Courtesy of Madam K, SMAMAM, Perak

1. In The Midst of
Hardship
By Latiff Mohidin

2. At dawn they returned home
Stanza 1 their soaky clothes torn
and approached the stove
their limbs marked by scratches
their legs full of wounds
but on their brows
there was no sign of despair
Literal Meaning
• The family returns home Figurative Meaning
early in the morning, soaked • As we journey through life,
to the skin. we may experience situations
• They have scratches and that are painful and
wounds on their hands and challenging.
legs. • Despite these challenges, we
• They do not look depressed should not despair.
or disturbed after what they • We should face hardships
have just gone through. with courage.

3. The whole day and night just passed
Stanza 2 they had to brave the horrendous flood
in the water all the time
between bloated carcasses
and tiny chips of tiny barks
desperately looking for their son’s
Literal Meaning albino buffalo that was never found
• They have been out the
whole day and night.
Figurative Meaning
• They have trudged through • Our journey through life may
the floodwater which is full be troubled and we may face
of twigs, branches and dead obstacles and tragic losses
animals. along the way.
• They are looking for their
son’s albino buffalo.
• However, they do not find it.

4. They were born amidst hardship
Stanza 3 and grew up without a sigh or a
complaint
now they are in the kitchen, making
jokes while rolling their cigarette
leaves
Literal Meaning Figurative Meaning
• Although they have been • We may be born in to a life
poor from birth and have of hardship, but that does
experienced a lot of not mean that we should live
hardships, they have grown in despair.
up without regrets. • We should learn how to cope
• They are now relaxing in the with the difficulties we face,
kitchen, cracking jokes and instead of dwelling too much
preparing to have a smoke. on them

5. Vocabulary of the Poem

6. Dawn
early in the morning:
Subuh
Eg: We must start
working at dawn.

7. torn
• Pull apart into pieces : terkoyak
• Torn handkerchief

8. Soaky : Completely wet

9. Straches- cut or sores on
limbs=kesan calar

10. Wounds-Luka

11. Brows/forehead- Dahi

12. Despair - Kecewa

13. Horrendous = terrible - dashyat

14. Bloated carcasses- diselubungi
bangkai

15. Albino buffalo=animals with unusual
genetic condition