NaPoWriMo 2016: Day 30 - Twilight Guests

I actually made it to Day 30 intact, with 30 poems. Considering the amount of travelling I have been doing lately, I'm surprised but pleased that I did get it done (not getting it done was actually not an option, but the possibility remained.)

Today's poem in translation is by A. Samad Said, a friend's father and a Malaysian poet who has contributed so much to the country's literary heritage, I've no idea where to even start. He is an incredible person, and my translation is a really poor attempt to convey the depth and music of his writing. It rhymes, in the original Malay, but the translation doesn't. Maybe someday I'll be able to make it sing better.

Day #30: Twilight Guests
Prompt: Translate a poem

We come into this world merely as twilight guests
When enough time has passed we return to our Maker
We come here with empty hands and empty chests
When we return we bring with us sins and rewards

To those guests who come and who know the way home
Come then with whole-hearted devotion to God and man
To those who come and who have forgotten the way home
Don't be rebellious towards God and man

When we see people who forget their place
Or who lose themselves in the worship of rank and power
Let us quickly be conscious of our own direction
Let us swiftly remember our own purpose

When we see people who are so abandoned and weary
That they surely must wreck themselves on sea and shore
We must immediately be conscious of our duty
We must be steadfast in showing mercy

We come into this world, one spirit, one body
When we return home, may we bring with us good deeds full of blessing.


(Puisi Datuk A. Samad Said - 1955)
KITA INI TETAMU SENJA

Kita datang ini hanya sebagai tetamu senja
Bila cukup detik kembalilah kita kepadaNya
Kita datang ini kosong tangan kosong dada
Bila pulang nanti bawa dosa bawa pahala

Pada tetamu yang datang dan kenal jalan pulang
Bawalah bakti mesra kepada Tuhan kepada insan
Pada tetamu yang datang dan lupa jalan pulang
Usahlah derhaka pula kepada Tuhan kepada insan

Bila kita lihat manusia lupa tempat
Atau segera sesat puja darjat puja pangkat
Segera kita insaf kita ini punya kiblat
Segera kita ingat kita ini punya tekad

Bila kita lihat manusia terbiar larat
Hingga mesti merempat ke biru laut ke kuning darat
Harus kita lekas sedar penuh pada tugas
Harus kita tegas sembah seluruh rasa belas

Kita datang ini satu roh satu jasad
Bila pulang sekali bawalah bakti padat berkat