Equal with a wide understanding of new critical theories, a pride of Malaysian literary roots and the insight of a practising poet, Profesor Muhammad returns to the varied and rich traditions of Malay literature -- to the oral as well as the chirographic and the printed. He contributes his perspective towards the study of the narrative hikayats, pantuns, and syairs. From their lines, words and nuances, he has unravelled concepts of authorship, text and genre that enlighten this dark territory of Malay poetics.