2001-The Beginning of Maturity (Sort of...)

THROUGH THIS DARK AND EMPTY PASSAGE
I began my steps with the grace of hope
That lit my path so glorious and white
But that was before, when the walls were merrier
And echoes of laughter filled the air…

So now I tread on a path so cold
As cold as the walls of grey and cobwebs
Beholding the light as it faded away
While they looked at me in snide and dismay

But through this dark and empty passage
A whisper of joy had came and went
Telling me of news that felt so good
Like the skies of gold and the seas of azure…

And so I hastened my steps faster and faster
Till my body now felt as light as the air
For I know that beyond this dreary tunnel
Things that I yearned would greet me at last…

A bosom for my failures, a shoulder for my tears

SAIF MINTAKA
KL
2001


A BOOK, A PEN AND A DREAM OF FAR
Here I am a loner, a wandering star
A book, a pen and a dream of far
Sitting all alone one lazy afternoon
Under a blissful wind, a yawning sun
And the silence that reigned for most of the time

Throughout the day I hear no sounds
That neither discourages nor depresses still
No cars no bikes to plough the road
No planes no blimps to circle the sky still

It’s scary to think that it’s too good to be true
When the houses and the hills resemble each other
And noises of birds overcome the illegal factories
A peaceful moment in an unlikely setting

But I have none but God to thank
For this fleeting smile that he’d given me still
And it’s hard to go by with just a sigh
When a dreamer you are and you chose to be…

So this book will I write and this pen will I use
And the greatness of a dream once more I pursue
And thus will I charter a new lease in life
While hoping that someday I’ll come back here again…

THE SIGN OF SHAIRO
MUAR
2001


THE FAIRY’S LULLABY
Lay down your thoughts o ye of some faith
For there’s no more forgiveness to the likes of you
Lay down your weapons o ye of some trust
For never this place shall revolve with the wind
Lay down your heart o ye of some love
For never this hatred be your partner-in-crime
And lay down your clothes o ye of some shame
For none shall behold your body and soul…

And time has come full circle once more
It’s time for us to make our way home
So ye from the earth now hasten to the earth
And ye from the sea unfurl thy great sails
And ye from the sky take flight to the stars
And ye from the rainbow return to the clouds…

So send my regards to the people thou meet
For they are but angels in masks and disguises
And fear not the darkness for that’s where hope lives
Inside our hearts our faith will we weave
And waste not the tears of every goodbye
For once we depart the memory shall stay
And stay it shall till we meet again!

THE SIGN OF SHAIRO
KL
2001


THE DREAMER’S EPITAPH
Here I am now a lonely traveller
Sitting in an empty bus on an empty dream
Sighing ever so loudly while its engine’s igniting
Greeting another moment of yet another day

Here I am wondering as I sat on my seat
Of whether my home would welcome me or not
After years and years of living a lie
With the world around me kept mocking my existence
Kicking up the dust onto my frozen face

Here I am drained, lifeless and silent
After all those tears I’ve spilled in the shadows
While venting my anger to the wind and the clouds
And sharing my problems with those without ears

Here I am lost, defeated and shamed
Pursuing dirty dust specks on an asphalt stream
Wondering whether my dreams were nothing but junk
Or whether time would again be as rosy as before
While I pray for hope to wait for me still
Behind this grey and white horizon…

But should there be none then this bus will I board
And this road will it travel till the end of time
So that the world will know of the pain that I felt
When this wandering dreamer now dreams no more…

SAIF MINTAKA
KL
2001