Paternal Grandfather (爷爷):

Weary boots trudge mud across clattering tracks

soliciting the shelter of palm and banyan trees

sweltering in their verdurous clusters

camouflaging the ghosts of wayward armies

whose war-worn boots march forever mutely

beside the puttering motor cars that teeter into his shop.

Balik kampong, balik rumah

The cicak’s cries heralds another sultry evening

synchronizing with the undulating overture of mosques

gold steeples peeling like paper in the equatorial sun

as the chorus of hawker store haggling flickers to life

silver slivers smiling in the swill of kopi cups.

Abang, satu lagi

He plows home to his nest of hungry mouths

pecking at the solitary pot of yesterday’s rice

each forlorn grain gracing life between bamboo twigs

to the twelve anticipating the chime of the tin grate

as he brushes through with gasoline burnt brows

and embraces fifth brother with soot stained hands

smudging motor oil onto his plump dumpling face

that under the smear of black is smiling.