~The Fish Story ~

There were only two fish on the table
Not expensive fish I usually eat
nor they were special
they were just plain ordinary mujaer fish

looking at those fish,
we sat across from each other
our love was true
promised to live happily ever after

It wasn't the fish that matter
as they lay still deep fried on the table
nor was the veggies decorating the plate
It was you, and you matter to me most

You gave birth to my daughter
and still carry my future child in your womb
Yet, never have I give a day of my life
just for you, whatever you want me to do, just for you

You obey my order
every detail of it
yet, look at plain ordinary mujaer fish on the table
those I gave you on a sunday lunch

I may be the worst husband of all
But I always give the best of me for you
as I love you
and always will.

~ Kayak Tante Tante ~

yesterday was her day
happy and playful
singing everywhere she went
It was her day

"Kayak tante tante"
holding mommy's bag
"Kayak tante tante"
merrily looking at mirror

she went and grab a hat
put it on her head
still holding mommy's bag she mumbled
"kayak tante tante"

she put the hat and the bag down
went and grab daddy's watch
put it on her wrist she said
"Kayak om om"

she looked at me,
looking at my watch on her
and gave me my watch, she said
"pake daddy aja"

she went and again grab the bag and the hat
she wore all and back looking at the mirror
smiled she said
"Kayak tante tante"

~ Angels and Their Playing Time ~

Night was still young
she stood next to me
played with God knows what
mumbling unintelligibly

at first I thought she was singing
nope, she wasn't
or maybe she was praying
nope, didn't sound like the one she knows

"mika..Allo... uma... aya... mika...amut"
that was the only pray she knows... so far
but this wasn't it
it sounds more like...

"main ail sama daddy..."
"tumpah ailnya..."
"basah semua ya..."
"kena tas daddy ya..."

suddenly I realize
she poured her milk into my cup
water and milk spilled all over
and my laptop bag right in the middle of the puddle

I grab the bag
water all over
tried hard to get it dry
and she said

"Untung hape daddy nggak kena yah..."

there...
the soakin wet little angel of mine
stood next to my handphone
smiling.

~ At the Store ~

I took her to her favorite store
where she usually stood by fish tank
watch the fish swimming around
until drool wet all over her lips

She hold my hand and said
"Daddy, mau pastik aja"

I understood, and gave her a plastic bag
she slip her hand into the plastic bag

she hold my hand again and said
"Daddy, pake pastik juga"

I understand, and took a plastic bag
slip my hand into the plastic bag

softly she said
"Salim..."
"tuk..."

~ The Side Effect of Guessing ~

today...
I flunked my first GMAT test

rest in peace my bad grade
may never see you again

~ On a Holiday ~

We stood there together
In the railway station
on a holiday morning
among thousands of travellers

her eyes were busy
watching people as they go by
studying them one by one
she was excited

a bell rang through the air
she recognized it instantly
she screamed
"Kayak lumah opung... ya?"

second later, a train went through
right in front of us
running without stopping
leaving dust and smoke

she was happy
but it was too short
the train was too fast
"dada... kleta api"

then another train went through
again running without stopping
leaving dust and smoke
and one sad little baby

She said
"kleta api... sini aja..."
"kalin mau pegang dulu ya..."
waving her hand at the run away train

***

She slept soundly in the train
too tired, smile linger on her lips
probably too excited as well

the train ran fast
full of travellers
plus one happy little baby

~ Game Time ~

I taught the other day
about spoon and fork
about left and right

I know she is a fast learner
fantastic listener
and a perfekt copier

yesterday I tested her
"Karina, ini apa?" holding a spoon on my right
"Sendok" she said firmly

then I asked her again
"Kalo ini, apa?" holding a fork on my left
"Galpu" still firm on her answer

moved to slightly harder question
"Kalo sendok ditangan apa?" I asked
"Kanan!" half screaming

and another one
"kalo garpu ditangan apa?" I asked
"Kili!" screamed louder

Played spoon and fork game
Played left and right game
Karina grew bored and tired

She took the spoon away
She took the fork away
She walked backward
with her eyes closed
hands on her back
hiding spoon and fork
She walked backward
with her eyes closed
didn't listen to Mami's call
didn't listen to Dadi's call
She walked backward
with her eyes closed

till she bumped on something
she fell
and cried
till mami rescued her
hug and pat softly on her back
and tell her
not to walk backward
with her eyes closed

***

They are not only our children
They are Godsend Angels

~ Curiosity ~

I spoke to him last night
asking question how and when
his reply was short
He said "I did what I was told"

I wouldn't say it was a nightmare
coz it wasn't scary at all
I was just curious
I just want to know

He did what he was always told
here, there, and everywhere
at once
no delay

***

On Saturday Morning
An old Lady passed away
she was a dear friend of my late Grandma
she was related to me
though I'm not sure how

Innalillahi wa innailaihi rojiuun.

***

Death is approaching
sooner or later
how and when
only He knows all.

~ The Old Lady on My Grandma's House ~

The old lady begin to speak
round, tan and hardened face
sad eyes with a touch of smile
She is as old as my Grandma

She speaks from the heart
straight to mine like my Grandma used to speak
as she speak with her own grandson
one that she never had

She said,
"Your father sat over there"
"He looked at me"
"said nothing, just looking straight at me"

The old lady begin to tremble
"I asked him, what is it master?"
"He said, no... nothing"
"But he keeps staring at me"

She almost cried
fearing she did something wrong
or displease my father
whom she worked for

I know
I said to myself
I understand
and I thank you for it

My Father
missed my Grandma.