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 passesd

they to brave the horrendous flood

in the water all the time

between the bloated carcasses

and tiny chips of tree barks

desperately looking for their son's

albino buffalo that was never found

They were born in the midst of hardship

and grew up without a sigh or a complaint

now they are in the kitchen,

making jokes while rolling their cigarette leaves

by Latif Mohidin

translated by Salleh Ben Joned