Ahlan ya Ramadhan...

Rindunya pada Ramadhan
pada sejuk sebelum subuh
sewaktu dulu kita bersahur
adakala kita terlena di meja
sedang mama leka memasak aneka juadah
pembuka selera anak-anak yang kelopak mata masing-masing
masih melekat kuat
sehingga terdengar bunyi azan
"tak apa..." kata mama, "makan cepat-cepat"
sedang mama hanya melihat dan meneguk air liur saja

Rindunya pada Ramadhan
pada pedih perut di waktu tengahari
diiringi kering tekak hingga ke petang
"itulah rasanya orang miskin yang tak punya apa-apa
untuk dimakan atau diminum," kata mama
"bersyukurlah atas apa jua nikmat yang Allah beri kepada kita,
kerana ia masih lebih baik dari kebanyakan orang yang malang"
dan kita pun terus berusaha berlatih menahan kesabaran

Rindunya pada Ramadhan
pada keresahan di penghujung hari
saat penantian waktu berbuka
kita masing-masing begitu teruja
makanan dan minuman terhidang di atas meja
dan kita setia menadah tangan untuk membaca do'a berbuka
walaupun azan hanya akan berkumandang sepuluh minit lagi
namun kita tak peduli, terus menanti
sungguhpun kekadang "terlupa" lalu "ter"minum air
yang "berpeluh-peluh" di luar gelas yang menunggu kita

Rindunya pada Ramadhan
pada lunak bacaan Qur'an di malam hari
di radio-radio dan TV
juga suara mama memecah sunyi
menjerit memanggil kita turut mengaji - "bertadarrus"
juga rindu pada suara Imam di Makkah
pada jam 3-4 pagi semasa siaran langsung
solat tarawih dari Makkah di kaca TV
sungguh, hanya pada bulan inilah pun
kita lama sedikit di tikar sejadah...

Rindunya pada Ramadhan
berdebar-debar hatiku menanti ketibaannya lagi
seumpama kekasih yang sudah lama takku temui
menitis air mata dan sebak dadaku
mengharapkan ketibaannya kali ini
dan mengharapkan panjangnya umurku
serta keizinan Allah agar dapat kami bertemu kembali

Rinduku padamu Ramadhan
seumpama pungguk merindukan bulan.

Cars - Pixar's movie in the classroom

Here's another movie that I've used in my elementary English classroom. The activities have been based on the students' previous lessons which covered the vocabulary related to towns, geographical features, transport, adjectives, opposite adjectives and comparative adjectives.

We began the class by doing a bit of an "ice-breaking" activity with some of the characters or names that the students will encounter in the movie - a word search activity from http://www.printables4kids.com/. Some names belong to the characters and some are the names of places around the town and such.

Right before watching the movie, the students were briefed on the while-watching tasks.

Here's the content of the worksheet I've built. Ideally the content should be placed in a table format. Teachers need to prepare the pictures of these characters for the students to cut and paste. Google Images happened to be a good source for me when I was looking for them!


Cars by Pixar - While-watching tasks.

1. Who’s who?

Instruction: Work in pairs. While watching, complete this summary of the characters in the movie. Then, paste the correct picture to match each text.

a. Lightning McQueen is a young r_ _ _ c_ _. He is poised to become the youngest car ever to win the P_ _ _ _ _ Cup Championship.

b. Mater is a rusty t_ _ - t _ _ _ _. Mater runs Tow-Mater T _ _ _ _ _ and S _ _ _ _ _ _ and manages the local impound lot.

c. Sally is a beautiful 2002 Porsche 911. She is the town a_ _ _ _ _ _ _ and also the owner of C _ _ _ Cone M _ _ _ _.

d. Doc Hudson is a 19_ _ Hudson H _ _ _ _ _, a country d_ _ _ _ _ who runs the local "medical clinic" (mechanic shop) in the town. He is also the town’s M_ _ _ _.

e. Mack is a 19_ _ Mack S_ _ _ _ -L_ _ _ _ and McQueen's trusted driver. He pulls McQueen’s t_ _ _ _ _ _ to his races.

f. Ramone is a 1959 Impala low-rider who owns and operates Ramone's H_ _ _ _ of B _ _ _ A _ _ , the local custom body and paint shop.

g. Flo is a 1950's show car. She runs the local diner, Flo's _-_ Cafe, the only _ _ _ station for miles around. She’s married to Ramone.

h. The K_ _ _, Strip Weathers, is a 1970 Plymouth S_ _ _ _ b _ _ _ and a racing legend. He has won more P_ _ _ _ _ Cup races than any other cars in history. He is going to retire at the end of the season and Lightning McQueen aims to fill his treads.


Source of info and content:
http://www.meeko.org/disney/cars/Cast.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Cars_characters


2. What is the name of the town featured in the movie?

________________________________________________________


3. Name three geographical features you’ve seen in the movie.
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________



Ideally, discuss the answers to the while-watching questions with the students right after the movie. Then, students can be assigned with the post-movie tasks, either as a follow-up activity in the classroom, or as homework.


Post-movie tasks:


1. Write three adjectives to describe Radiator Spring before the new highway was built, and three more after it has been built.

Before After
i. i.
ii. ii.
iii. iii.

3. McQueen has changed a lot by the time he left the town, Radiator Spring. Compare McQueen to himself before the days he was in the town. Write three sentences. Use the comparative adjectives.
i.
ii.
iii.

If I had more time, I would have included singing the song "Our town" by James Taylor as an additional activity. That would be more fun!



I welcome feedback gearing at improving the activities related to this movie - meanwhile, have fun tinkering in your classroom!

Amusing...

1. Who got to be the co-pilot...

When we first got married, I would sit next to my husband, the driver.

When we got our first baby, I had to sit at the back to monitor the baby. As he grew up and walked and talked, I had to give in to his demand that he would sit in front, next to the driver. He reminded me of He-man's line - "I got the power!".

Then came the second baby. Initially the first-born occupied the front seat as usual, as I took care of the little one at the back seat. As the baby grew up, walked and talked, my elder son found out that he no longer holds the power, as he constantly would have to give in to the younger brother's demand that "he" has to have the front seat.

Amusing, how the young ones rule!


2. Spelling of names as they move across the world...

Here are some interesting names that have amused me...

Ahmad in Malaysia, Ahmed in Yemen and Akhmet in Kazakhstan.

Abu Bakar in Malaysia, Abu Bakr in Saudi but Boubacar in Mali.

Abdullah in Malaysia, Saudi and Yemen, but Abdoulaye in Mali.

Ali in most Muslim's countries but Alou in Mali.

Ibrahim in most countries, but Ibrahima in Guinea.

Interesting names of some of my remarkable students - those whom I would always remember.

HEART

1988-1993
Originally published in Geocities in 1999.

I

WAITING

Every minute in every day

Every moment in every way

is spent only on

waiting for YOU

Every thought during the days

Every dream at nights

is filled only

with images of YOU

I'm waiting for you because:

the sun does not smile

the rain does not cry

the moon does not show up

the breeze does not blow its kisses

since you're not around

Everything is cold

everything is dull

no longer the world beautiful

when you are not around

I'm wondering whether you're thinking of me

I'm waiting whether you'll be coming to me

I miss you, do you miss me too?

Mima Zohds


II
A POEM FOR MY LOVE

The sun shines brightly

the cool breeze caresses my cheeks

all the flowers are dancing

as if they are happy

The world seems beautiful

as it had never been before

and all of these changes

happen when I'm with you

Thank God for this most wonderful friend

who shines my life with his smile

Thank God for this very special friend

who has stolen my heart by showing he cares.

Mima Zohds

SOUL

1988-1993
Originally published in Geocities in 1999.


DALAM DIRI 1

Di persimpangan ini

aku terhenti

aku tertanya-tanya

ke mana aku nak pergi

Jalan yang kanan atau yang kiri

atau yang sedia terbentang di tengah-tengah

Jika ke kanan, pasti banyak tentangan,

Jika ke kiri, pasti aku tersesat,

Jika ke tengah, pasti tiada rintangan,

tetapi pastikah aku

tidak akan tersesat?

Mima Zohds

DALAM DIRI 2

Ustazah Siti Hajar pernah bercerita:

"Dunia ini ibarat pentas dan manusia adalah ibarat pelakon-pelakonnya. Satu hari nanti pentas ini akan digulung, dan setiap lakonan akan dihitung..."

Ustaz Nik Daud juga pernah mengajar:

"Manusia dijadikan Allah untuk menyembahNya. Kita lahir ke dunia dengan ikatan janji terhadapNya untuk menunaikan tanggungjawab sebagai Hamba dan Khalifah Allah di muka bumi ini..."

Abang Koji pun pernah mengingatkan:

"Islam memang menyuruh kita bersederhana tetapi itu tidaklah hermakna dalam menunaikan perintah Allah pun kita bersederhana, sesiapa yang berusaha melaksanakan hukumnya dengan lengkap dituduh "extreme"...

Kini hatiku pula berkata:

"Ah... tersilap konsep aku rupanya... bersederhana hanya dalam menunaikan perintah dan larangan Allah sahaja, sedang dalam hal lain tak pula aku ingat untuk bersikap sederhana. Berlakon... selama ini berlakon saja aku rupanya. Aku tak perasan pula peranan apa yang aku dah bawa, penjunjung titah atau pendurhaka? Apakah perananku sebagai Hamba dan Khalifah Allah telah aku jalankan dengan berkesan... yang patuh atau yang engkar? Yang meninggalkan rasa kasih atau rasa benci...pada Penghitung lakonanku?"

Mima Zohds

TAZKIRAH: Dari petang ke petang

Adakalanya

kita kurang meneliti ciptaan Tuhan

kita lupa Dia yang menjadikan

lalu kita angkuh dalam kehidupan

Adakalanya

kita terlupa bahawa kita adalah hambaNya

lantas kita pilih jalan sendiri

tanpa menghiraukan jalan yang disediakan

atas dasar 'kesederhanaan'

Zaman ini

zaman manusia kembali kepada agama

sebagai ad-din

tapi aku masih ketinggalan

kerana gagal menembusi tembok kehidupan.

Mima Zohds

LOVE

1988-1993
Originally published in Geocities in 1999.

SAJAK BUAT DIA 1

Bukan aku seorang penyanyi

Untukku dendangkan lagu-lagu sepi

(Sedih pilu)

Bukan pula aku seorang penyair

Untukku gubah kata-kata puitis

(puja rayu)

Bukan juga aku seorang pelukis

untukku coretkan warna-warna perasaanku

(tak menentu)

Aku hanya seorang perindu

yang hanya mampu berkirim salam di angin lalu

(buatmu).

A POEM FOR HIM 1

Too bad that I am not a singer

otherwise, I would sing those lonely songs

(sad emotion)

Neither am I a great poet

if it's so, I would compose some love sonnets

(pleading and worshipping)

Nor am I a great artist

or else, I would paint the colours of my heart on a canvas

(rickety)

I am just a poor dreamer

who keeps wishing that the wind

would whisper my love wishes

into your ears.

Mima Zohds

SAJAK BUAT DIA 2

Jika aku ini cermin

akan ku cermin ke dalam dirimu

untuk ku lihat hati budimu

Jika aku ini penyelam

akan ku selami lubuk hatimu

untuk ku ukur dalam kasihmu

Jika aku ini ikan

akan ku renangi lautan perasaanmu

untukku tahu jauh rindumu

Tapi aku hanyalah

seorang manusia sepi

yang setiap malam menunggu pagi

sambil bertanya pada diri

"Adakah matahari akan bersinar untukku lagi?"

A POEM FOR HIM 2

If I were a mirror

I would be able to reflect your inner thoughts

and I would know what's inside your mind

If I'm a diver

I would dive in the depth of your eyes

to find out how deep is your love for me

If I were a sea-creature

I would be roaming in the sea of your feelings

and see exactly how much you miss me

Unfortunately, I'm a plain loner

who would wait for the nights

to turn into days

and at the same time wondering

whether the sun would keep on shining

for me.

Mima Zohds

SAJAK BUAT DIA 3

Gembira

mendengar suaramu

di hujung sana

hati jadi lapang, riang,

dunia jadi terang, girang,

dan aku terus jiwang.

A POEM FOR HIM 3

So happy

to hear your voice

on the other side of line

my heart becomes light and cheerful

the world becomes bright and colourful

and I... have fallen deeper in love.

Mima Zohds

SPIRIT

1988-1993
Originally published in Geocities in 1999.


I
AKU SIANG-SIANG

Aku sepatutnya bersemangat waja

tapi aku siang-siang

bersemangat tahi ayam saja

Aku sepatutnya berjuang

menebus maruah bangsa

tapi aku siang-siang

sudah putus asa

Aku sepatutnya berusaha

mencapai kecemerlangan

tapi aku siang-siang

sudah bosan menghadapi cabaran

Aku sepatutnya terus mencuba

tapi aku siang-siang

kibar putih warna bendera

Aku sepatutnya

tapi aku siang-siang

aku mula tertanya-tanya

ke mana arahku akhirnya?

DEFEATED TOO EARLY

I'm supposed to be strong-willed

but I've been disheartened

too early beforehand

I'm supposed to be fighting

to regain the honour of my race

but I've been feeling discouraged

too early beforehand

I'm supposed to strive for excellence

but I've been feeling tired of facing the challenges

too early beforehand

I'm supposed to keep on trying

but I've been waving up the white flag

too early beforehand

I'm supposed to...

but I've been too early beforehand...

I'm beginning to wonder

where exactly am I heading to?

Mima Zohds

II
AKU DAN DAUN

Pagi, basah embun, segar hijau.

Tengahari, terik sinar mentari, kuning lesu.

Petang, tenang sepoi bayu, maut di pintu.

Malam, timpa hujan renyai,

selamat tinggal pohonku.

THE LEAVES AND I

Morning, damp, dew drops,

fresh and green.

Early afternoon, sweltering,

sun drenched, yellowish, comatose.

Late afternoon, gusty, breezy,

depleting, death knocking at the door.

Night, rainfall, it's drizzling,

goodbye my tree.

Mima Zohds

III

AS LONELY AS I AM

I never feel as lonely as I am

Nowhere to go to

Nobody to talk to

No group to whom I belong to

Where are my best friends

With whom I can spare my thoughts easily

to share my dreams,

my happiness and sorrows

No more laughing together

No more crying together

(I see... our togetherness is not forever)

Friends... greatest friends,

I do miss you like hell!

As lonely as I am,

Mima Zohds

Perjalanan

1988-1993

Originally published in Geocities in 1999

Dalam meniti sebuah perjalanan

tidak ada ertinya kita berpatah balik

mahu ataupun tidak

terpaksa juga kita memilih satu jalan

antara persimpangan demi persimpangan

dan dalam meneruskan perjalanan

kita akan temui manusia-manusia baru

dalam diri kita sendiri!

A journey would be meaningless

should we have to turn back

whether we like it or not

we got to choose one way

amongst the many junctions we come across

and as we continue along our journey

we will meet someone new

within ourselves!

MIMA ZOHDS

Once upon a time...

Alamak! Geocities is shutting down... and once upon a time, when I was so 'jiwang', I had written a lot of 'jiwa-jiwa' poems. Back in 1999, when I got so interested in the Net, I had self-taught myself on how to create a website with the help of Yahoo PageBuilder, Frontpage's "Help" pages and a few online buddies then. And guess what was the content? All of my 'jiwang' poems, of course - with translations, and background music! They're still available now at http://www.geocities.com/azimahmt/ but they won't be there anymore beginning October 26, I reckon.

And 'coz I'm a sentimental person and I've a failing memory (getting old, I suppose), now I have to copy all those "masterpiece" poems of mine (LOL- of course I'm being sarcastic to myself ;)) and move them here so I can remember all those days when I was just a shy and confused young girl who had kept my feelings to myself. :)