The music of Johor Bahru
is sitar strings
plying breezes
off the South China Sea,
fanning jasmine and lemongrass
across verandas.
The music of Johor Bahru
is rice pots popping,
a kompang rhythm,
cashews softening in coconut and ghee,
nasi biryani, beef satay,
pandan leaves, sizzling like bees.
The music of Johor Bahru
is rafflesia’s red blare,
whining Aiyahs. Hornbills
humming, monitor lizards
clicking at chickens
in the street.
The music of Johor Bahru
is murmured Assalam Allaikum,
it is Shanti, it is peace.
It is macaques in mangosteen
trees chucking fruit,
hee, hee, hee.
It’s the music of Malays
tapping rubber trees,
Chinese miners, British
colonizers beating tin into profit,
before the Japanese invasion
captured your father.
The music of Johor Bahru
is moon orchids, tiger orchids
grafted to coral trees.
It is sea eagles’ barking,
prawn paste bubbling,
your cumin-scented skin.
The music of Johor Bahru
is succulent jungle drumming
our cradle song,
your sarong swinging
our babies
between your knees.
Photo by Afifi Zulkifle on Unsplash
