Gurindam (Jawi: ڬوريندام) is a type of irregular verse forms of traditional Malay poetry.[1][2][3] It is a combination of two clauses where the relative clause forms a line and is thus linked to the second line, or the main clause. Each pair of lines (stanza) provides complete ideas within the pair and has the same rhyme in its end. There is no limit on the number words per line and neither the rhythm per line is fixed.[4]
Although Gurindam looks similar with Syair which also have the same rhyme at the end of each stanza, it differs in the sense that it completes the message within the same stanza while Syair unfolding the message in several stanzas.[5] The first line of gurindam is known as syarat (protasis) and the second line is jawab (apodosis). In other words, the first line states a condition while the second line provides the answer.
One of the most well known literary works on Gurindam was the Gurindam Dua Belas (Twelve Gurindam) of Raja Ali Haji written in 1847. Below is the 5th clause of the famous 12 Gurindam:
Jika hendak mengenal orang berbangsa, Lihat kepada budi dan bahasa
Jika hendak mengenal orang yang berbahagia Sangat memeliharakan yang sia-sia
Jika hendak mengenal orang mulia Lihatlah kepada kelakuan dia
Jika hendak mengenal orang yang berilmu Bertanya dan belajar tiadalah jemu
Jika hendak mengenal orang yang berakal Di dalam dunia mengambil bekal
Jika hendak mengenal orang yang baik perangai Lihat pada ketika bercampur dengan orang ramai
If the well born you would identify
Look for their kindness and courtesy
Those who are happy and prosper
Waste and idleness do forswear
If the noble you would perceive
Look you at how they behave
If it's ones with knowledge you require
Of questions and learning they never tire
As for the wise, it's easy to tell
In this world, for the next they provide well
If the good natured are whom you seek,
When they're with company you must peek
References
^L. F. Brakel, M. Balfas, M. Taib Bin Osman, J. Gonda, B. Rangkuti, B. Lumbera, H. Kahler (1997). Literaturen (Asian Studies). Brill Academic Publishers. p. 140. ISBN978-90-04-04331-2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Raja Ali Haji (author), Aswandi Ariyoes (translator) (2002). Gurindam 12 = The twelve aphorism. Tanjungpinang : Yayasan Khazanah Melayu : Dinas Pariwisata Kepulauan Riau. p. 17. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)