Dr Wan Azizah (left) and Raja Ahmad Aminullah during the launch of ‘Continuum’.
A COLLECTION of English poems with a Malay touch from poet, author and cultural activist Raja Ahmad Aminullah Raja Abdullah has been released.
Titled Continuum, the book of poems, he said, were mostly based on his feelings and life experiences.
Raja Ahmad Aminullah read three of his poems at the launch of the book by Bandar Tun Razak MP Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
The poet said all the poems were close to his heart as they were about certain individuals in his life.
“Most of my books are in the national language but this book consists of English poems that contain about 20% of Bahasa Malaysia words,” he said, adding that some of the poems were translated from Malay to English.
Among those who attended the launch of Continuum were Biblio Press founder Kiridaren Jayakumar and national laureate Muhammad Haji Salleh.
Biblio Press is the publisher of Continuum.
“Raja Ahmad is one of the most empathetic and understanding persons one can ever meet.
“Each time we have a conversation, I learn beautiful and meaningful lessons,” said Kiridaren.
On Continuum, Muhammad said Raja Ahmad Aminullah is different from other poets.
“Usually, most poems revolve around themes like love, affection, envy and revenge but Raja Ahmad has always been different.
“Computers and technology cannot create what poets do, so we should all appreciate poets and writers as poetry can invoke feelings and emotions in the reader,” added Muhammad.
Sharing her thoughts on the book, Dr Wan Azizah, who is also the wife of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, said readers would gain strength by reading the poems.
“Many of the feelings described are what some of us have experienced but we usually keep it to ourselves.
“Poetry is a way to express these feelings,” added Dr Wan Azizah, who also signed 10 copies of Continuum.
