Emerging Malay Poets: Translations of Zulfadli Rashid, Sofia Nin and Hidayat Nordin by Annaliza Bakri

By , , and | 1 September 2023

Better Alone by Sofia Nin

Shadowed by the night, breezeless
The lady sprawled on the chair
Exactly in front of a noisy fan
Questioning if this is simply fiction?

All this time, she wrote about night
How she reveres the dark
How in the dark, she honours the moon
And how the moon illuminates the path

No need for stars
No need for anyone to come
No need for anything bright
Without needing anyone … someone

With just herself, she feels whole
With just her body, she feels full

Because she realised that
The one who arrives, promises a hand
Will depart, leaving behind a shadow
The one who appears, promises words
Will leave, pretending to close her eyes

Thus, she enfolds all dreams neatly
Tied firmly, stored in the left cupboard
Will there be a therapy
While we await tomorrow’s arrival?


Lebih Baik Sendiri

Hanya bertemankan malam hening
Perempuan itu duduk tergeletak di atas kursi
Pas di depan kipas angin yang berdesing
Bertanya tanya apakah ini hanya sebuah fiksi?

Selama ini ditulisnya tentang malam
Bagaimana dia bisa mengagumi kelam
Bagaimana dalam kelam, dia bisa menyanjungi bulan
Dan bagaimana bulan bisa menyinari jalan

Tanpa perlu ada bintang
Tanpa perlu ada yang datang
Tanpa perlu ada yang benderang
Tanpa perlu ada orang … orang

Cukup dengan dirinya saja dia merasa penuh
Cukup dengan raganya saja yang bisa merasakan jenuh

Karena dia sadar bahwa
Yang datang menjanjikan tangan
Bakal pergi tinggalkan bayangan
Yang datang menjanjikan kata
Bakal pergi pura pura menutup mata

Lalu dia membungkus rapi semua mimpi
Diikat kuat disimpan di kiri lemari
Akankah ada sebuah terapi
Sembari menunggu datangnya besok hari?

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