This Monday (Nov. 20) we will read a Malay syair with Nadine.
Ada kepada suatu hari,
Sakit saudagar laki isteri,
Adalah kiranya tujuh hari,
Tidak bergerak kanan dan kiri.
Saudagar tahu akan dirinya,
Hampirlah mati kepada rasanya,
Lalulah memanggil akan anaknya,
Dicium kepala dengan tangisnya.
Katanya wahai cahaya mataku,
Tinggallah tuan buah hatiku,
Hampirlah mati gerangan aku,
Baiklah tuan tingkah dan laku.
Serta harta aku tinggalkan,
Tuan seorang yang menyukakan,
Sampai habis semua diterimakan,
Faedahnya akan diberikan.
Jikalau tidak anakku berakal,
Harta pusaka di manakan kekal,
Habis harta badan tinggal,
Laksana perahu bersauh tunggal.
Kerana harta tiada berguna,
Jikalau tidak akan sempurna,
Sekalian itu habislah fana,
Hanyalah tinggal badan merana.
Budi dan bahasa janganlah lupa,
Muliakan olehmu ibu dan bapa,
Mana yang datang padamu berjumpa,
Janganlah lambat tuan menyapa.
Kerana adat orang berbeza,
Tiada memandang harta dan benda,
Tegur dan sapa itu yang ada,
Itulah penambah di dalamnya ada.
There was a day,
A merchant couple fell ill,
The count was seven days,
That they neither moved left nor right.
The merchant knew about his state,
It seemed he was close to dying,
So he called his child,
And crying, kissed his head.
“Oh light of my eyes,” said he,
Sir, you’ll be alone,
I’m near death I fear,
Please sir, keep good behavior.
And I will leave my wealth,
Only you who enjoy it,
Will receive it completely,
And so its benefit will be given.
If you aren’t clever my child,
Wealth will never last,
Wealth gone, the body will remain,
Like an anchored boat, alone.
Riches are useless,
Otherwise they would be enough,
But the ephemeral will finish,
Leaving only the body in anguish.
Please don’t forget courtesy and grace,
Ennoble your mother and father by your conduct,
Whenever someone comes to meet you,
Don’t delay, sir, to greet them.
People’s customs differ,
Some don’t look at wealth and possession,
Cordial meeting and greeting, that’s what there is,
That’s the true increaser of what is inside.
— Nadine Faisal