Where have the songs of Malaysia slithered into? The Moon Kite? The Chan Mali Chan? The Cockatoo? I long to hear the crunchiness of their melodies hummed straight into souls desperate for shrieks of laughter: infants in cradle swings; toddlers in mischief; elders weaving screw pine for sale in bustling cities. Cities that bustle not with gridlock, but uncles pitching rambutans; aunties negotiating prices; boys shooting at hovering fruits with a catapult and failing; girls playing hopscotch with the lines drawn with hopeful fingers and
falling. I long to be swallowed by nights of black plates, etched on
them P. Ramlee and Saloma’s names, where hips are gently
swayed; husbands and wives drowning in each other’s
warmth that they see the moon, the stars,
the universe in those pupils. I long
the afternoons of modesty
and careful honesty.
This loss, I
grieve
for.
I,
but,
sniff our
blossom with
choices, prerogative.
Mothers can now escape
the guilt of motherhood instilled
in their ancestors who questioned if being
ambitious was sinful. Fathers can now snivel and
seek comfort in the arms of both soft souls and serene
solitude. Girls can now shoot with a catapult. Not only at fruits,
but also the seven skies that in order for us to see, we must look up.
Boys can now hop, not only in hopscotch, but into the kitchen and be more,
not less. I begin to wonder if evolution equals compensation. To lose and to gain. More than half a century it took to blossom of this scent; of this opacity; of this cadence. I ask a second time, this time with urgency, “Where have the songs of Malaysia slithered into?” The shadow answers it is quite unsure, but most certainly not non-existence. It is there, slightly hushed.
Nazatul Jamal is an Economics and Management student, digital creator, and writer from Malaysia who primarily works in her second language. Her portfolio encompasses stories, essays, and poetry. Her essay on Youth Leadership received recognition from the Royal Commonwealth Society with a Gold Award. During her secondary education, she had the opportunity to study English Literature, which ignited and nurtured her passion for writing. Her work predominantly focuses on exploring the intricacies of human experiences and emotions. Currently, she is working on two major projects: a historical fiction/fantasy novel and a collection of poems. Samples of her literary work can be accessed via her social media presence under the handle @writtenbynazatuljamal.