Buai laju-laju
Sampai pokok sena
Apa dalam baju
Sekuntum bunga cina

Literal English translation:

1.0 Introduction
The pantun (pronounced “pun-tone”) is believed to be uniquely Malay in origin. It is the most popular Malay traditional poetry genre and is still very much alive today, playing important roles at traditional events like weddings and other formal functions, especially in Malaysia and Indonesia. Many old-age pantuns are learned by heart and can be fluently quoted by the Malays.

Taken from this website:

‘Many old-age pantuns are learned by heart and can be fluently quoted by the Malays.’

Me and Mr. Z can still recite most of the old pantuns now, so I guess that is good news and proved that above sentence right. However, from my experience tuitioning a few standard 6 students, they have not heard many of the old pantuns, and a few could recite any. If I can recall correctly, I was already pretty well-versed in traditional pantun in my primary school days.

I do not know whether this is just a one-off case, or it is the norm among the standard 6 kids nowadays. I mean, it’s bad enough we have no idea whatsoever of the more complex art of the traditional Malay culture; if we can’t even expose a ‘4 lined-poetry’ to kids, I do not know what hope there is to retain the Malay cuture.

Dua tiga kucing berlari
Mana nak sama si kucing belang
Dua tiga boleh kucari
Mana nak sama cik adik seorang

Literal English translation:

Timang tinggi-tinggi
Sampai cucur atap
Belum tumbuh gigi
Sudah pandai baca kitab

Literal English translation:

Nasi lemah buah bidara
Sayang selasih hamda lurutkan
Buang emak buang saudara
Kerana kasih hamba turutkan

Literal English translation:

Pucuk pauh delima batu
Anak sembilang di tapak tangan
Sungguh jauh beribu batu
Hilang di mata di hati jangan

Literal English translation:

Dalam semak ada duri
Ayam kuning membuat sarang
Orang tamak selalu rugi
Seperti anjing dengan bayang-bayang

Literal English translation:

Pisang emas dibawa belayar
Masak sebiji di atas peti
Hutang emas boleh dibayar
Hutang budi dibawa mati

Literal English translation:

Kalau ada sumur di ladang
Boleh saya menumpang mandi
Kalau ada umur yang panjang
Boleh kita berjumpa lagi

Literal English translation:

If there is a pond in the field,
May I please take a dip,
If we are granted a long life,
Perhaps we can meet again.

Poetic English Translation:
In progress

Sorong papan tarik papan
Buah keranji dalam perahu
Suruh makan saya makan
Suruh mengaji tak tahu

Literal English translation:
Push the wood, pull the wood
Keranji fruit in the boat
If you ask me to eat, I will eat
If you ask me to read, I don’t know.

Poetic Englis Translation:
In progress