They came to this
island called Borneo,
The biggest land mass
in this archipelago
Some are treated as
friends, some as foe,
But the colour is the
same if you prickle our toes,
//
Running away from
Japanese soldiers,
They get chased down
like cockroaches,
Some were harboured
by villagers,
And their stories
continue with sons and daughters,
//
As war ended, peace
came,
For a moment the
world seemed sane,
Which land was home,
they had to ascertain,
But to allow them to
stay is what is humane,
//
Not everything in
history was pretty,
But Sarawakians love
to claim stories of unity,
While some people can
claim mixed ancestry,
Let’s not lie; some
places are segregated in Kuching City,
//
Towards Carpenter
Street you make your turn,
Look at the art,
there’s something to learn,
It’s great to see
culture integrate as descendants,
Under the gaze, of
red lanterns