Sea-Gypsy River Poem by Qulsoum Zaidi

I went with my family to Langkawi in Malaysia, and we took a boat ride through the mangrove swamps. In this poem I wrote down all that I saw and felt.

Warm golden sand moulds countless feet,
Salty waves caress your every heart beat.
Shiny boat metal fights blazing sun rays,
A struggle of years of eternal days.

The lonely sea winds blow ghostly lullabies,
The boat’s response rock-trots on high tides.
Alternate starts lead to a long journey,
Black tied seagulls fly appointed as the attorney.

Sea-gypsy by birth and employee by duty,
They lead foreign people with noses far too snooty.
Bajao baskets are thrown with hopes of a catch,
Who knows what will swim to snack a quick snatch.

The line of a curve imprints snowy floats,
Return is important for discovery and notes.
Young yellow faces soak in all the fun,
Fatty old men wheeze as if on a run.

A shout from the prow brings people to see,
Luscious green mangroves so precious to me.
Time passes by with the changes in life,
Yet memories will remain through sadness and strife.