Page 25 - Compilation of Poems Arau International Poetry Festival 2021

My teacher sniffs from far
Did you take your bath Luit?
She passed me a bar of soap
“Smelly boy!”, she scolds.

But… Strange don’t you think?
I walk down the valleys obediently
d
m
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t

h
v
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I
In the cold morning … I shiver
I h e c l o r i g … s i e
I swallow my pride, I face all the strange
looks
Because mom said EDUCATION can’t make
me poor.

My father Bah Sermo, is he really useless?
A famous hunter, A Semai tribe’s warrior
A
with his proud bow and arrow
Countlessly I imagine him and me on a
hunting mission.

All these times I have been thinking...
How could I be a warrior? A hero in my tribe?
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e
d
n
s
m
n
In this demanding era?
I h i e a d i g r ?
a
n
My teacher makes me stand outside the class
all day
Oh! What a dilemma.

I am a warrior by blood
My ancestors would be proud
s
h

d
e

e
m
B u t m o a a e a p l d g
m
But mom has made a pledge

With education I could be solid rock.

Suddenly, Teacher Wati screams my name
And forces me to read again
Oh! Do I run now? Do I tumble my bag in the
drain again?

m
m

y

u

p
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r
y
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o
d
m
m
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w

I
i
n
g
o
!
g
l

a
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S
Serenglog! I will make my mommy proud.
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m

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