Arisa Khalid, Malaysia's National Honour
September 2026
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.
Score: 75 out of 100.
A quietly unsettling dissociation poem with a distinct voice and a well-judged ending, held back by flat, under-worked diction and uneven control.
Read the September 2026 National Honours