What is this life if, full of care,
we have no time to stand and stare?
No time to stand beneath the boughs,
and stare as long as sheep or cows;
(William Henry Davies 1871-1940)
Watch the Queen of Jalan Pantai,
watch the tudung baby fly,
Permaisuri Protonora,
here she comes now… hi, bye bye.
Meet the Queen of Jalan Pantai,
one Permaisuri Protonora, who,
when she goes flying lights years by,
ignoring any others in any queue,
I don’t like waiting, that’s for other people…
Forget the brakes, the Engine must roar,
battery sparking, the gear box grating,
the Police can hear you in Singapore,
in the seat, no point waiting.
Why? I got to fly to work, or anywhere…
You always go so fast; I’d like to know why.
I think you are worried you might seem weak.
It is like a game of ‘can’t catch me’, can’t let others go by,
I think you speed to feel free, to catch a peek
of the universe going by the beach…
The other morning, you went past me,
with a velocity known just to you,
at the rear entrance of the university.
Maybe you thought you were one of the Space Shuttle crew,
or maybe you’re just bloody dangerous…
You took the roundabout on the right,
right across the double line, too;
gave many people, including me, quite a fright.
but no Police, so there’s no fine for you,
what a pity, what a big, big pity…
On Jalan Pantai, your Proton, poor thing,
shifts so fast, no-one can see you here.
You fly along,, eating the tarmac, watching the speed ring
mile by mile, in world record attempting gear…
thinking of Richard Gere, maybe.
When at work, you’re very quiet and calm,
amusing both your class, and me.
But in the car, tarmac and air both come to harm
with continual, unceasing frequency,
maging mawar maharajalela...
The fastest way from house to university
might, Permaisuri Protonora, might be your morning cure,
but might also lead to the early cemetery,
a pity for one so young, talented, and pure…
note how polite I am regarding you.
The Royal Malaysian Air Force would appreciate you,
who can fly the car like an F 15,
showing their pilots a thing or two,
the Jalan Pantai express route Queen…
Echo-Foxtrot-Mike 121, Kuala Dungun wipe out, repeat, wipe out.
Oscar-Romeo-Alpha
Keep this in your brain when in your car,
Miss Astronaut, Terengganu rocket;
young speedy girls don’t go too far,
no future husband in your pocket,
assuming, of course, you want one…
.
Makan angin, (eat the breeze) that is the way,
in the gerai, with cake and tea
after classes at the end of play.
Make it perfect. You can invite me,
but you pay…
Forget the speed and go more slow,
just feel the breeze and smell the air;
relax, and watch the flowers grow.
You must ‘have time to stand and stare.’…
no chance with you.
You must lighten up a bit, don’t be so uptight;
I quite like you, Cik Cantik, quite amusing now and then,
but try to work out what speed is right,
then plot your course; how, why, where and when…
then lower the speed by a factor of three.
One question I now would like to pose, if I may.
With it, you would have a lot to gain,
by keeping your hope of breaking the speed of light in play;
Why don’t you flog your Proton, and buy a plane?
A modest Lear Jet or a Mig maybe; push the throttle,
thrusting, watch the clouds as you climb,
then you could terrify the East Coast
by flying beach tree height at breakfast time…
You think I am so angry, so bad temper. Good morning, class, can you wake up now, please?
