Hi everyone, I need a little help with my poetry recital! It's Missing by Alfian Sa'at. Just wondering, what are some of the considerations i must have when reciting this poem? How do i embody this speaker's persona into my performance? Somehow i just manage sound extremely stiff and horrid. Thank you! It's below:
Missing by Alfian Sa'at He go to school. Never come back. I make police report. Newspaper, Crime Watch. They even put his picture, He and the other boy, On poster, with reward From fast-food restaurant.
I ask from the RC man: Can I have it from the Lift lobby noticeboard. He give me and also say sorry. I have it in my bedroom. Every morning with half- Open eyes I remind myself My son: the one on the left.
Got calls come in once. Say they saw him in Penang, selling videos. Or in Bangkok, begging. Child prostitute they say. Sometimes no voice at all. Hello? Hello? Who is this? I am your son. Then hang up.
So many things to remember. His school is still there. I walk to it sometimes; Pretend I am him. Praying come kidnap me Take me away now. Got one artist try to draw My son's grown-up face.
I ask him draw one For every year. He say cannot. Got one time I was on TV. Crying, with schoolbag on my lap. Keep saying, good boy, always help me Do housework. Now I say let me Do the housework. Let me wake up To the mess he left behind.
Top answer
Hi For me, it is like a person drowning. In each verse, the speaker manages to put her head above the waves but, by the last line of each verse, she is sinking again At the last line, it is difficult: does the mother blame her son for walking out - or blame herself? Maybe she sees some hope for her life, but it's not clear ...
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For me, it is like a person drowning. In each verse, the speaker manages to put her head above the waves but, by the last line of each verse, she is sinking again
At the last line, it is difficult: does the mother blame her son for walking out - or blame herself? Maybe she sees some hope for her life, but it's not clear ...