Afendi & His Cows

My friend Afendi recalls herding his family’s seven or eight cows as a child, guiding them to grazing fields and finding peaceful moments lying on tree trunks.

My friend Afendi recalls herding his family’s seven or eight cows as a child, guiding them to grazing fields and finding peaceful moments lying on tree trunks. Despite his love for them, their mischief often tested his patience. Among them were memorable names like Mas, Merah, and Bapak. 🌾🐄✨

(He found out that I write poems not just for human beings but for animals too. So he requested a poem from me about his dear cows, and here it is! 🤩)

Afendi & His Cows

Gentle guardians of the pastoral lands,
Given to me to care, feed, and defend;
Heifer, bull, calf in a herd of seven.

Daily I bring them to the blooming pastures
As Merah, Mas, and Bapak lead the others
They graze slowly in the emerald stretches.

While they moo to one another happily,
I lie down on a trunk of a fallen tree
Basking in my solitude contentedly.

As much as I love them, they annoy me too!
Especially the ones who escape from the group;
I threaten those that return by waving my shoe.

This bunch of bovine, I’ll always remember;
In my heart they remain - then, now, forever.

Thank you for spending a bit of time reading my poetry. It means a lot to me. 🩷