Monday 6 October 2008

Sixty years old today

At 60 years old, the journey seemed almost over. But why don't I feel the age? I felt I had just left my beloved school, just retired from the Malaysian Army and still feeling being a part of it. Memories, though many are missing, are still fresh in my mind. Hard to accept but that's the truth. We cannot fool ourselves. The mind may be young but the body is not - the wrinkles, the pain and aches, failing eye sight, hard of hearing, less strength and a hoard of other ailments speak for themselves. But I am thankful to Allah S.W.T in granting me a life this long and blessed with the many good things in life - a loyal wife, two children and four beautiful and bubbly grandchildren. I couldn't ask for more. Syukur Alhamdulillah. Here's a poem I wrote today for my schoolmates & classmates of the 60s/70s in Tanjong Lobang School, Miri, Sarawak. Growing Old Thinning hairs graying The skins wrinkling Eyesight failing Hard of hearing The springy walks missing Ankles and knees buckling The pains worrying O God! Why now coming? Are these the natural thing? That we all must be suffering Or had we been neglecting The basic principles of living? Sixty is more than half-way Thankful we’ve come to see today Ever grateful to have met all of you And to reminisce the TLS days so true Should I go before you Remember me with a smile No tears please just a sincere smile to keep me company in my final mile

12 comments:

  1. Happy birthday Tuan!

    Enjoy your golden years. You have done enough for the nation. We are all here, enjoying the fruits of your labor, dedication, blood and sweat.

    Agi Idup, Tuan!

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  2. Hanafi,

    Thank you. Very kind of you.

    Rizal Abdullah

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  3. "mati luhur tak berkubur
    memutuskan jiwa meninggalkan nama
    menjadi awan di angkasa
    menjadi buih di lautan
    semerbak harum di angkasa."
    [puisi ini tercetak di arca
    Pahlawan Revolusi Indonesia
    memorial Bung Hatta Bukit Tinggi
    SumBar]

    "what is this life if,full of care,we have no time to stand and stare."
    [poem by William Henry Davies,Welsh Poet]

    and so,Happy Birthday to you.Semoga Allah sentiasa memberkati,amin.

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  4. Ahmad Nizam,

    Thank you for the beautiful poem and greeting.


    Rizal Abdullah

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  5. Happy birthday to you Robert. Just sit back and relax now. You have done more than enough for the nation. Keep on blogging...

    David

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  6. i am an ex- Sargeant from 91 RKPT (KORRIS) and i would like to say something to you Sir....

    THE GOLDEN YEARS HAVE COME AT LAST,

    I CANNOT SEE, I CANNOT PEE

    I CANNOT CHEW, I CANNOT SCREW

    MY MEMORY SHRINKS, MY HEARING STINKS,

    NO SENSE OF SMELL, I LOOK LIKE HELL,

    MY BODY'S DROOPING, GOT TROBLE POOPING.

    THE GOLDEN YEARS HAVE COME AT LAST,

    THE GOLDEN YEARS CAN KISS MY ASS

    Happy Birthday Sir and Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban !

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  7. Do not hasten the final mile. You have years to go and enjoy your grandchildren.

    I wish you a fine and full life and long enough to even see your grandchildren graduating from uni.

    You deserve it after giving so much to your country and your people.

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  8. Chang Yi,

    Thank you for visiting my blog.

    That poem is just a test for my power of expression. My dream is to see my grandchildren succeed in life and raise their own families.

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  9. Happy birthday sir. intent to link your blog to my blog if permitted. We're at the same frequency. warrior like you have to exposed to the public.
    http://min-def.blogspot.com/

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  10. Admin,

    Thank you for the birthday wish. You are most welcome to link yourself to my blog. I will do the same to yours if I may.

    Who is actually behind this blog? Are you still serving?

    ReplyDelete
  11. hhappy birthday tuan... di dalam meniti hari2 mendatang sebagai warga emas sebenarnya tuan di antara butir2 mutiara bangsa yang banyak berkorban demi kesejahteraan umat. Sebagai rakan seperjuangan saya rasa bertanggungjawab untuk menyebarkan koleksi pengalaman tuan kepada pengunjung alam siber supaya generasi hari ini tahu sejarah perjuangan ATM. Dengan ini izinkan saya menjadikan blog tuan ini sebagai link kepada blog saya di -http://min-def.blogspot.com/
    Terima kasih.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Admin,
    Thank you. You are most welcomed to link my blog to yours.

    May I know who is actually behind this blog? Do I know you in person?

    ReplyDelete