Arisa Khalid, Malaysia's National Honour, September 2026
Arisa Khalid wrote the highest-scoring poem from Malaysia in the Writory International Poetry Contest, September 2026: Tank, scored 75 out of 100 by the blind judging panel across five published criteria. The poem was read in English (Latin script).
Tank
I see their lips move. Their voices don’t reach me. The glass looks shiny today. But I stay still. I stretch my neck. The fish keep swimming. There's only sand on my tongue. Nothing more. Do I wave my hand? Flutter my eyes? Which seaweed wrap looks more attractive? Am I attractive? Is my charred skin alarming? Are my fins nauseating? Even if you speak, you don’t talk to me. Then, the fake coral crumbles. The sun yawns on cue. The other fish have vanished. Only one pair of legs can be heard. The Boss is walking up to me. Her teeth sharp, her smile bare. It’s time for bed, dear. I obey, and let her near. Soon, my muffled lullaby starts again. The chemicals settle. Maybe one day, I can change. The bubbles rise then stop.
Every country's leading poet each month is named on the September 2026 National Honours. The contest is open to poets in Malaysia and everywhere else: enter the current round, and every poem receives a score out of 100 and a certificate.