SOALAN 1
Painting by Akbar Behkalam, Iran-Germany
BEARERS OF SCARS
The dead with broken faces rise up
The tongue of the humiliated swells
The stormy tide of victims rises
But beware bearers of scars
Extinguish
in your flesh the volcanoes of hate
Stomp the sting and spit out the venom
that would one day make you look like the executioners
Silence
those bugles, those bells forcing sameness commanding vengeance
Question
your guts
Get
through your own masks
Be
different.
ANDRÉE CHEDID, Egypt-France (1920-2011)
(20 markah)
SOALAN 1
Lukisan oleh Akbar Behkalam, Iran-Germany
PEMIKUL PARUT LUKA
Si mati yang remuk mukanya bangkit
Si terhina lidahnya melantang
Gelora hati si mangsa bertokok dasyat
Tapi waspadalah si pemikul parut luka
Padamkan bara api yang menggelegak di jiwa
Enjak sengat dan ludahkan bisanya
Bukan ketentuan takdirmu menjadi algojo
Lenyapkanlah dering loceng yang bingit merasuk
pembalasan dendam kesumat
Nilaikan firasatmu
Singkap pelitup wajahmu
Berubah.
ANDRÉE CHEDID, Mesir-Perancis (1920-2011)
(20 markah)
SOALAN 2
LIFE IS A SUNRISE
Life is
an exaggerated caricature,
None
has actually determined its structure.
It may
dance to the tunes of your conscience,
At times unrelenting, it
can cause or bring forward violence.
The
philosophers tried giving it many definitions,
Called
it a rainbow, lightning, cyclone, and further additions.
What is
life? Doesn’t this question still look tough?
Trust
me! Even thousands of definitions wouldn’t be enough.
It
varies from people to people and their expectations,
Everyone has their own
outlook towards life and its jubilations.
From a
simple poetic view, I’d compare it to a prolonged sunrise,
Where
it brightens our tenure, guiding us to be wise.
As we
live on, we are expected to be wiser,
But lack of versatility
within many, prevents them from being a reviser.
You
can’t expect the sunrise to keep you brighter,
Unless
one keeps valuing the opportunity as a good evaluator.
You
have to learn the art of prioritizing,
Or else life could be
monotonous or demoralizing.
Pick up
from where you started and measure where you are heading,
If one
can’t visualize the farther plan, it can be dreading.
The
poetic sunrise shouldn’t end up as an early sunset,
Why do
you want a life which is definite to upset?
Live a
life as one bold and beautiful,
Let life give you
opportunities bountiful.
Don’t
just stand there and be an experience spectator,
Try
living those experiences to know it’s feel factor.
This
poem came up from my muse as one to confuse,
But
when I review it, realize that life is best when it can amuse.
Shiju H. Pallithazheth 2021
US Copyright Office Registered
(30 markah)
SOALAN 2
HIDUP BAK MENTARI TERBIT
Hidup umpama karikatur
yang diperbesar-besarkan,
Tanpa diketahui hasrat rekaan.
Boleh jadi ia berdansa
mengikut irama nalurimu,
Kadang tanpa belas,
tercetus nada merentak kalbu.
Ahli fikir mengolah bermacam takrifan,
Terkadang pelangi,
halilintar, taufan, malah pelbagai ragam gelaran.
Apakah kehidupan? Teka-teki
ini masih membingungkan?
Percayalah! Seribu
pengertian pun tidak memberi pencerahan.
Rencam hidup manusia bersandarkan
harapan tersendiri,
Masing-masing punya
erti hidup dan kemuncak keriangan yang dingini.
Dari sudut pandang puitis
mudah, hidup ini ku ibaratkan sinar mentari terbit yang berpanjangan,
Pancarannya menyuluh titian
perjalanan, mematangkan pemikiran.
Selusur kehidupan seiring
dengan kebijaksanaan,
Namun segelintir menidakkan perubahan,
menjauhi kematangan fikiran.
Sinar
mentari di kala fajar tidak selamanya menjadi lampu tumpu,
Cerdiklah
menilai peluang di hadapmu.
Didik
diri menimbang apa yang utama,
Jikalau
tidak hidup mudah jemu dan hilang serinya.
Bangkitlah dari titik mula dan
sasarkan arah tuju,
Jika pojok pandang sekangkang
kera, terumbang-ambing perjalananmu.
Indahnya mentari terbit
janganlah berakhir dek gelojohnya terbenam mentari;
Mengapa kehidupan suram
sebegini yang dicari?
Hiduplah
dengan segak dan berani;
Raikan
kehidupan dengan segala peluang yang diberi.
Janganlah menjadi pak pacak
yang khusyuk memerhati;
Berlakonlah di pentas dunia
dan alamilah nikmatnya sendiri.
Puisi ini tercipta dari ilhamku
namun terkadang ku bingung,
Tatkala ku amati, hidup membahagiakan
saat keseronokan itu berlangsung.
Shiju H. Pallithazheth 2021
Pejabat Hak Cipta Berdaftar Amerika Syarikat
(30 markah)
