IN THE MIDST OF IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIPHARDSHIP

By: Latiff Mohidin

STANZA 1STANZA 1

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At dawn they returned home

At daybreak, the villagers finally came

home.

their soaky clothes torn

Their clothes were soaking wet and torn.

and approached the stove

They walked to the stove (maybe for warmth and because they  were hungry)

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their limbs marked by scratches

Their hands were covered with cuts and scratches

their legs full of wounds

Their legs had suffered a lot of wounds and injuries

but on their brows However, on their faces

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there was not a sign of despair

There was no look of hopelessness

STANZA 2STANZA 2

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The whole day and night just passed

They had endured the hardship of a whole day and night.

they had to brave the horrendous flood

They had to face the terrible flood after the storm.

in the water all the time

They were in the flood water all day and night.

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between bloated carcasses

They had to wade between the bloated and rotting carcasses of dead animals which died in the flood

and tiny chips of tree barks

and tiny chips that peeled from the barks of trees

desperately looking for their son’s

The villagers were frantically looking for their son’s albino buffalo

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albino buffalo that was never found

They could not find the albino buffalo

STANZA STANZA 33

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They were born amidst hardship

These tough people were born to a life of hardship and hard work.

and grew up without a sigh or a complaint

Strengthened by their hardship, they grew up without complaining about their difficult life

now they are in the kitchen, making

Now, at home, they are in the kitchen

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jokes while rolling their cigarette leaves

They are joking with each other as they roll their cigarettes.

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