IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIP

In The Midst of Hardship by Latiff Mohidin

At dawn they returned home

their soaky clothes torn

and approached the stove

their limbs marked by scratches

their legs full of wounds

but in their brows

there were no sign of despair

The whole night and day just passed

They had to brave the horrendous flood

in the water all the time

between bloated carcasses

and tiny chips of tree barks

desparately looking for their son's

albino buffallo that was never found

They were born admist hardship

and grew without a sigh or a complaint

now they are in the kitchen, making

jokes while rolling over their ciggarate leaves

SYNOPSIS (OVERALL)

In this poem, the poet tells of the situation of a farmer and his family. They come back at dawn after being out in the floodwater for a day and night. They are looking for their albino buffalo. They come back wet and hurt but they do not show any despair. They have been born into a life of hardship and have never complained. Now, they are in the kitchen and they joke and talk while preparing to relax with a smoke.

PARAPHRASE OF THE POEM

STANZA 1

The villagers returned home at daybreak and their clothes were torn and wet. they walked over the stove. they had scratches on their hands and their legs were full of cuts. However, they did not knit their brows to show despair.

STANZA 2

The villagers had spent a whole day and night walking through the horrible floodwater. the water was full of broken twigs, pieces of tree barks and bloated animal carcasses. They had been desperately looking for their son's albino buffalo. However they did not find it.

STANZA 3

The villagers had been born into a hard life and yet, they grew up without a sigh or complaint. Now, after that difficult day and night, they are laughing and exchanging jokes and preparing to relax with a smoke in the kitchen.

THEME

1. Life's hardship and stoicism in life.

2. Accepting, with a positive outlook, circumstances that cannot be changed.

3. Family love and care.

MORAL VALUES

1. We should learn to accept problems in life with a positive outlook.

2. We must attempt to face and solve problems.

3. Failure is part of growing up.

4. Do not despair in the face of failure.