NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 55

*) Life has its ups and downs. Are we always ready to face it?

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 54

*) How can you expect to do big things successfully if the small ones you fail to do so?

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 53

*) Our history is full of bloodshed. It becomes a mirror for us to reflect upon. History will help us be prudent in life.

NOTE OF A "MUSAFIR" 52

*) I have been thrown away by the vulcanic eruption of family conflict many times. I tried to remain silent as much as I could. This will contribute a lot to my literary endeavor.

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 51

*) A true intellectual is the one who can provoke us for having debates on things in life.

*) The voice of a poet: a crying voice, echoing inside the cave of our being.

*) In order to have a prosperous society, no doubt, there is a need to strengthen the middle class. Let us use the concept of "katupa", ala Timorese style.

*) Truth always tries to say hello to us. We are the ones who pretend to be deaf often times.

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 50

*) Do you want to be a mediator? Be ready to be the target of criticism from all corners. You are always seen as someone who takes side when you actually try to create harmony.

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 49

*) You have been part of my recent past. I cannot deny that you existed. Someday when I write my memoir, no doubt your life related to mine will be described in one or two chapters of it.

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 48

*) As an artist I have to be ready any time to engage in the spiritual war. Words are my swords. Hopefully, my words will provoke people so that they can be in tune with themselves all the time in creating harmony in this wonderful planet..
[Thinking of the song "Ebony and Ivory" sung by Paul Mcartheney and Stevie Wonder)

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 47

*) An individual alone can make a difference/change--in terms of doing good and bad things. He or she has the freedom to choose between the two.

*) The 'what' in poetry writing is ok. But, I like the 'how' much better.

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 46

*) Don't ever try to burn bridges but build walls if you do not want to be lonely in life.

NOTES OF " A MUSAFIR" 45

*) Chinese are great! They are so deep in concluding the reality in a simple "Tao".

*) Life is full of paradox. Are you keen on observing it constantly?

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 44

* Language of love is a silent language. A language which can stronlgy resist the chaotic noise of our civilization.

*) Be simple in appearance, and deep in thinking...

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 43

*) History continously becomes a wise teacher. Unfortunately, we never listen to his/her wise words. We repeat the same mistakes over and over again.

*) A wholistic approach towards everything will help cure our human illness.

*) Mindful walking. Stature of the Guru. The words of Guru will be repeated somewhere and someday.

*) Don't ever try to be against the Guru who has been united with the power of Nature.

*) A: Why are you wasting you time---walking?
B: I do so because I want to enjoy the beauty of our 'rungu-ranga' around.

*) Relax! Don't rush! Take your time, and look around. There are some beauty here and there.

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 42

*)Education really plays an important role in helping me become a free and independent thinker. When I am critical of the performance of life, you then label me as an enemy of the State? Jesus, give me a break?

*) Radicalism only creates chaos.

*) I am merely a musafir, wandering around in the desert of life. Along this journey, I met my fellow wanderers. I am pleased to meet them, and share some views on life as a whole. I am grateful for the chance. And then, the journey continued...

*) Jesus was a great Guru. He was keen on describing the Kingdom of Heaven by telling parables. As a disciple, what can I do?

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 41

*) Leadership is very much needed in our life which is full of thorns.

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 40

*) Great writers are like stars illuminating us in darkness. They show us the way, leading us towards the endlessness.

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 39

*) We have to think historically. This will help us anticiapte much better our future.

*) Words have wings. Words refuse to be shuckled. Words want very much to fly around, circling the universe.

*) We need the thesis, and the anti-thesis in order to create the synthesis..

*) We need to constanly and quietly design our strategy of 'war', if we really want to win the battle of life.

*) Smile! And the world will smile back at you..Remember, life is a mirror..

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 38

*) It is interesting to reflect upon the following words uttered by Abilio (my fellow musafir), " I love people who commit mistakes, but I never love the ones who commit the same mistakes over and over again".

*) Sebastiao alias Bastian came up recently with the following deeply thoughtful words saying, " It is better to be a pretender in any circumstance".

*) Analizing the current ' political panoroma' in the country, Abilio once again appeared on the stage, proclaiming the following, " the effect of post-power syndrome creates 3 S: stress, stroke and stop". I find it interesting!

*) Let time tell its own story. Let time speak by itself, my dear!. No need at all to rush when it comes to the bubbling of confusion which many times drives us nuts.

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 37

*) As a poet, I am merely as an "au kadoras", and the inspiration is the "bee" flowing.

*) Behind a great person, there is always an interesting tale about who his or her parents are...

*)We can lie to everyone, but it is difficult for us to do so to ourselves and God. The two always keep an eye on every action we take in life.

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 36

*) Do you dream of changing the world around you? First of all, you have to change yourself. Remember the theory of 'ripple effect'.

*) Poets try to shape their poetry in such a way that they appear as the distillation of reality.

*) How can you expect me to engage in an political life, if I still have got nothing to eat, nothing to ear and nothing to rely on as a shelter?

*) 'Simplicity is the best policy..'

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 35

*) It is better to be moderate than to be radical. Radicalism will only creates 'asneiras'.

*) Being to'o smart 'can' make us blind spiritually. We think we are the most superior of all. This tends to makes us arrogant unconciously.

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 34

*) It will be a great honor in all of our life if we keep trying to be "men and women of words"

*) Life is a constant 'war'. There is always a need to take one step backward in order to take few steps forward. Make sure that you always suspect even your own shadow..

*) A poet is a shaman. A modern one. S/he is the mediator between the seen and unseen.

*) Don't just demand your rights, but try to fulfill your obligations as well.

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 33

*) There will be always war between good and evil. In the beginning, the good suffers a lot, but in the end the good always conquers the evil....(There is nothing new under sun. ...)

*) The task of an artist is summarizing the performance of reality of life in his her works condensedly.

*) Everthing has its own rule. We are asked to be constantly aware of it...

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 32

*)The task of an artis is merely to remind his/her fellow human beings that the beauty of life is like the raibow itself. Its beauty lies in the colourful appearance before us during the rainy season;

*) Self-discipline is a "must" for anyone wishing to be successful in life. Without it, don't ever expect to achieve any progress in our life time....

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 31

*) We are the roots, the children are the branches and twigs/The roots have to be strongly rooted in the soil/The roots have to be watered/ So that/the branches and twigs will grow in fertility/................/welcoming the shining sun//

*) I very much like to fly high like an eagle...(thinking of being an intellectual in TL)

*)Notes to myself: Mirror yourself all the time!

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 30

*) Time will reveal everything that we hide in the past...

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 29

*) Love conquers all evil... I believe this as like anybody else does.From time immemorial love has been always a theme greatly explored by the artists in their work. It is an everlasting theme. I have been overwhelmed by the power of love all my life. Oh, Lord I am grateful for the opportunity of living in this world and taste the sweetness of love!

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 28

*) I often tell my fellows from overseas that if they want to know Timorese mind, they should watch the "futu manu", the cock fighting. There is a philosophy behind the game..XG, in my view, communes such philosophy...

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR " 27

*) The sun is already up. We need to get up now, folks. We should not be too lazy--- lying in our bed. We need, if possible, get up early before the sun rises.

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 26

*) Life is full of unexpected things. We are asked to accept such reality with all our hearts and minds.

NOTES OF A 'MUSAFIR" 25

[Eleven days passed since I last updated this blog. I am back here at TT Akait...There are so many things to write about but I have got no time to do so.....Have just had lunch with a Spanish friend whom I met recently. David is his name. We talked about literature. We hope that our newly created relationships as men of letters will lead us to a more profound collaboration in the near future... ]

*) Poets and their poetry are like drops of water dropping constantly on top of a hard rock, and in the end they manage to create holes on it...

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 24

[A week really flies. I am back here at TT to update this blog. The second round presidential elections ran smoothly without major insidents. TL once again shows to the world ist maturity in democratic process.....]

*) Humanity: one soul in many bodies, standing up separatedly, and singing together

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 23

*) A poet is merely a reminder constantly alerting us to be awake in order to witness the ups and downs of the reality of our lives. (while waiting for a cab to head towards OB for work at 8:50 am today).

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 22

[I am back to the cyberspace after being absent for a few days. I was on leave with my wife and son. During holidays I had no chance at all to update my blogs... There are so many things to write about my trip to Java and Bali recently. I wil post it here later on....]

*) Writers are collectors of fossils of time. Are they dreamers?

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 21

*) I can fool others but it is impossible to fool myself....

*) The brain tends to be arrogant but the heart tends to be wise.

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 20

*) Writing is a self-discovery, a revelation. It is an endless adventure.

*) Love for humanity which you live wholeheartedly makes others feel uncomfortable. They try with every means to make you vanish from the Earth. Gee! ( I think of Jesus, Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr, Romero, XG, etc..)

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 19

Political Panorama of TL

*) The man called XG is the real warrior in a true sense. He communes the philosophy of "Futu Manu". He strikes on the right time.

*) XG: the "Glasnot" and "Perestroika" of TL. Some see him as 'the enemy from within'.

*) Some politicians"tafui tiha sira-nia kaben, sira nain,to'o ikus, lambe fali". What an irony!

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 18

*) Nurturing a healthy contemplative life is a must in this chaotic world of ours. Remember what Jesus once said that man does not live by bread alone!

ESSAY: I HAVE FOUND A POETIC POND WHICH IS CRYSTAL-CLEAR

Dili, 28 February 2007

-I HAVE FOUND A POETIC POND WHICH IS CRYSTAL-CLEAR-

(SHORT REMARKS FOR THE LAUNCHING OF TOZÉ’S BOOK, “TIMOR: AS RUGAS DA BELEZA” AT FUNDAÇÃO ORIENTE, ON MARCH 5, 2007)


Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,


It is a big honor for me to be here today with you all to present to you the book of my great Portuguese literary friend, Antonio José Borges alias Tozé, entitled “Timor: As Rugas da Beleza”.

For me personally, presenting a literary book such as this one during my literary career for all these years is the first act. It is a great emotional moment for me. I am grateful for Tozé, my dear friend in having me here.

The things which I would like very much to say about the book and its author himself have been written in its preface. You can have a look at it when you read it. However, please allow me, for the sake of launching the book today, to cite some of the words which I have written:

“As a writer, in this case as an essayist, Tozé has tried, through his book, to tell us his physical and metaphysical trips. He does not hesitate at all to invite us to do the trip with him; diving profoundly in Timor-Leste’s ocean of reality.

“He managed to take the first steps to penetrate the imaginary world of “Avo Crocodilo”. With his words, Tozé presented himself as a traveler, photographer and poetic painter. As a Timorese who likes to play in the literary world, when reading these personal essays of Tozé, I feel like I have found a poetic pond which is crystal-clear. And I did not hesitate to jump into it, and swim as I wished. And I felt refreshed.”

If I am not mistaken, Alfred Edward Housman, the English poet has once said about poetry. Poetry, he said, “is not what to say but how to say about things” (my own paraphrase). I consider these personal essays as narrative poems. Tozé has written them with his own unique style. Timor-Leste is the subject for his poetry. We all, as I believe, are poets from within. We can write about Timor-Leste with our own style, can’t we? As a photographer, Tozé has chosen Timor-Leste as one of his objects to take. As readers, we can be photographers as well as he was. We, I am sure, can take the photos of Timor-Leste from different angle, and with our own style, can’t we?

Let us take a look at some parts of one of Tozé photo by reading the following passage about his trip to Mount Ramelau (page 67-68):

“…No Alto do Monte Ramelu……..e vermelho por dentro……….
“……Até um proximo sorriso, Tata mai lau… ”

Up to know, I have not been to Mount Ramelau myself. I have wanted very much to be on its top someday. [But, I am not sure when it will be. Every time some of my friends, when telling me their stories after climbing Mount Ramelau made me very jealous of what they have done.]

This short remark is a dialogue which I am having with you all this afternoon, especially with the author himself, isn’t it? To conclude this, let me share with you a poem I wrote about Mount Ramelau a few years back when I was in Canada wandering around as a ‘ cultural vagabond’ with the status of a political refugee:


I SAM MY OWN REFLECTION

Ramelau,
I came over to your transparent pond
At is edge I saw my own reflection
naked
welcoming me
then it told me
the winding stories about the roots of my seeds

****

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 17

*) Words have the potential to heal as well as wound other people. Be careful in uttering them!

[Am back here to XRR. The weather is hot!...]

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 16

*) Being parents is a big responsibility. The children need our love and care. We will be happy if we see them grow successfully towards their adulthood life. It will be the opposite, if they don't.

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 15

[Am at Xanana Reading Room now. Came here very often to buy used books and new ones. The price is quite expensive though.
A few years back I bought quite a lot of books here...]

*) Nature is wise. It offers us the philosophy of life. We are constantly requested to reflect upon it and apply it in our daily life.
[Because of this, I admire the Romantic Movement when it called upon us to "Be Back to Nature"]

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 14

[TL's presidential elections went peacefully on Monday, 9 April. I had the chance to exercise my rights as a voter in Fatuhada.
The counting of votes is almost done. Two candidates: JRH and Lu-Olo will likely to compete in the run-off elections, planned to be held on 8 May.
Let us wait and see..]

*) The soul a nation lies in the voice of its artists. Try to listen to them constantly if you can.

*) What is the role of a poet? S/he is the one who is tasked to summarize the reality of life through her or his works. S/he is a keen observer of life who sets her or his alarm of consicience for 24 hours. It is a great challenge, no doubt..

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 13

[I am back to Akait. Almost a week I did not update the three blogs of mine.....
Spent almost all day in trip with my 2nd boss to Maliana.....]

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 12

[I am back to TT Akait...

It is interesting to enjoy the greeness of the hills sorrounding Dili, the capital. Recently, I met an Indonesian who admires the beauty of Dili.....]

*) Being a scholar is like being a candle ligthening the darkness.

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 11

*) Our health-- be it mental and physical, is precious. We ned to take care of it carefully. We cannot do anything else properly when our health is poor.

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 10

[I am back to TT Akait now. Have just had my lunch at a restaurant closed to the National Parliament building, serving Japanese and Indonesian food. Met a Batak guy whom I met a few months ago, and we talked about the current political situation. He very much wants to see the new generation to be on the politcal stage, bringing cahnge to this country.

On my way to the restaurant, I came accross Petrus Kanisius. We were in Yogya a few years back. We shared some views on the need to recharge our baterry spiritually. Apparently, he is the same age as me. He was born on 12 January 1966.

The weekly UNMIT press conference went well, with DSRSG Tan updating the journalists on the security arrangments for the upcoming elections.

*)Try to listen to the voice of your heart carefully. Do it constantly.

*) The heart is wise, but the brain tends to be arrogant. Our duty is to harmonize the two in our daily performance in life.

*)The time for doing things is now. Don't wait until tomorrow. It might be too late.

*) I dream of seeing a Timorese who is proud of being a nationalist and at the same time as an internationalist.

*) Try to distance yourself always from the reality; then it will help you to see things clearly.

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 9

[Here I am at TT Akait, wanting to update my blogspot. I am not a regular updater of the blog. Here is the entry for '16 March 2007 notes':
---
16 March 2007

[For almost three weeks I have not updated my ‘blogspot’ due to my having no desire to do so as well as the fact that I have got no time to do it.
I tried to keep in a diary as much as I could, not in a regular basis, using a note book.

Here I am back to the cyberspace.

Mundo’ birthday is today. He turns 26 years old. Ikun told me via SMS last night that it would be hard to reach him since he has not bought a new mobile phone. He has lost the old one.

Presidential election process is underway. The polling day will be on 9 April. Eight candidates have been nominated to compete on that day. Let’s see who is going to be the winner. I very much hope Ramos-Horta will be the next President of TL.]

*) There is a constant need to ask ourselves, where we are from, and where we are now, and to where we are heading.

*) “Be a philosopher, but amidst your philosophy be still a man”. I have heard this somewhere. While I was in Canada, I asked my former girlfriend, Dany to sew it on a tablecloth, and she did.

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 8

[Am at the office now. It is 10:05 PM. Cannot go home due to the bad security situation. Will stay overnight in the office as I did last night.
Worked really hard yesterday until a bit late last night, trying to finish the translation a legal document assigned by Human Rights Unit into Tetun. It was done early this morning. And it was supposed to be submitted to the NP at 10 AM this morning but the meeting was postponed until next week. I had been also asked to assist dsrsg to provide the interpretation service in Tetun at NP…

I found out that ‘buat tamak sira iha IT la blokeia tan ha’u-nia blog sira’ this afternoon. This means that I do not have to be at TT to update my blogs, and spend few extra money to do so.

It rained heavily yesterday afternoon and this afternoon as well. I thought a lot of the condition of those living in the camps as IDPs.]

*) The world is sick—full of hatred, war, revenge, etc everywhere. We lack love; we lack wisdom to heal it. [Mariano once said that here in Timor-Leste, the negative attitude is the one which dominates too much in the minds and hearts of Timorese. How can we expect to develop further TL with such an attitude?]

*) Tyranny, no matter how it behaves, will come to an end someday. The people’s power is the one which will crush it. History has proven it again and again.

*) What will we leave behind as legacy to the world when we die?

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 7

[ I am now at Timor Telecom, Acait. Will be here very often to update my blog..tanba iha eskritoriu agora sei imposivel tanba buatamak sira IT blokeia. Could not do so during the weekend since I was too busy with my office work and family life....]

*) Stomach cannot wait, as the saying says. We cannot do anything else properly when we are hungry.

*) Writing is a revealing of the secrecy of heart and mind.

*) Writing is a re-writing process. Be patient with it.

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 6

[It rained heavily this afternoon around 5:30. I interpreted for SRSG in today’s press conference as I usually did. He just returned from NY after attending UN SC meeting on TL. His main briefing was on his meetings in NY, especially SC meeting. Lots of questions raised by journalists, particularly in regards to security situation in TL…

I feel sorry for the IDPs when it rains.

Was so pleased to receive an e-mail from Lia Haryono, a literary fellow, residing in Jakarta whom I came across recently via internet, this afternoon as a reply to my email sent on 12 Feb. Indeed, I was so anxious these days to get some news from her. She agreed with my proposal to publish our correspondence through this blog. That made my heart leap up. What a day! ]

*) Humility is very much needed in our lives. Being humble is a wise gesture.

*) We tend to point fingers at other people while refusing to acknowledge that we are also part of the problems.

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 5

[Around 00:30 am. Amor and I have just enjoyed the ecstacy of 'ceremony'...]

*) After all, as what the Beatles had said in one its songs, "all we need is love...". The world is full of hatred. We need love. Yes, we need love, don't we?

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 4

*) There is nothing to hide when it comes to spiritual nakedness (You cannot tell lies to your own heart).

*) Love conquers evil. There is no doubt about it. Love is like a balm, curing the wounded heart.

*) You can only travel to certain areas, and then you will meet your end.

*) The space for literature is endless. You will never discover them all.

[At Fatuhada, around 11:21 pm. While Nini was typing a letter to be sent to Ina in Cuba via e-mail, and Nona was doing her clippings of local newspapers on education…..]

*) Try to keep being an explorer of the heart.

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 3

*) Live your life fully! Embrace not only the joy, but also the pain.

[ I went to Mom’s house in Bekusi for lunch today. I bought lunch at Obrigado Barracks (Filipino food) and took it home.
My belongings taken from Usindu were kept at the living room in Bekusi.
Met Noi, Enty, Mana Zinda, Bati and others there. They helped take my belongings with a truck belonging to Angelo, Giri’s brother. I was grateful for their brotherly and sisterly gesture of solidarity.

Oh, my! When will the current crises come to an end?]

*) Political change is very much needed [in this country at the moment]. People are tired of political rhetoric.

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 2

*) The more I write the more I feel I have not written anything. And I feel restless all the time.

*) Life is a mirror. When we smile, it will smile back at us.

*) My mother is a great teacher in my life. She is the source of my inspiration. She is like a well, never dry. She has taught me how to endure the pain in life.

*) My Dad once said when he was still alive, “Through darkness, we will see the light.”

[ Am still at the office. It is 9:21 PM now.

The security situation in Dili continues to be tense. My sisters: Zinha and Bati plus their kids as well my cousin, Zinda and the family were forced to leaves their houses in Usindu III yesterday afternoon due to the threats by the martial arts gangs. The same thing happened to my brother Enty. Feel very sorry for them. And at the moment they stay at Noi's (my eldest sister) house in Delta I.

Noi informed me that they have taken some of my belongings I left behind in Usindu III to Bekusi where my Mom lives...

Dili is trembling…. Dili nakdedar. La hatene atu hakat pasu ba loos ne'ebe?

Try to keep in this diary on-line as regularly as possible. Hope this is not only “panas-panas tai ayam”….

[I find it interesting to deal with the blog. A new playground for me…Why am so late in doing so?]

*) As a writer, you have to leave some space in your writings to the readers for their own interpretations.

POEM(S) OF THE MONTH (1)

Death

Don't shed the tears/I am not departing/I continue to be here/with you/chasing the dreams/

---

Feb.2007

NOTES OF A "MUSAFIR" 1

9 Feb 2007

*) The role of a writer is to collect the fossils of reality scattered around, then ornamenting it on the wall of our history….

10 Feb 2007

[While being in the beach of Dili lighthouse, reflecting….Around 7:39 am]

*) Write things which you know!

*) Great writers inspire others. They illuminate them.

POEMS FOR "SANAK BARAK, SULI BA IDA"

INTRODUCTION

“poetry is life, and life is poetry”


These twenty poems were originally written in Indonesian. For an attempt to reach more readers, the only way to do so was through translation. I did the translation myself with the help of an Australian friend, who is also a poet, doing the editing. Chris Parkinson is his name. I believe that there are some nuances missing when the works appear in English version.

Along with my Indonesian-Timorese painter, Yahya Lambertz I read the poems in three versions; Indonesian, Tetun and English in a cultural show with the theme “SANAK BARAK, SULI BA IDA: [MANY BRANCHES, FLOWING INTO ONE], marking the third anniversary of the restoration of Timor-Leste’s independence at the Hall of Dili-based Timor-Leste Cultural Centre sometime in May 2005. Yayha, whom I consider my ‘interpreter’ draw the paintings in expressionistic style while I was reading the poems.

These poems, hopefully, someday will appear in a book form.

I look forward to critical literary comments on my work.

Shalom,
Abé Barreto Soares

Dili, 8 February 2007



-------

THE BIRD OF PEACE

O, sweet dove, bird of peace
Where is it that you hide?
O, sweet dove, bird of peace
With strengths so soar so high
Where is it that you hide?
I can’t hardly wait for you
To fly back;
And perch upon the banyam tree
Which has a wonderful shade
With an olive branch
Nestled in you beak
O, sweet dove, bird of peace
Anxiously I wait,
And listen to your enchanting and
melodious chant of Jerusalem!
---
2003-2005


THE CROSS THAT WE BEAR

Forward we step, bearing the cross
Along the way, we fall, and
keep falling

Brightness shines upon the slopes of Calvary
Easing the burdens we bear
hesitantly
---
2005


IN MEMORY OF *) SERGIO VIEIRA DE MELLO

you stuck a flag’s pole
on the dry and unfertile land of **)lafaek

the flag was raised
waived by weighty winds

you saluted the flag

you stepped backward

you remained at the edge

---
2003-2005

*)Former head of UN Mission in Timor-Leste, UNTAET from 1999
until 2002, killed in Baghdad in August 2003.

**)Crocodile (according to the legend, Timor island was the
transformation of a crocodile)


BAGHDAD SLICED BY THE WOUNDS


Baghdad sliced by the wounds!
Baghdad collapsed, powerless!
Baghdad listless, bathing in blood!

Baghdad’s wounds are our collective wounds!
---
2003-2005


A BAYONET FIRMLY STUCK

A bayonet firmly stuck!

The crocodile struck by the disaster,
Its body spread out, its mouth full of foam of saliva

Crocodile’s mouth mumbling:
“What have I done wrong?
What is my sin?”
---
2002-2005


WHITE ROBE

Stained by blood,
Dust settles upon the pallid robes
When it offered the sacrifice to the altar

In this hour the white robe we curse
In this hour the white robe we slash
We stepped upon it,
And throwing it away
--
2005


LÁGRIMAS DO XANANA (TEARS OF XANANA)

Tears of Xanana,
warm and condensed

Transformed into balm

Healing the wounds

---
2002

PONTE KAIS-DILI SEAPORT

sedimentary rocks, coral reefs

ripple of waves, radiance of lights
competing to express themselves, marking their presence:
here i am, here i exist
---
2002


I AM A PEEBLE THAT YOU THROW (INTO THE POND)
(An Evening Meditation)

“when all of the musical strings of my life will be played, then every touch of Yours will create the music of love.”
Rabindranath Tagore

Lord, I am merely a peeble that you throw into the freshly transparent pond

And I am sinking

Soon I am leaving behind the ripple of waves, slowly moving to the edge

The evening sun
Shinning its lights, kissing the lips of the pond

The ripple of waves, gently foaming
The ripple of waves, slowly
dissapearing
---
2002-2005

ON TOP OF BARREN HILLLS

Crosses shining
On barren hills

Fresh blood shedding
Fertilising flat lands

New buds blossoming
Spreading a heavenly fragrance

---
2005



DESEMBER 1975 ( part 1)

Dili trembled
Dili frightened

Dili doubtful
dragging its steps

chasing the footprints of freedom
---
2002-2005?



DESEMBER 1975 (part 2)

my dignity was stepped upon
my dignity was handcuffed

i stared
in fear

i mumbled
i stammered

---
2002-2005?


*)NICOLAU LOBATO

darkness tightly handcuffed us
darkness strongly folded us

you are the light penetratedly shinning
you are the light batteredly shining

firmly we stand
firmly we step forward
firmly we welcome

the freshly warm breeze
---
2003-2005?

*) Timor-Leste’s resistance leader killed during the battle against Indonesian military in 1978


DADDY

Daddy was not an angel. Daddy’s shirt stained
by mud. Daddy fell headfirst

asking for
the offering of forgiveness
---
2003-2005?


*)MANATUTO

manatuto: my roots
firmly rooted

my branches freshly sticked out

my twigs ready to wander around,
sounding out the corners of universe
---
2004-2005

*) My father’s hometown


BLACK SEPTEMBER

pillars soaring high
pillars scattered

exposing silent witnesses
recounting poignant stories
---
2004-2005


LISBON: SEKILAS SKETSA
(LISBON: A SKETCH AT GLANCE)

terik mentari
membakar wajah kota

[rindu dendam
berebut ucap,
berebut cakap,
berebut pentas]

mondar-mandir wisatawan
mencari nikmat

[aku:pemulung fosil-fosil jaman kita; I am the collector of the fossils of our era,
aku, warga buana melancong tak berujung pangkal;I am a citizen of the world; wandering around without any destination]

tak kencang bertiup angin
sejuki wajah kota yang semakin menua

[timor-lorosa’e yang hancur lebur
laksana seekor pheonix mengepak-kepak sayap-sayapnya
dari dekapan sisa-sisa abu,
dan terbang lagi,
sangat meninggi
menerobos batas-batas cakrawala; timor-lorosa’e was completely destroyed, completely crushed,
like a pheonix clapping its winds from the rest of dust, and flying again really high]

sore beranjak tiba
seorang bocah cigano
mengamen dengan akordion mungil
meminta belas kasih
anjingnya kurus kering
setia menemani


[ah, tamba sa maka sempre iha lakuna entre ema riku no ema kiak sira? tamba sa? why is it that there are always gaps between “the haves”
and the”haves not”? why?]

di praça do comercio
tampak ada tertulis di dinding tembok; in praça do comercio, there was a graffity on the wall saying,
“MORTE AO IMPERIALISMO!
CLINTON, GO HOME!

[rupanya Pam Sam
dan tetek bengeknya
tak mendapat tempat disini; it seems like Uncle Sam and his various kinds of things are not welcome here]

fado beralun, sayup-sayup terdengar
dari mulut wanita setengah baya, bergigi ompong
menyambut senja,
sebentar lagi turun
selimuti
wajah kota lisbon ; fado was heard from a distance, sung by an old lady, being toothless
welcoming the evening
which soon came, covering the face of Lisbon
----
2000-2005



I AM THE SHEPHERD, AND YOU ARE THE SHEEPS

I am the shepherd,
You are the sheeps

You are stuck by your weariness
You are stoned to death by your weariness

Here I am, waiting for you to come

Here I am, waiting for you to caress your chronic weariness
---
2005


MY SILENCE

My silence
is multi-intrepreted

My silence
is merely a sign of protest:
I refuse to be shackled
----
2005



ERNESTO “CHE” GUEVARA

Latin star
shining at dawn

lightening the pathways

---
1996-2005

INTRODUCTION

--DADOLIN, DADOLIN, POETRY, POETRY--

"poetry is not what to say, but how."

AE HOUSMAN

Dadolin is a space for poetic mind and poetic feeling.
Come, let us sing!
Come, let us dance!


Shalom,
ABÉ BARRETO SOARES

Dili, January-February 2007