Shasel's Poems

taken (with permission) from Shasel's Network website

Let's Ponder 

So u don't believe in the existence of God? 
Sure? Ok let's ponder 

A man was born with both eyes blind 
he never knows the existence of colours 
tell him this paper is white as snow 
to him all is dark and there's no shadow 

A second man was born with normal eyesight 
but lost his sight in youth 
he can no longer see colours 
tho he knows about contrast and hue 

A third man is colour blind 
he can't agree with the majority 
that for instance blue is blue 
he calls it black and dares to argue 

The first man is considerably unlucky 
he knows nothing about colours 
the second man is unfortunate too 
he lost what he used to possess 
the third man is not too poor 
as he can still see colours 
but he can be self-assured and insists 
that he's right about what he believes 

Let's apply this analogy to the existence of God 
The first man who has never seen any colour 
won't understand what u're talking about 
even if u explained the concept to him
in a thousand languages
The second man is a disillusioned guy 
he used to see all kinds of colours
but no more now 
present to him a sunflower 
he can only imagine
but can't really see its true picture 
The third man insists that what he sees is black 
when others see a different nature 

Only the majority with good normal eyesight 
can see the real colours of things 
Therefore it's vain to disbelieve in the existence 
of God or Allah or whatever name He's called
just because u can't see ur Maker 

Is it wise of the blind man to refute or recant
the sighted's experience of seeing colours,
because he doesn't see any? 
Isn't it foolish to deny the existence of our Creator 
because we don't see Him physically? 
Don't end up like the proud colour blind 
who refuses to conform to the majority's vision 
I guess losing faith in God is like the man
who lost his eyesight 

God exists 
it's true 
without Al-Aziz 
there's no you.

Shasel 
February 27, 1999 12:43 AM 
 

Let's pray that peace  
will prevail forever  
that more people  
will be more altruistic
that no blood is shed      
in the name politics  
that love and mutual respect  
will be our habit  
that The Lord will shower  
His blessings on the whole world  
and that every pious soul  
who fights for the truth  
will gain a place beside Him  
in Jannah.  Amin.  

Shasel  
10 Jan 1999  

[Originally composed in Malay in Jan 1998]

Why think about the Dajal at all? 
live life like a scholar or a saint 
not like an actor or a vain 
upgrade ourselves 
and cut the complaints 
life is for us to simply live 
and please the Lord 
not to worry about Dajal 
and matters that are elusive. 

Shasel 
25 Feb 99

So Proud 
 

they partied on bridges 
and danced in the town square 
with paper targets pinned to 
chests heaving with patriotism 

yes, so defiantly proud 
to belong to a race 
that thirsts for territory 
to prop up ancient nationalism 

yes, so perversely proud 
to support a regime 
that writes its achievements 
in the blood of others 

yes, so blindly proud 
they are unable to see 
beyond the swathe of flags 
death squads scything through Kosovo 

yes, so narrowly proud 
they can cry for burning barracks 
but not the nameless victims 
of Serbian genocide 

by the hands of fate and justice 
we can smell the corpses of innocents 
and see the massed refugee flocks 
and feel the totality of their loss 
and hear their tales of terror 
and taste the bitter wounds 
and we ask why 

you smile mockingly 
and keep dancing 
because you are 
so Serb 
so proud 
 

Alan Whykes
8 April 1999
Darwin

Peace, come back to this land 
 

According to The Jakarta Post dated 27 Jan 99 
foreign tourists who used to be friendly with Jakarta 
have now become aloof and shied away from this city 
The number of foreign visitors to Indonesia in 98 
was estimated to have reached 3.1 million 
A substantial drop compared with 97's 3.5 million 

The Indonesian media have broadcast a nationwide campaign 
calling for the restoration of tranquility in this country 
which is suffering from riots and rising crime rates 
due to increasing unemployment and restlessness 
Will it be fruitful? Whereas the masses can't even pay for 
their radio and tv licences because of the monetary crisis 

In room 618 of Kartika Chandra Hotel at Jalan Gatot Subroto 
I reflect and feel grateful for my relatively luckier fate 
In my hometown, the political situation is stable 
and there is no turmoil or reformasi movement  
which muddles the atmosphere, although 
we too feel the effects of the economic crisis 

Because of duty I arrived here 
and leave everything to the Almighty 
although fear haunts me so 
Now I fully appreciate the meaning 
of social security and political stability 
Peace, come back to this land I plea. 
 

Shasel 
30 Jan 1999 

[Originally composed in Malay as Damai, Kembalilah Ke Tanah Ini]

Oft-times we forget
who we are
when celebrating parties & fiestas
and end up violating
the borders of civility
as if we're proud
of the sins we've committed

Amusement centres
and night spots
often become our ports

We should realise that
every dollar we spend
on vices is more beneficial
if we invest it in the Baitulmal 
cos the dividends that we shall
reap in the Hereafter will ensure
everlasting prosperity & felicity

Thus for the sake of time
don't let ourselves be lost
return to the right track
cos true tranquility
can only be found
as we kowtow sincerely
to the Almighty.

The secularist leaders say:
We must enhance our economy
because the success of a nation
is measured in terms of its
people's per capita income.

The culturists say: In pursuing
success, cultural heritage like
dances, drama, paintings, songs
et cetera, must be preserved
and nurtured.

The religious scholars say:
Emphasis on worldly affairs
and entertainment, is not the
right way to build a society
but divine knowledge practised
strictly, forms the real high
civilisation we aspire to.

The prophets say: The noble
humans in the eyes of God, are
only those who are pious
and not those who are luxurious
but faithless.

I say:
Scratch your head
ask your mind!

Shasel
Dec 25, 1997