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The king and the steps to the sky
dwell on the altar of eternity
sipping spices from Malay land
the whole life is ordered
to connect dreams
until the centuries after kayat finished

Worshipers of carcasses carved into stone walls
swallow a bag of spices
fertilize ancestral vows
remain upright in the chambers of eternity

But spices are not just dream friends
the dining table has long been beating the dendang
invites the tongue to dance
and sent a heaven-smelling sigh
burning in the nobleman's bed

Ramses does not stand alone
as the aroma from Malay
he composed many stories
and the travelers erect the top of their nose:
Ibn Sina
Marcopolo
Columbus
until Vasco da Gama
tracing the trail on the silk route

Then the battleships visit
long nosed soldiers
exchange spices for blood
behind gold and silver plates
they rasped gunpowder
Lorong Asa, July 2019

Note: Kayat = the saga/tale.

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Kayat Rempah

Raja dan anak tangga menuju langit
diam di altar keabadian
menghirup rempah dari tanah Melayu
nyawa yang utuh tertata
untuk menyambung mimpi
sampai berabad-abad setelah kayat tamat

Pemuja bangkai yang terpahat di dinding batu
menelan berkarung rempah
menyubur sumpah leluhur
tetap tegak di bilik keabadian

Tapi rempah tak hanya jadi teman mimpi
meja makan telah lama menabuh dendang
mengajak lidah menari
dan mengirim desah beraroma surga
yang membara di ranjang bangsawan

Ramses tak berdiri sendiri
sebagaimana aroma dari Melayu
ia merangkai banyak cerita
dan para pengelana tegak puncak hidungnya:
Ibnu Sina
Marcopolo
Columbus
sampai Vasco da Gama
memacak jejak di jalur sutra

Lalu kapal perang bertandang
para tentara berhidung panjang
menukar rempah dengan darah
di balik lempeng emas dan perak
mereka serak bubuk mesiu
Lorong Asa, Juli 2019

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