I won with the three poems below:
Round 1: Words
Round 2: I Like That
Round 3: His-Story
John Berkavitch's tip rang in my head in the weeks leading up to that fateful Friday - Put up a serious poem first, then perform a totally opposite poem in the second round, a funny one, then lastly bring back your seriousness and speak about something that connects with everyone. Am glad it worked.
I just wanted to get to the final round because I would've been really disappointed if I wasn't able to perform all of my poems. At the end of the first round, that was the only thing in my head. Which made me happy, coz I know that that meant that I'm in it for the writing.
Hope you guys will enjoy them spoken word pieces below.
Round 1: WORDS
You say I'm not Melayu like you I am Melayu Baru
poyo elitist Malay like a certain Mahathir
I speak too much English, kononnya omputih perasan British
that I use too many adjectives and verbs
those you've never read before or even heard
and that I have a way with words.
You say I have a way with words.
What I think is that words
have their own way of making themselves heard
of telling people what they are, what they really mean
what their direction is
So if you want to come up to me and tell me
that I have a way with words
be prepared because I'm gonna say
"I heard you, but I'm not hurt with your words
because I'm not the one who doesn't know who I am, what I live for
and what I want to do with my life."
Coz you see I know who I am
I know what I live for
I know what I want to do with my life
and that is probably just too many words for you to understand
and you just couldn't comprehend
why a Melayu like me like you can seem so at hand
speaking with a tongue that he wasn't even born with
freely in a fluently expressive way he's not supposed to be seen with
or heard with
or think with
as if he has forgotten the national language that the national consitution
nationally imposed the nation on what is the national language that their nationals
should be nationally conversing with
Do I really have to kiss the and junjung the keris?
See, you seem smart and well educated
a beneficiary of the education that the nation has established and implemented
reading and remembering and following and memorizing
regugitating and vomitting
everything you read and remembered and followed and memorized
in the premier schools, boarding schools, cluster schools that they sterilized
and then in the universities colleges university-colleges college-universities
sponsored by the corporate and government scholarships over here and overseas
well, you may one day become a minister coz you've already memorized the official JPA song
but let me tell you this - You're wrong.
No, no don't worry I'm not blaming you
don't be so defensive I'm not accusing you
don't be so sarcastic I'm not patronizing you
I'm just saying this because I know it's not you
it's not your fault. No, it's not.
It's the education system's.
It's the system that educated you, not yourself
it's the system that did not educate you to educate yourself
so you wouldn't have known
coz you wouldn't have known how
And now, you are part of that system
And you are the people who reads Kosmo and URTV and Pancaindera
And you are the people who can't even commentate a sports match decently in Bahasa
And you are the people who translates "Duck!" to "Itik!" in movie cinemas
And more recently, in the The A-Team movie
instead of tank to "kereta kebal" it was tank to "tangki"
And you are the people that translated "Melody" to "melodi" when there is the word "irama"
or "Lyrics" to "lirik" when there is the word "senikata"
And you are the very people that coined "Bahasa Jiwa Bangsa"
And you want to tell me that I'm a traitor to be standing here
speaking in English when you allowed your very souls to be diluted
with direct translations and borrowed syllables that wasn't reflected on and regulated
losing context of what they were supposed to translate and convey
losing the message and meaning somewhere along the way
And still you managed to find some time to come up to me and say
that I have a way with words.
You see there's only one way with words
and that's how they tell us what they are, what they really mean
what their direction is
So me? I know who I am, what I live for and where I want to be
A Melayu who can think in English and yet express himself in Malay
A Melayu who can think in Malay and yet express himself in English
A Melayu who doesn't use moderation as an excuse
and instead puts Malay & his Malayness to better use
because he realizes that his soul is his to lose
if otherwise.
So now the question is -
A Melayu who doesn't use moderation as an excuse
and instead puts Malay & his Malayness to better use
because he realizes that his soul is his to lose
if otherwise.
So now the question is -
What about you? Bagaimana dengan kamu?
Round 2: I Like That
Everyone, I've got this secret to share, but please don't stare
you see there this person that I like, and there are so many things about her that strikes
me, and it lights me like a matchstick on fire burning all over
and when I get a chance if ever this is how I'm gonna tell her
I like that.
I like that you can go from soulmate to syren to seductive super secretary to sexy sweet talking soccer mom to sultry heart surgeon to sensual smooth talking woman.
I like that woman.
I like that, woman.
I like that you are my Paula Patton-Tyra Banks-Maggie Q-Famke Janssen-Suheir Hammad-Alicia Keys-Lisa Cuddy amalgamation
the amalgamation of womanhood-fashion-elegance-poetry-classy-perfect pitch-down to earthly sexy humility within a female body.
I don't need any heavenly body coz I've got heaven right there.
And I like that.
I like that little lump of fat too.
Oh no, don't go blushing now. I see that.
I see that little lump of fat
girlishly cute hiding between that short, cute sexy gap
between your ribs and your hips,
going all around it
making sure that every single side of you is wholesome - voluptous -
hiding that lovely steep sharp curve on either side of your slihoutte
that steep breathtaking drop of line my eyes can't forget
a line that is as steep and deep and heavy and breathy
and raw and naked as my breath.
Ooooh I like that.
I saw that little lump of fat and I like it. I like it for what it is.
Womanhood. Realness. Raw natural down to earth beauty. The Femininist.
And I like it because I saw what it's covering, what it's trying to hide
what it's trying to make others to not think when their eyes slide down you side
Your strengths and the secrets of your life.
And I like it because I'm the only one who saw it, who sees it, who can see it.
I like that.
Makes me feel all manly and macho and sexy and confident and self-assured
buzzing and flying and hairy and toned and matured
that I don't have to go all socio-political and judgemental and feisty and profound
just to feel worthy of my existence and win some poetry slam crown
just like how every self-respecting man in this world wants to feel.
Like a man. Like a wanted man.
I like that.
And I like that I feel that when I saw that little lump of fat.
And I like that fact that you're a WMD
a weapon of my destruction
a weapon of my deconstruction
a weapon of my definition and determination
if John Mayer called Jessica Simpson a sexual napalm
then you are my sexual cyanide
coz you are that deadly
you are that subtle
because the way you infiltrate my principles and infect my insides
is such a way that the moment that I realized that I have been intoxicated by you
and all of your poison cursing through
I realized that the sight of you is the last enlightening vision
that I behold before I die a martyr's death and you send me to heaven.
I like that.
Oh, but that's not all I like.
Your voice. I like that too.
I like your wardrobe, your strut,
your sense of understated adulterated slightly Gwen Stefani twisted kind of style
the kind of style that makes me want to smile
inside, outside four ears wide
everytime I saw you for the first time on the weekend walking up to my ride
when I drop by to pick you up for a date.
I like your hair. I like that.
I like how I calm down around you. In your presense.
My Zen, my constant Nirvana
My everyday day of the week guilty pleasure favourite ice-cream flava
Honey Brown.
A mixture of bitter real healthy cocoa and warm fuzzy berries
and melting soothing vanilla cream on a hot sunny day
and glistening honey so enticing and shiny
that you just want to stick your tongue out
and -
You know what everyone? Forget everything I said and don't bother looking coz it's not out
So if you want to get a taste of it well then tough coz it's just for me to know
and for you to never find out.
Round 3: His-Story
There are two sides to a coin, two versions to a story,
so one day when I learnt that what we've been reading on our history might not actually be
I got so frustrated that I went to the toilet looking for an outlet
and I got this story - inspired by pee - on our history
You see I’ve never understood why our history books never had chapters on our sportsmen's lives
I figured that’d be a good way to try and learn about our heroes and how they're supposed to affect our lives
Everybody goes around saying that we’re not patriotic enough and that we don’t love our country enough
Well I just think we’re a bunch of generally unmotivated people coz we’re spoon fed and our living ain’t tough
Well nothing against the bums and the homeless and the poor and the jobless
With all due respect sirs this ain't about you so if you have nothing to do you can join me too
coz there is something that I've been dying to say and though I'm generalizing I know who I'm sniping today
Honestly, I wonder what would’ve happened had we swapped fate with our next door neighbor across the Malaccan straits
I wouldn’t be surprised at all if we can't even put McDs on our plates and instead find ourselves even worse than their current state
It’s interesting to note that though free since '49 they're still persistent and fighting for their right to be free and independent
- freedom of artistic expression, liberation from strife and the right to have a better and racially equal life
Whilst here we are fighting over the use of a name and defending some people's sovereign right to be dependent
Dependent on support,
Dependent on second chances,
Dependent on quota,
Dependent on policies,
Dependent on favours,
Dependent on seniority,
Dependent on politics and slogans,
Dependent on bribery,
Dependent on word of mouth,
Dependent on shamans,
Dependent on water purchase from the people down south,
Dependent on status,
Dependent on brands,
Dependent on concerts of foreign artists where you pay just to stand
(and watch from far, not even singing along and waving your hands
because we are Asian and we reserved and we are not loud like the Americans
and we don't like Asians who grew up overseas and come back talking like Rick Dees)
Dependent on Hollywood,
Dependent on piracy,
Dependent on CSI, Heroes, American Idol and MTV
Dependent on tuition,
Dependent on straight As,
Dependent on shopping malls, foreign coaches, Mercedes
Dependent on what others would think
Dependent on what other would say
Dependent on what others would let you do which depends on what they can't do so that they won't be too far behind you so because of that there's only so much you can do coz the options are limited for you and in the end after 10 years you slowly become like them too belivieng that your happy coz you should be happy coz there are worse things that can happen to you when you compare yourself to the citizens other poorer nations and so you thank god that it didn't happen
to you.
And now we're making sweeping statements and bold claims like we own the game
indoctrining others through a not-so national press that things are no longer the same
that the country have come so far and we have made ourselves a name
a country with great food and culture plus world class buildings and structures
Malaysia Truly Asia
though they were built by foreign blood and toil but since it is on our soil it is all the same
in the claim to fame coz everything on this piece of land where we all stand
Di situ bumi kupijak di situ langit ku junjung
a beautiful yet ironic Malay idiom
coz when it comes to distribution of wealth and the use of a name
they could no longer take the piss and so brandishes the keris
saying that this land is ours and we have the sovereign power
coz we got here first so cower to your master
and remember from where you came coz we were never
the same.
Well I'm not a good teacher for History, but History is a good teacher for me
Coz what it taught me is what our ancestors died against so we could be free
they died against status
they died against policies
they died against politics and slogans
they died against colonial trickery
they died against cultural indoctrination
they died against racial segragation
they died against theft of natural resources, double standards and the denial of liberty
and all these are our own Malays, Chinese, Indians even mat sallehs, Gurkhas & Punjabis!
but strangely, the things that they died against are apparently
the exact things that some of us are still desperately
dependent on. so if this merdeka then sadly
the Jalur Gemilang will no longer hold sway
coz by this definition there is no way we can call ourselves independent today
coz all the dictionaries and encyclopedias will say
that the meaning of independence is the exact opposite of in dependence.
So, ladies and gentlemen, that's it for me you've heard my story
I guess now we should all be wondering how it's going to be with His-story.
Round 2: I Like That
Everyone, I've got this secret to share, but please don't stare
you see there this person that I like, and there are so many things about her that strikes
me, and it lights me like a matchstick on fire burning all over
and when I get a chance if ever this is how I'm gonna tell her
I like that.
I like that you can go from soulmate to syren to seductive super secretary to sexy sweet talking soccer mom to sultry heart surgeon to sensual smooth talking woman.
I like that woman.
I like that, woman.
I like that you are my Paula Patton-Tyra Banks-Maggie Q-Famke Janssen-Suheir Hammad-Alicia Keys-Lisa Cuddy amalgamation
the amalgamation of womanhood-fashion-elegance-poetry-classy-perfect pitch-down to earthly sexy humility within a female body.
I don't need any heavenly body coz I've got heaven right there.
And I like that.
I like that little lump of fat too.
Oh no, don't go blushing now. I see that.
I see that little lump of fat
girlishly cute hiding between that short, cute sexy gap
between your ribs and your hips,
going all around it
making sure that every single side of you is wholesome - voluptous -
hiding that lovely steep sharp curve on either side of your slihoutte
that steep breathtaking drop of line my eyes can't forget
a line that is as steep and deep and heavy and breathy
and raw and naked as my breath.
Ooooh I like that.
I saw that little lump of fat and I like it. I like it for what it is.
Womanhood. Realness. Raw natural down to earth beauty. The Femininist.
And I like it because I saw what it's covering, what it's trying to hide
what it's trying to make others to not think when their eyes slide down you side
Your strengths and the secrets of your life.
And I like it because I'm the only one who saw it, who sees it, who can see it.
I like that.
Makes me feel all manly and macho and sexy and confident and self-assured
buzzing and flying and hairy and toned and matured
that I don't have to go all socio-political and judgemental and feisty and profound
just to feel worthy of my existence and win some poetry slam crown
just like how every self-respecting man in this world wants to feel.
Like a man. Like a wanted man.
I like that.
And I like that I feel that when I saw that little lump of fat.
And I like that fact that you're a WMD
a weapon of my destruction
a weapon of my deconstruction
a weapon of my definition and determination
if John Mayer called Jessica Simpson a sexual napalm
then you are my sexual cyanide
coz you are that deadly
you are that subtle
because the way you infiltrate my principles and infect my insides
is such a way that the moment that I realized that I have been intoxicated by you
and all of your poison cursing through
I realized that the sight of you is the last enlightening vision
that I behold before I die a martyr's death and you send me to heaven.
I like that.
Oh, but that's not all I like.
Your voice. I like that too.
I like your wardrobe, your strut,
your sense of understated adulterated slightly Gwen Stefani twisted kind of style
the kind of style that makes me want to smile
inside, outside four ears wide
everytime I saw you for the first time on the weekend walking up to my ride
when I drop by to pick you up for a date.
I like your hair. I like that.
I like how I calm down around you. In your presense.
My Zen, my constant Nirvana
My everyday day of the week guilty pleasure favourite ice-cream flava
Honey Brown.
A mixture of bitter real healthy cocoa and warm fuzzy berries
and melting soothing vanilla cream on a hot sunny day
and glistening honey so enticing and shiny
that you just want to stick your tongue out
and -
You know what everyone? Forget everything I said and don't bother looking coz it's not out
So if you want to get a taste of it well then tough coz it's just for me to know
and for you to never find out.
Round 3: His-Story
There are two sides to a coin, two versions to a story,
so one day when I learnt that what we've been reading on our history might not actually be
I got so frustrated that I went to the toilet looking for an outlet
and I got this story - inspired by pee - on our history
You see I’ve never understood why our history books never had chapters on our sportsmen's lives
I figured that’d be a good way to try and learn about our heroes and how they're supposed to affect our lives
Everybody goes around saying that we’re not patriotic enough and that we don’t love our country enough
Well I just think we’re a bunch of generally unmotivated people coz we’re spoon fed and our living ain’t tough
Well nothing against the bums and the homeless and the poor and the jobless
With all due respect sirs this ain't about you so if you have nothing to do you can join me too
coz there is something that I've been dying to say and though I'm generalizing I know who I'm sniping today
Honestly, I wonder what would’ve happened had we swapped fate with our next door neighbor across the Malaccan straits
I wouldn’t be surprised at all if we can't even put McDs on our plates and instead find ourselves even worse than their current state
It’s interesting to note that though free since '49 they're still persistent and fighting for their right to be free and independent
- freedom of artistic expression, liberation from strife and the right to have a better and racially equal life
Whilst here we are fighting over the use of a name and defending some people's sovereign right to be dependent
Dependent on support,
Dependent on second chances,
Dependent on quota,
Dependent on policies,
Dependent on favours,
Dependent on seniority,
Dependent on politics and slogans,
Dependent on bribery,
Dependent on word of mouth,
Dependent on shamans,
Dependent on water purchase from the people down south,
Dependent on status,
Dependent on brands,
Dependent on concerts of foreign artists where you pay just to stand
(and watch from far, not even singing along and waving your hands
because we are Asian and we reserved and we are not loud like the Americans
and we don't like Asians who grew up overseas and come back talking like Rick Dees)
Dependent on Hollywood,
Dependent on piracy,
Dependent on CSI, Heroes, American Idol and MTV
Dependent on tuition,
Dependent on straight As,
Dependent on shopping malls, foreign coaches, Mercedes
Dependent on what others would think
Dependent on what other would say
Dependent on what others would let you do which depends on what they can't do so that they won't be too far behind you so because of that there's only so much you can do coz the options are limited for you and in the end after 10 years you slowly become like them too belivieng that your happy coz you should be happy coz there are worse things that can happen to you when you compare yourself to the citizens other poorer nations and so you thank god that it didn't happen
to you.
And now we're making sweeping statements and bold claims like we own the game
indoctrining others through a not-so national press that things are no longer the same
that the country have come so far and we have made ourselves a name
a country with great food and culture plus world class buildings and structures
Malaysia Truly Asia
though they were built by foreign blood and toil but since it is on our soil it is all the same
in the claim to fame coz everything on this piece of land where we all stand
Di situ bumi kupijak di situ langit ku junjung
a beautiful yet ironic Malay idiom
coz when it comes to distribution of wealth and the use of a name
they could no longer take the piss and so brandishes the keris
saying that this land is ours and we have the sovereign power
coz we got here first so cower to your master
and remember from where you came coz we were never
the same.
Well I'm not a good teacher for History, but History is a good teacher for me
Coz what it taught me is what our ancestors died against so we could be free
they died against status
they died against policies
they died against politics and slogans
they died against colonial trickery
they died against cultural indoctrination
they died against racial segragation
they died against theft of natural resources, double standards and the denial of liberty
and all these are our own Malays, Chinese, Indians even mat sallehs, Gurkhas & Punjabis!
but strangely, the things that they died against are apparently
the exact things that some of us are still desperately
dependent on. so if this merdeka then sadly
the Jalur Gemilang will no longer hold sway
coz by this definition there is no way we can call ourselves independent today
coz all the dictionaries and encyclopedias will say
that the meaning of independence is the exact opposite of in dependence.
So, ladies and gentlemen, that's it for me you've heard my story
I guess now we should all be wondering how it's going to be with His-story.
