In the midst of hardship

LATIFF MOHIDIN

THE POET

LATIFF MOHIDIN

*Born in 1941

* A celebrated artist and poet

*Studied art in Germany, France and America.

* Received Malaysia’s National Literary Prize and Southeast Asian’s Writer Award in 1984

IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIP

LATIFF MOHIDIN

At dawn they returned home

their soaky clothes torn

and approached the stove

their limbs marked by scratches

their legs full of wounds

but on their brows

there was not a sign of despair

The whole day and night just passed

they had to brave the horrendous flood

in the water all the time

between bloated carcasses

and tiny chips of tree barks

desperately looking for their son’s

albino buffalo that was never found

They were born amidst hardship

and grew up without a sigh or a complaint

now they are in the kitchen, making

jokes while rolling their cigarette leaves

translated by

Salleh Ben Joned

IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIPIN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIP

SETTING

Place: A village where a flood has recently occurred.

Time: The Present

PERSONA

The persona is probably a visitor or a person who has lived with the villagers.

THEMES

Poverty and hardshipResilience and perseverance

MESSAGES

Hardship and suffering build character.

Positive thinking s important when faced with life’s challengesWe must carry on and persevere despite hardship

MORAL VALUES

Be thankful for the comforts you have

Empathize with the poor and do all you can to help them.

TONE AND MOOD

Sympathetic

Impressed by how villagers accept hardship

OVERVIEW

This poem paints a realistic picture of life in a Malaysian /Indonesian/ rural setting.

The villagers live in hardship and poverty, made more difficult by natural disasters like flood and storms.

However, they accept their fate and make the best of their situation.

IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIP

Meaning of the Stanza 1

At dawn they returned home

their soaky clothes torn

and approached the stove

their limbs marked by scratches

their legs full of wounds

but on their brows

there was not a sign of despair

IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIP

Meaning of the Stanza 1

At dawn they returned home

their soaky clothes torn

and approached the stove

their limbs marked by scratches

their legs full of wounds

but on their brows

there was not a sign of despair

The occupants of the house have just returned home at daybreak.

Their wet clothes are torn and their arms and legs are covered with scratches and wounds.

They walk to the stove in the kitchen.

Though it has been a rough day, they do not appear unhappy.

Meaning of Stanza 2The whole day and night just passed

they had to brave the horrendous flood

in the water all the time

between bloated carcasses

and tiny chips of tree barks

desperately looking for their son’s

albino buffalo that was never found

Meaning of Stanza 2The whole day and night just passed

they had to brave the horrendous flood

in the water all the time

between bloated carcasses

and tiny chips of tree barks

desperately looking for their son’s

albino buffalo that was never found

The people of the house had been out in the floodwaters for the past 24 hours.

They were looking for their son’s albino buffalo, which they never found.

As they waded in the floodwaters, they saw signs of destruction, such as dead animals and parts of trees

IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIP

Meaning of Stanza 3

They were born amidst hardship

and grew up without a sigh or a complaint

now they are in the kitchen, making

jokes while rolling their cigarette leaves

IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIP

Meaning of Stanza 3

They were born amidst hardship

and grew up without a sigh or a complaint

now they are in the kitchen, making

jokes while rolling their cigarette leaves

The persona observes that though these people were born into hardship, they never complained nor were they letting it get them down.

Instead they took the situation in their stride and even had time to sit around the kitchen making jokes and enjoying a smoke.

SETTING

TIME

Set in the past.

The scene could also be in the present in the more remote areas of the country.

The poems opens with dawn when the family returns home and is relaxing in the kitchen.

They have spent the entire previous day and night in the floodwaters searching for a buffalo.

PLACE

A remote village where life is simple and the people live in hardship and poverty.

A flood has just occurred causing destruction to livestock and crops.

The scenes take place out in the flooded village and inside the house ( kitchen)

PERSONA

The persona is one who has visited or lived the rural folk he is describing.

He is observant about attitudes, appearance, habits and the culture of the people.

The persona is sympathetic.

He understands and admires the villagers for their positive and cheerful attitude as they soldier on despite their troubles.

THEMESTHEMES

The main theme of the poem is hardship suffered by this rural community.

They suffer physically (“their limbs marked by scratches”) and also emotionally and mentally (“desperately looking for their son’s albino buffalo”)

The main theme of the poem is hardship suffered by this rural community.

They suffer physically (“their limbs marked by scratches”) and also emotionally and mentally (“desperately looking for their son’s albino buffalo”)

POVERTY

AND

HARDSHIP

An important sub-theme is the vllage folk’s resilience and perseverance. Despite the many adversities, they still carry on with life ( “making jokes” and “rolling their cigarette leaves” as if they do not have any problems.

An important sub-theme is the vllage folk’s resilience and perseverance. Despite the many adversities, they still carry on with life ( “making jokes” and “rolling their cigarette leaves” as if they do not have any problems.

RESILIENCE

AND

PESERVERANC

E

THEMESTHEMES

MESSAGES

Although at times we may suffer hardship more than we celebrate triumph, we should see this as an opportunity for personal character growth. This will allow us to be self-reliant.

Although at times we may suffer hardship more than we celebrate triumph, we should see this as an opportunity for personal character growth. This will allow us to be self-reliant.

HARDSHIP AND SUFFERING

BUILD CHARACTER

We should not sit and mope and feel sorry for ourselves whenever we have a problem. If we have a positive attitude, the challenge will be less unpleasant and easier to manage.

We should not sit and mope and feel sorry for ourselves whenever we have a problem. If we have a positive attitude, the challenge will be less unpleasant and easier to manage.

POSITIVE THINKING S IMPORTANT WHEN FACED WITH LIFE’S

CHALLENGES

MESSAGES

Life is a continuous journey with ups and downs along the way.

It is the way we approach the adversities that will truly show our mettle and vigour of life.

People admire and look up to a strong and persevering person, therefore we should be brave and carry on with living despite the problems we may face.

Life is a continuous journey with ups and downs along the way.

It is the way we approach the adversities that will truly show our mettle and vigour of life.

People admire and look up to a strong and persevering person, therefore we should be brave and carry on with living despite the problems we may face.

WE MUST CARRY ON AND PERSEVERE

DESPITE HARDSHIP

MESSAGES