Ikan keli tak dapat ke ulu
Empangan jadi penunggu
Ibu keli hanya merindu
Tiadalah lagi anak keli
Hilanglah semua anak keli
Nak ke mana lagi ibu
Nak kemana lagi ibu keli
Hanya boleh turun ke laut
Ikan keli turun ke laut
Pantang dicabar penyu
Pantang dicabar penyu jantan
Biar putih tulang, jangan putih mata
Where will the catfish go
The catfish can no longer
go home to spawn upriver
The dams and men block
The way with engineering rock
She has no choice really
but to go onwards to sea
The unknown might attack
She may never come back
Yet she will evolve, unlike her father
and become stronger than ever...
yes she will, adversity has a way of honing us...
ReplyDeleteCool...I like this catfish.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the translation! I like the poem.
ReplyDeleteOh yea!! It is quite sad how we have to keep adapting ourselves to the changing environments... but that's life.. and it goes on!!
ReplyDeleteCheers to this brave catfish!!
Well writ, my friend!