghangatkan diri dalam cangkir teh
menyeruput kenangan
suara-suara ini
menghantarkan
kata padaku
computer faces me
sitting at a stone table
wordless, observing
babies in strollers
suck their thumbs
coo
kids on swings
eyes wild
screaming
young Filipino women
red lips and handbags
they spin tales
dogs on leash
run tongues out
bark
sleeveless shirted men
jog round, faces of determination
making out-of-breath sounds
grey haired ladies
stretch their joy
to music
old men sit
warm with their tea cups
reminiscing
as I do with these sounds
now the words
are here
suara-suara di Taman Taipa
di hadapan komputer
pada meja batu
aku memandang tanpa kata
bayi-bayi dalam kereta dorong
menghisap jempol mungil
mendekut lirih
anak-anak pada ayunan
tatapan nakal
bersama teriak
gadis-gadis Filipin
bergincu dan tas tangan
bertukar cerita
anjing-anjing terantai
berlari lidah terjulur
menggonggong
lelaki berkaus kutung
berlari keliling bersimbah peluh
terengah-engah
wanita-wanita berambut putih
meregangkan suka cita
berirama musik
kakek-kakek duduk
menghangatkan diri dalam cangkir teh
menyeruput kenangan
suara-suara ini
menghantarkan
kata padaku
I like this image of you as a net, gathering by finding, by being. VEry nice Chrys.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kerri. This actually came to being when I was out of idea :p
Deletegrey haired ladies
ReplyDeletestretch their joy
to music
I like this image and idea Chrys! very suggestive and close to a natural dancing momentum... what life should always be!
Thanks, Béatrice! :)
DeleteThe small verses are very effective snapshots of the different activities and moods. Colour, excitement, joy, effort contrasting with the stillness of the poet. Beautiful.
ReplyDeletePS Chrysogonus because you asked for critical feedback: I wonder about sucking thumbs and cooing - perhaps clichéd? A fresher image so that verse 2 stands as well as the other verses?
ReplyDelete