Manifesto

Some have killed and pillaged but the struggle never ends
Reigned by the supreme, feeling lost in this homeland
Belittle and castigate one another causing pain
What's the point of all this? Aren't our blood all the same?
I guess not; now violent is the culture of the world
So much rage, enslavement happens to all boys and girls
Aggression, affection, or are we all playing dumb?
Can't blame this commotion on the riches or the slum
What's the ultimate salvation? Another round of reformation?
Bloodbath, a cold bath, in the name of such religion?
See this is not about principles, it's all fanaticism
Superstitious beliefs, self-glorification
Origins and doctrines mystified, misinterpreted
The essence of the truth they've all eradicated
I was brought to this world to understand and seek the truth
But so far when I see you, you were aching these youth
Needed them to stay confused, make sure they get used
To the way they get bruised, the way you abused the accused
Now get this, you're not the God or boss of us
You’re probably just another parasite, even worse, just a puss
Dying by the minute when the rest of us diminish
How long more can you fight this when the world comes to a finish?
I fear for your mentality, the one that caused brutality
Enabler of calamity, still grooming all your prodigy
My dear, your ruling majesty, guess you've not seen the sanity
You've been riding so high in life, your middle name is vanity
The Holy Ghost won't cover you, but see those moths, they'll hover you
And if the orphans could, they would cloud your sky with choppers too
Now tell them what the monarchs knew, the evilness you can't unscrew
The inmates, the elderlies, they'd even crack a tooth or two
To see that you keep your words, your manifesto, not your turd
To see that you really care for those you once left unheard
Preachers - they preach, there's the gap and there's the bridge
Now let your actions speak, your promises - you keep

-PRK-

May We, The Women

See I have this impulse to idolise the dead, the strong
The uncompromised; you can see it in my eyes
The kind of respect I have,
I look up to the women with the strength I'm building to ratify

You can't stop the droplets from slipping in
You can't deny the power that we're bringing in
The tender moments, jokes, and anecdotes that we'll stop at nothing
And the loss we're lapsing into a fond reminiscent

Here's to the heroes that we're missing
To Cleopatra who defined independent strength
To Rosa Parks for the civil rights movement
And Josephine Baker with her rhythmic hands
Stood beside Martin Luther King, not for the fame

Even Malala's bravery was on point then
Who would have thought she could stop the rain
And she fought her pain to open a brand new lane to many stories worth to pen
And Frida Kahlo's agonised poetry on canvas inspired me

You see it's about time we paint our own reality
Like the lady with the lamp in 1853
Florence Nightingale took a stand in equality
And Marie Curie battled sexism entirely
Throughout her journey till 1903
The prize she won didn't mean anything really
But 1911 proved she's not just an accessory

Elizabeth the daughter of one of the most feared Kings
Over decades she was feared like fear was the in thing
Married to her kingdom, the longest serving monarch
The only mistress of half an island, power to the matriarch

But these are only a handful of ones I constantly thank
For knocking on my door of perceptions, never leaving me blank
Heroes in their own right, top of every rank
And Maya Angelou for the poetry bank

And here's to the women soon to be saluted
May the praiseworthy legacy never be polluted
The setbacks, the side paths, may they always be blessed
May we, the major component continue fighting for the rest

-PRK-

Perimeter Point Zero

When I used to look into your eyes, I see you constantly searching
I noticed that the shadow in you constantly wants to escape from whatever it is that your soul longs to run from
I know a little bit about your past but I know you only chose to share what you think I and everyone else can handle
I'm not too sure if you're being true to yourself but I often notice that you try
Around your friends - and I only know a few - I sometimes feel that you hold yourself back
Like you have walls around you
Maybe you like your space
Maybe there's only so much you want people to see
Or maybe you are overprotective about the tiny room you have for yourself
I may be wrong but I know you have so much on your mind
I don't think you're lost but you're definitely looking for something
I believe like everyone else, of course you're also looking for happiness
And I believe there's so much more in life that you want to achieve
I hope and pray that you find what you're looking for
That you find happiness in a place or in a person you believe you can be your true self with
You're vulnerable but you don't want people to see that
So be it anywhere, be it with anyone, I hope one day, you no longer have to escape
That you no longer feel the need to put on your mask and just be true to yourself

-PRK-

If I Meet You In Greece

If I meet you in Greece, I hope it'll be in Delphi
So you and I can talk about things honeymooners don't often discuss
For you are political and you've studied religions
While I am still learning and looking for directions
And I hope we'll meet in the month of October
So we can catch the summer light and sound shows on the Acropolis
At the hill and the Parthenon, perhaps creating our own Sound of Music

But if we don't meet in Greece..

Well, I don't want to think about not meeting!

-PRK-

Eulogium

Tight as 9/11 - that's how shut my world was
Away from the abuses - verbal abuses as loud as the Krakatoa eruption
A destructive explosion enough to break every bone

Explode every blood vessels, and rip off every muscle from million miles away
"What's with the sporadic abuses?" I'd asked myself
Why so abrasive? Why so unkind?
Why am I scorned upon over the mistakes that were not mine?
Punished as I walk every Swedish mile; escaping from the remainder of my past
Until you make me fall in love with the defiance of anger
Spellbound by the thought of revenge, but it is not revengement that I delve for
It is a calumet of peace that I contrive - a contentment in life
Perhaps one day, having them read a poignant eulogy
Of a mutilated personage; shunned and left to trade zingers in solitary
The one who became noble and serene

Whose entries aren't about any pageant queen

A fiendish scream or a charlatan's scheme

-PRK-

Within The English Village

As I walk down the streets, wide and narrow streets, l often imagine them
Braving trashings, insults, death threats, batons, teargas, water cannons, the works
And with thousands of riot police trying to break up the protests and strikes
A force to be reckoned with, me, as part of them, hope to perhaps make history again
A history where behind the cloak of fear,  the gale of creative destruction would be unleashed
To be set free to put an end to the unrealistic demands, the catastrophic social implications and the political games of those from every sides of the divide

Of course in my mind, I'm very much controlled,
I'm very much prepared to rein in the masses against the authoritarian rules and religion
Ready for the straight journalistic report of the biting satire and classical literary themes
If not ever-ready to dance along to the euphoric political rallies 
But these are just my imaginations, my wish and hope to be the vanguard of change
And often I wonder, would it have meant a triumphant journey if I know what exactly am I defending, what exactly am I fighting for

Often I don't
Often I'm torn
Often all I see is a thin line instead of a silver lining
Often we all don't
Often we are still trying to comprehend what transpired the previous day's curiosity 
And often it's the biased ideologies
Within the English village
In which we are often bullied into submission, to keep mum
By the ruling elite and the flawed system

-PRK-

Weltschmerz

I've had my chapters before I met you
Chapters that were passionate in the beginning that ended with
"You love me until you don't."

One chapter died without closure; as if I was left at the altar
Years spent trying to understand the holy mess
Years wasted trying to weave and mend what's broken
Only to uncover later it never really matters
I was in agony

Chapter two then began just as hope was about to cease
But abruptly it ended with
"You're not very Christian for me."
Frankly I find that pathetic; it wasn't worth my tears
Though I went to bed after a few bottles of beer
I was in agony

Chapter three isn't worth mentioning
Pure lust on one end and it ended slowly with treachery
Then a 'modern romance' sparked
Lecherous, hostile, revolting, revengeful; I hated everything
I was in agony

The fourth chapter... It was a soap opera
The kisses scorched me
My body trembled every time he pulls me closer
Two hearts together, and I thought
"This probably is the beginning of my last chapter."
I was wrong and I thought
"Forever is over."
Again.. I was in agony

And here is a new chapter... Are we writing it together?
Or will I be the one pulling it together?
Once again be in agony?

-PRK-

A Paradigm Shift Perhaps

After the storm and unavoidable turbulences
I wanted to sit quietly and enjoy my own company
Or perhaps sit in a tree and watch the world go by
But I too wanted to sleep under the stars with you
Live today, talk about the world
And have a quiet time next to you
Find that balance that we both are looking for
And memorise poems that we can relate to
I want to listen to my own heartbeat
And love without fear
Forgive and forget, and find clarity of thought
Here, as I walk this earth with you
A paradigm shift perhaps, when I finally meet you

-PRK-

Inside, You Cry

I remember that time when you talk about your past
How you upset the people around you
The games you played
The hearts you broke
But I also remember the other side of you
You're not heartless
Just a temporary emotional cripple
To hide who you really are from others
The vulnerable side of you
The part that would bleed
And takes longer to heal than a cut
But that's you on the outside
Inside, you cry
But you'd try not to
You'd push them aside
Your pain, your anger
You're in agony and you won't admit it
You just want to be strong
At least show them that you are
When you're not
Because inside, you cry

-PRK-

Love, When Nothing Else Matters

Someone once said,
"You're losing it."
"You've lost your game."
"You're going nowhere."
I didn't ask why
But that thought lingered in my head for a while
How will you know when you truly are in love?
I supposed, when nothing else matters
Just love, when nothing else matters
Be there when nothing else matters
Be present in the moment like nothing else matters

-PRK-

The Other End

They say trust his words
I doubt him always
I couldn't bring myself to trust his words and promises

They say trust his work
"What work?" I asked
It's not his but another
One that I will never understand its mechanism

They say trust his people
"His people? Which kind?" I said
The one who speaks or the one who listens?
Or the one who leave others with their belief

Well that is that
It's still a long way to go
And a lot more convincing to do

I'm on the other end, a different person
Not a thing like you

-PRK-

And If You Are

Funny how everything comes out easily from you
Like you have nothing to worry about
Nothing to hide
Somehow I find it too good to be true
Or perhaps you're through with things that I'm still going through
You've passed that stage
And I'm still on it
Still closer to my beginning than you are to yours
Still healing
Still thinking
Still wondering
If you are for real
If you really exist
Or just pretending to be the kind of person that I think you are
The stronger one
Who will never fail me
And if you are
If...

-PRK-

She Found Peace

They told her,

"Breathe, and get your mind off it.
Sleep under the star, don’t let your mind lose it.
Accept imperfection, practice mindfulness.
Don’t sweat the small stuff, and live with no regrets."

And so she remained cool, remained calm and let them drool
Acted fooled when they claimed she’s under-ruled
Such depression made her lend a barf
Turned her head around, whispered,

"That's enough."

And so she took a bath by the candlelight
She meditated by the neon light
She let her feet take her towards the pink strobe light
Smiled when she saw those idiots slipped by the mountainside

And she thought,

"Oh, they were right. Be present in the moment, leave the past aside."

And so she found the good in all situations and laid on the grass
Embraced her freedom and held her head up with class

-PRK-

Broken, Again; Until Then

I woke up zombified
A living dead living in lies
I didn't know how I'd ever survive
Truth is, I can't even look into your eyes
The story went on that I'm stronger than ever
Only God knows how I'm trying to keep it together
When it's too quiet, I can hear your voice
I can hear you talking and it's not a choice
It's not that I didn't want to, I just couldn't
I fell too soon and I fell deep into confusion
"What is this?" I asked but I can't get the answer
I supposed it was just what my heart desired
What I longed for as I'm no longer searching for 'forever'
What I needed most is a soul that would love me better
Accept me for me, for what I have in mind, night and day
For my thoughts, my questions and my plans in May
Dear diary, would you show me where I went wrong?
From all my entries, show me what I shouldn't have spelt wrong
What I shouldn't have assumed, shouldn't have consumed
For now I've got nowhere to go, nothing to write, nothing to look forward to
But another day, another soul that would make me forget you
Broken again
Yes, I'm broken again
For this quest has no end
And so..
Until then

-PRK-

Reality Is...

Why didn't you leave?
I'm staying for the kids.
I want us to stay for the kids.

Why didn't you leave?
A divorce is not acceptable in our society.
And it shouldn't be the last resort.

Why didn't you leave?
Every marriage has its own struggle.
I don't want to give up on mine.

Why didn't you leave?
It shouldn't be too easy.
Nobody said it was easy.

Why didn't you leave?
He is my life.
And I'm his holy wedded wife.

Why didn't you leave?
I have nowhere to go.
I don't even know where to go.

-PRK-

Oxygen

Barely breathing, lost in a lullaby
Roaming like a criminal, an angry passerby
Hurt inside out, buried deep in agony
In the harsh light of day, stuck in a rhapsody
But in the calmness of night, your warmth gives me peace
In the sweetness of dreams, you give me joy and bliss
And I'm breathing again with hope, faith and trust
Believing again that this too shall pass

-PRK-

Nafas

Jantungku berdegup pantas
Cubaku menghela nafas
Dan ku perhati gerak tari mu dicantas
Dan irama itu disudahi dengan pantas
Lalu lirikan di bibir mu berubah
Renungan mata mu rebah
Bagaikan dahan yang rapuh, tak pernah basah
Khayalan-khayalan mu mula gelisah
Seperti khusyuk dipermaikan
Diduakan jasad yang diraikan
Kemudiannya dijahanamkan segala ikatan
Cuma kerna masa lalu mu yang digelapkan
Yang tak bisa mereka terima
Tak bisa mereka simpan tanpa rela
Tetapi nafasmu masih dihela
Nafas yang tak mungkin segan diramas dunia
Kerna nafas kita satu
Kita sama, kau dan aku
Dan permainan ini tiada yang benar mahupun palsu
Semuanya sekadar puisi dan igauan lagu

-PRK-

Kosong

Umpama botol kosong ku hanyut ke laut
Di persisiran pantai aku terkandas
Dan di saat itu matahari terbenam
Aku dibawa berbicara oleh arus deras
Kemudiannya aku terasa berat, aku kehilangan
Aku tenggelam ke dasar laut, mulai terasa kegelapan
Detik pun berlalu dan aku mula terasa sejuk
Seram dan dingin kerna semakin lama semakin sunyi
Dan di sini aku sendiri cuba memahami
Ke mana aku harus pergi
Aku cuma mampu menanti dan menghitung hari
Sampai masanya nanti aku akan faham juga
Tidak mungkin di sini sahaja aku akan disembunyi
Tidak mungkin aku akan kekal kosong selamanya
Aku percaya arus deras itu nanti akan kembali
Dan persoalannya bukan lah bila
Tetapi kenapa dan kemana

-PRK-

Uncouth Clemency

Stop looking for droplets they say
There's an ocean and the waves are roaring
The droplets may have disrobed you
But the ocean washes away the filth
Oh, should I believe this, I asked
That the ocean is a herculean
That it resembles the God of Greece
That it will fight for me
That it won't also ravish me off my gravitas
As I would believe that no faith pardons a murderer
A murderer of faith most of all
And if the uncouth clemency shall have it its way
Then I shall arise too, to have faith and drive hopes

-PRK-

Then... She Cried

She gave it a whirl
Ignored the whole world
In bed when she breathe
She would grit her teeth
Anxious maybe
But definitely heavy
The way she thinks
The way she drinks
And she did feel empty
She did miss him crazy
Yet she felt the sorrow
When she visualize her tomorrow
He came with class
With ice cubes in his glass
She was just a girl
With plans in a twirl
As much as it hurts
She needed the perch
She needed to find herself
Before it strikes twelve
She wasn't Cinderella
Nor did she need an umbrella
She's strong and she tried
But then... She cried

-PRK-