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.....]