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Poems on the MRT

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Cinta adalah Makrifat / Love is Enlightenment by Djamal Tukimin

 

Ia datang bagaikan dalam waktu
embun dan malam bercumbuan
dan alamku alammu melelapkan mata
di bawah cepu usia bertamu tiap sudut
berjantanlah kekasih
pada malamkan bernama

Setelah ia datang bagaikan syahdu
dalam kamar risikbisik hati yang meniti
bersabdalah kelembutan buat cinta
bersambunglah bulan kerana mengambang
dan kerana merahnya yang besar
setiap aku sebut
di jantung malam kenamaan

Tuhan, kaulah yang menurunkan cinta
di gua hira' puisimu menyapa
paling tidak akan aku jaga
nama cintamu yang ke mana-mana

Lorong Tai Seng.
Singapura 19.
12 Ogos 1972.

Love is Enlightenment
Written by Djamal Tukimin
Translated by Alfian Sa’at

It comes during that time
when the dew and the night are embracing
and my world, your world, closes its eyes
under your anther that receives guests
shower them with pollen my love
and write your name into the night

After it arrives like grace
in the whispering chamber of the beating heart
speak gentle words for the sake of love
join the moon as it floats
and because of its redness
everything I say
praises it as the heart of the night

God, You are the one who bestowed love
in the Cave of Hira your poetry embraced the Prophet
the least I can do is guard
your loving name wherever it goes


Published in Antologi Puisi Djamal Tukimin (2023)

Credit: Berita Harian

Djamal Tukimin, born 1946 in Singapore, is a playwright, poet, and essayist who is a major figure in the Singapore Malay performing arts and literary scenes. He has also played a key role in archiving the works of Singapore writers, and his published research into the post-war history of modern Malay theatre is now regarded as a standard reference source. In 2007, he was awarded the highest Malay literary award in Singapore, the Tun Seri Lanang Award, in recognition of his contribution to regional and local arts development. In 2017, Djamal received the Cultural Medallion for his significant contributions to the arts in Singapore.

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Poems on the MRT is an initiative by the National Arts Council, in partnership with SMRT and Stellar Ace. Produced by Sing Lit Station, a local literary non-profit organisation, this collaboration displays excerpts of Singapore poetry throughout SMRT’s train network, integrating local literature into the daily experience of commuters. Look out for poems in English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil in trains on the East-West, North-South and Circle Lines, as well as videos created by local artists and featuring local poets in stations and on trains. The Chinese, Malay, and Tamil poems are available in both the original languages and English. To enjoy the full poems, commuters may read them on go.gov.sg/potm.

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