stranger on a bus

our paths crossed again just two days ago.. for a stranger, i've seen him more times than i can remember. he hasn't changed much over the years since i first saw him, when he alighted the Sri Jaya #13 bus from Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka that took us to town centre. that petite frame, that bushy silver beard, the simple get-up, a nondescript tote, you know it's him. i was probably 13 or 14 then, and he was 57, and in a week's time, he will be 77. still as feisty as ever.

i think this was the poem that got him into trouble during the Bersih 2.0 rally -- it obviously did not go down well with the authority (no matter what i think they should have accorded him with more respect). alas, my BM is super rusty so many of those lines went over my head. oh he got on facebook not long after B2.0 (here). Go Like his page if you want a dose of BM puisi now and again to remind you how inadequate your grasp of the language is haha.. or if you truly can enjoy Malay poetry, my hat's off to you.

so anyways, it was on Sunday at the Petronas Philharmonic Hall that i saw the familiar figure making his down the aisle to get to his seat. Pak Samad!, i called out to him in my head, hi sir, you are.. erm.. could I err.. have your autograph? #fail

here's an early happy birthday wish to you, sir: may your mind continue to be as clear as a blue sky day, may your words continue to clearly echo the spirit of the nation, may you live a long good life!

Dunia kita sekarang rata,
Thomas L. Friedman yang kata.
Di Malaysia lain congaknya:
Undi luar nak disula,
undi dalam silap mata.
A. Samad Said, Sasterawan Nusantara