An Emerald Hill By The Sea

“This collection of nature poems is resonant and appealing. They record lyrically the beauty of the landscape of USM campus that is just an emerald at the edge of the straits, with dense trees hundreds of years old, little enchanting slopes, and valleys adorned with plants, as well as clear, clean lakes and flowing waters. Most interestingly this is expressed through moods of the months and seasons of an equatorial climate. All the more so, when these poems are accompanied by sketches which are also captivating.” Priv.-Doz. Dr. Arndt Graf Department of the Languages and Cultures of Southeast Asia Asia-Africa-Institute University of Hamburg “Such magnificent poems that make one want to stay in this campus! Such a rich nature that can be nothing else than an invitation to study and to find the multitude of ideas.” Monique Lajoubert Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris “… translators … let the poets’ words bloom and sing. My good friends, Md. Salleh Yaapar and Lalita Sinha, have lent their exceptional talents to these poems. I am sure the beauty of their rendering will carry these poems beyond the shores of Penang and Malaysia.” Muhammad Haji Salleh