Nature

..powerful grace that lies

in herbs, plants, stones, and their qualities

for naught so vile that on the earth doth live

but to earth some special food doth give

~ willian shakespeare~

Envy Of A Bird

Sitting here this evening
I'm wishing I were a bird
And all my chirping songs
Would around the world be heard.

I could use my very special wings
To soar so far and high
I would fly above the tallest trees
And head toward the sky.

I wouldn't stay up for very long
That wouldn't be my style
I'd stop along my journey
And visit feeders for awhile.

So, keep the feeders full of seeds
For one day out of the blue
When I need to stop and rest a bit
I might come and visit you.

By Venetia L. Lathers
trueshisper.com

The Garden

From the depths of the earth
They rise again
At first you hardly notice
Then you see a stem
They reach higher every day
Thirsty for rain, hungry for sun
Waiting for the day they are done
When the color peaks they look the best
So we gaze at our garden
While we rest

By John Matsen
truewhisper.com

Garden of Sunflowers

A garden of Sunflowers beckoned to me -

Come join us, my lady, and joyous you'll be!

We're large ones and small ones, some dainty and fair,
And even some delicate to wear in your hair.

We follow the sun, swaying slowly without a care,
We have a new dance that with you we will share.

Gently hold onto our leaves, allow us to lead the way,
To our Sunflower two-step, dancing throughout the day.

I couldn't resist them, so dandy a sight!
So off I did go in my Sunflower flight.

What a glorious time, right up til twilight,
And then I had to bid my Sunflowers good-night.So happy were we, a long day filled with fun,
Upon leaving I kissed them, each and every one.

So tender the moment, as I turned to leave.
With eyes brimmed with tears, could I truly believe?

OH! It was so true!! I then knew it to be!!!
I had to smile, 'cause they were all winking at me!!!!
~Author Unknown~

Sekawan Rerama

Sekawan rerama
Terbang tinggi mencari madunya
Dikelopak bunga yang kini semakin hilang
Ditelan pembangunan kejam
Hutan-hutan batu

Sekawan rerama
Terbang lagi mencari dedaun pohon
Untuk dihinggapi membuat sarang
Namun segala ranting kehidupan
Rapuh tersungkur
Di kaki pembalakan haram
Manusia menelan segala kekayaan anugerah Tuhan

Sekawan rerama
Terbang lagi
Dengan tekad penghijrahan
Kerana daerah tercinta kini
Menggamit sepi
Tiada lagi nyanyian unggas
Mewarnai rimba harapan ini

Sekawan rerama
Tertanya-tanya kini
Ke mana harus pergi?

By: Nor Sa’diah Sahir
Source: Majalah Dewan Siswa, Jun 2007

Rumahku Pulau Banjir

Rumahku
tenggelam bersama
air kotor hamis dan busuk

sampah sarap mengekang
perjalanan hakiki
suatu destinasi
impian diri

banjir rumahku
isi kandungannya ranap
menjamah aku suatu kerugian

dipaksa pula aku
tanggung buat selama-lamanya

By: nabiha mohd mashud
Source: Majalah Dewan Siswa

The Lake Isle of Innisfree

I will rise and go now, and go to Innisfree
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made
Nine bean-rows will have there, a hive for the honey bee
And live alone in the bee-loud glade

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow
And evening full of the linnet’s wings

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey
I hear it in the deep heart’s core

By William Butler Yeats
Literature in English for Lower Secondary Schools, 2000
Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia dan Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka

The Dead Crow

He saw a dead crow in a drain
Near the post office
He saw an old man gasping for air
And a baby barely able to breathe
In a crowded morning clinic
This land is so rich
Why should we suffer like this?

I want clean air
For my grandchildren
I want the damned fools
To leave the forest alone
I want the trees to grow
The rivers run free
And the earth covered with grass
Let the politician plan how we may live
with dignity now and always

By: A. Samad Said
Literature in English for Lower Secondary Schools, 2000
Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia dan Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka

Dalam Kembara Sekebun Bunga

Dalam resah rawan dan rusuh

Sering kali terbelenggu jenuh
Rungkaila nurani ke dalam kebun bunga ini
Bagaikan sudah terlalu lama dilupa
Wajah-wajah di sini masih segar menggugah jiwa

Wahai Tuhan Yang Maha Kaya
Dalam limpah Rahim-Mu
Yang tak pernah jemu
Ampunkan kealpaanku
Kerana hamper larut dalam kalut
Sehingga seakan terlupa
Bahawa Engkaulah Yang Maha Kaya
Mengurniakan warna seindah mutiara di perkebunan ini

Di sini bunga-bunga tetap merakam semarak warna
Tanpa jemu berhenti melorek seri
Seperti alpanya aku kepada-Mu
Akulah kerdil itu
Sering lalai dibuai nikmat
Ingat dan takutkan-Mu berpasang surut
Tidak mengambil iktibar di sudut diri

Betapa rona bunga ini tidak pudar
Biarpun berkali-kali musim berganti
Kau tukarkan peralihan musim semi ini
Dalam kudrat dan iradat hanya Engkau Yang Maha Tahu!
Rona-rona bunga tetap memancar semarak
Beradu dalam merah, jingga, putih, kuning, dan hijau
Inilah warna kehidupan perkebunan bungaku

Semoga aku juga terus merenungnya
Tatkala jiwa dihimpit pilu
Inilah nikmat warna pencetus ilham
Tetap teguh dalam lindungan-Mu
Meskipun gejolak iman yang turun dan naik
Kerana akulah makhluk kepunyaan-Mu!

Oleh: Aliyah Sijari
Sumber: Majalah Anis, April 2008

Anugerah Ilahi

Bayu timur laut menuju ke barat daya
dengan tujuan yang tidah diketahui manusia
namun tetap melaksanakan tugasnya
untuk mengimbangi alam semesta

Lautan biru terbentang luas
dipenuhi haiwan jinak dan buas
berenang di sana sini dengan bebas
tanpa penghalang atau batas

Tumbuh-tumbuhan hujau menutupi bumi
dengan berbagai-bagai jenis penghuni
dari yang besar hinggalah yang sekecilnya
inilah kurniaan Illahi untuk insan di bumi

Begitu besar nikmat Allah kepada kita
pemberian sangat bermakna
untuk semua golongan manusia
Allah Yang Maha Mulia dan Maha Kuasa

Oleh: Muhd Azfar Afif bin Ithnin
Sumber: Majalah Dewan Siswa

Penghuni Alam

Wahai penghuni alam
Tidakkan kau malu
Akan sikapmu
yang menghancukan bumi
dari flora fauna

Tidakkah engkau tahu
hancurnya bumi
maka hancurlah kita
seperti lilin yang cair dibakar api

Bumi ini milik kita
seharusnya kita jaga bumi ini
daripada segala kehancuran
yang bakal meranapkan bumi ini
dan penghuni alam

Oleh: Siti Nor Fazirah bt Misran
Sumber: Majalah Dewan Siswa