A short poem by Khoo Salma Nasution reflecting on two competing visions of ‘development’.
I dream of life
of the trees which rise from the ground
and the creatures that move between the trees
and the birds which soar to the sky
and the crabs that crawl in the mud
and the fish that live in the sea
You dream of concrete
of buildings that rise from the ground
and the cars that move between the buildings
and the highrises which soar to the sky
and the money which turns over
and over in your hands
You may be the king of kings
on the pedestal you have raised
in the world of sand and concrete
which snuffs out the trees and creatures
and extinguishes life below water
… yet my dream does not die
Khoo Salma Nasution is vice-president of the Penang Heritage Trust and steering committee member of Penang Forum.
A modified version of this poem was used in the dance performance by Aida Redza and WindRiver Production.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
thank you for sharing this out. we need to make a say and be allowed to express our concerns.
Yes, and well done to you and Salma!
No dream is insignificant
No dream is inconsequential
No dream is vanquished
Each dream is a dare
For each to care
Of that which belongs to all