My own translation of A. Samad Said's Poem

A. Samad Said's Poem - Unggun Bersih



Semakin lara kita didera bara—
kita laungkan juga pesan merdeka:
Demokrasi sebenderang mentari
sehasrat hajat semurni harga diri.


Lama resah kita—demokrasi luka;
lama duka kita—demokrasi lara.
Demokrasi yang angkuh, kita cemuhi;
suara bebas yang utuh, kita idami!


Dua abad lalu Sam Adams berseru:
(di Boston dijirus teh ke laut biru):
Tak diperlu gempita sorak yang gebu,
diperlu hanya unggun api yang syahdu.
Kini menyalalah unggun sakti itu;
kini merebaklah nyala unggun itu.

Translation by self (with the help of a malay-english dictionary)

The more ill caused through this abused warmth

The more will the message of independence be invoked:

Democracy shining as bright as the sun

Desiring a wish for a sincere self-esteem.

Long have we fret-democracy wounded

Long have we mourned-democracy sickens

The arrogant democracy is what we disgust;

The free voices that are intact is what we desire!

Two decades ago, Sam Adams cried :

(In Boston, tea was sprayed to the deep blue sea) :

There is no need to amplify the fluffy cheers,

What is needed is the bank of fire which is calm.

Now, that bank of magic will light ;

Now, that lighted bank will spread.