Musings

A shower in the early rays of light

Trembling outside

Feeling warmth inside

Dews from the night

Then came the knight

High up on his ride

To claim his bride

In blissful sight

© Yvvone Yee Woan Fung. All rights reserved.

The Deed

Free Verse Poetry

Prompts: regret, rhythm, bougainvilleas, freedom, light, danger

Bougainvilleas that trembles

With the rhythm of regret

Yearning for the freedom

Like the desert thirsting for water

Oh, light shine upon me

Danger, please don't track me

All rights reserved (C) Yvvone Yee Woan Fung

Commemoration of independence for all nations in Malaysia

54 eventful years has gone by from the 1^st moment our country received independence through the hands of the noble Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, Malaysia’s 1st prime minister in Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur. Each year, Independence Day which falls on the 31^st of August, would be celebrated in an extremely remarkable fashion with much triumph and joy from Malaysia’s multicultural race. The efforts of the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Tan Cheng Lock the 1^st MCA president, Tun V.T. Sambanthan the 5^th MIC president and other righteous political leaders who fought for our country’s freedom would not go to waste as Malaysian’s struggle to put together the grandest celebration in honor of our nation’s heroes every year.

This year, Malaysian’s rejoiced in double happiness as Hari Raya Aidilfitri falls on the same day as our country’s Independence Day. As acknowledged, Malaysia is a diverse country consisting of Malays, Chinese, Indians and other races. It is a blessing for not only our fellow Malays to celebrate their new year jointly with Independence Day, but also to every Malaysian citizen as this once-in-a-blue-moon occurrence that is believed to happen every 6 decades brings us together regardless of our race.

Here, I would like to share my personal experience during this year’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Independence Day. Pardon me when I say normally it would not occur to me to visit my cousin brother who had converted into Muslim when he married his wife of Muslim descendant because I thought we would have nothing to talk about and will end up in an awkward situation. But since he and his wife invited me over to their house for Hari Raya and Independence Day celebration and I’m on loose end, I took up their offer which later changed my perspective of us, Malaysians. I was greeted with much warmth and affection by everyone when I reached my cousin brother and his wife’s house though I do not know most of them. I gathered that some of them knew me when they asked me questions but I just could not recognize them, I could only smile sheepishly. There were at least 50 people in the cozy house and I “salam” with those near me when they looked me in the eyes and returned a smile with a string of good wishes. My heart felt warm because I felt their genuine care which I thought is extended to people of their race only. I was never more wrong. I felt terribly awful and guilty for not forming and maintaining a firmer bond with them.

This joint celebration has given me the chance to mingle more with my relations from a different background. I now understand that language, traditions, and culture are no barriers and absolutely no excuses to stay apart from them. Therefore, I sincerely hope that we, Malaysians can try to mix with each other more in order for a better understanding of other races other than our own and move towards a better future. I am not saying that we Malaysians are a perfect group that mingles together without flaw. There have been arguments, discriminations and criticizing between our races that ensues from the past. But, all these are behind us now. Sometimes, we still do not see eye to eye on everything but that may be due to the different upbringing we had. By learning to help and tolerate each other more regardless of race, this will be the most significant step that contributes to building a greater nation than the one we have today.

We have all of us learnt to live together harmoniously and adapt to each other’s way of life regardless of beliefs and skin color. In spite of what race we are which is not important anymore in this era, we will always be Malaysians. In a nutshell, Malaysia is a melting pot of various nations that come together despite our differences in culture, language, origin, or traditions and this is what’s worth celebrating not only on Independence Day but every single day we stay united.

All rights reserved (C) Yvvone Yee Woan Fung

8^th Sept 2011

Unwanted freedom

Sam's widow sobbed

Song of broken furniture

Freedom unwanted

Kettle hissing on the stove

Just a moment, then silence

All rights reserved (C) Yvvone Yee Woan Fung