A Warriors's Lament

Marzuki Ali's short poem is a nostalgic walk down memory lane. In the poem, he reflects to the time when he was able bodied, fighting for independence and sacrificing his youth for the ideals of nationhood.

He has given the better part of his life for independence and is now wheel-chair bound. He is old as he symbolizes in the title of his poem," A fighter's Lines". He could possibly be reflecting on the lines on his old brazen face. He lacks the energy he once possessed though his spirit to fight on remains strong. But times have changed. Even with independence, the poet could not see any satisfaction of his ideals. He finds no joy in the attainment of nationhood. He felt robbed of the fruits of his struggle.

The current challenges facing his nation are difficult to overcome. There is deceit everywhere these days. It disturbs him but he is powerless to do anything about it.The social ill continues to spread and corrupt.

The younger generation may be misled and could be indoctrinated to accept the modern ills of corruption,the greedy pursuit of materialism and the falsehood of politicians out for short-term gains.Unless the younger generation are brave,educated,imbued with a sense of national pride, open minded and worldly wise,it would be difficult for them to fight the powers that be.

Let us read the poem.

A Fighter's Lines

I am old and worn
and have lost all my strength
sufferings
and the history of the fight for independence
have forced sacrifices
that know no name
or life

From the wheelchair of the rest of my days
I, body and energy crushed
see and cannot do much
these times are too big a challenge
for the remnants of my crippled years
the net of deceit spread everywhere
disturbs me.

In the name of justice
Wake up and form ranks sons of our ancestor
Be brave
A erect a wall of people
Stand up heirs of our freedom

I have no more voice
It is you now who should speak!

This is a disturbing poem. It has a sad tone and readers will feel melancholic just reading the lines of the free-verse poem. There is a sense of powerlessness. As he extols the younger generation to continue with his struggle for justice against the modern forms of evils, we sympathized with the poet that his sacrifice could have been in vain, if there is no follow through on his resolve.