What is Malaysia Day?

My child asks me

His brown hand in mine

So different from his father’s

Creamy yellow golden hue

My child is a coppery colour

He is unique, an Anak Malaysia

A reflection of this prism nation

His Kadazan Dusun heritage

With a sprinke of Bidayuh and Iban

Milk and honey mixed

With my Tamil Hitam Manis

When East and West blend

A spicy, hot, Masala Mix

This precious diversity

Culture, Race, Religion

Nothing but a curtain

That we pulled away

Swiftly and silently

Our love was stronger

Than the forces that

Tried to divide us

This is Malaysia, my child

This is your Motherland

A Rainbow of people

So what is Malaysia Day?

My child asks again

I pause, then I tell him

When I met your father

When East joined West

When Love conquered all

When we united as One

This is Malaysia Day.

Cover image by xandreaswork on Unsplash. The copyright of this piece belongs to the author of this literary work.  

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