Malaysiana - At The Kapit Jungle Produce Market Poem by john tiong chunghoo

the chopped up boa
chunk and chunk
of floral leather
geometric design
of a forest digested

smooth and thinly oiled
each log is a thick
pinkish cold proof of life

the forest was a haven
for the boa that had slithered
its length and breath,
to come out a tough
and marvellous piece
of its habitat

the samba deer stares down
at its own cut out body parts
bleary eyed, otherwise as good as alive

its flesh is a bastion of robust health
tissues that like the boa's
had digested the forest
to reveal its magic forces

its oily shiny brown hair
with traces of yellow
is also a thick jungle of vigour

the animal though
is now chunk after chunk
of heartchilling flesh
soon to greet pots and pans of buyers

i coldly marvel at the ability
of the forest to give rise to
such an admirable velvety ecology
which sadly will be lost at the hands
of its reckless neighbours

people who despite warnings
from the heavens, continue to
snarl earth of its green
leaving patches and patches
of concrete jungles, polluted air and
a near ecological disaster