what is destroyed:
a fragment of a beautiful dream
and a little ignorance
on this battleground
there is no tomorrow for
the trees that beautify
its earth
what more
for lifeless monuments and statues
not a trace
of the great warrior
nothing left but to wait for their demolition,
one by one
in every corner
the proud stand with serious
meaningful stares
hopefully everyone's prayers
are answered
he has toyed with us
and taught us a lesson
perhaps they were built
because
the writing on monuments
will never disappear
the hidden message
behind all this destruction:
look, all you people
who want to build monuments
for living or the dead
what is in the heart is not certain to be respected
what more monuments without life!
N. Patchaibalan
(Translated into Malay by Dr.Gana)
(Translated into English by Tanja Jonid)
Voices of Malaysian Poets - An Athology of Malaysian Poetry
Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Kuala Lumpur, 2009
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