“The Island”

By Sitor Situmorang

And the sea is always present.
The abode of days, moons and centuries.
The presence of the flood in earth’s bowels
under the sea
a crawling forest of creation
book without alphabet
the island kingdom of the animals
equator’s tides, filling
the ancient sailor’s bones
in the coral fortress
of a wrecked ship
footprints of approaching century
the messenger seagulls
in the mist of dawn

the omnipresence of the sea
rainbow gate of the poles
sea within sea
sea under sea
sea above the sea

the omnipresent sea and you

“Me”

By Chairil Anwar

When my time comes
I want to hear no one’s cries
Nor yours either

Away with all who cry!

Here I am, a wild beast
Driven out of the herd

Bullets may pierce my skin
But I’ll keep on,
Carrying forward my wounds and my pain,
Attacking,
Attacking

Until suffering disappears
And I won’t care anymore

I want to live
another thousand years

“Willingness”

By Chairil Anwar

If you like I’ll take you back
With all my heart.

I’m still alone.

I know you’re not what you were,
Like a flower pulled into parts.

Don’t crawl! Stare at me bravely.

If you like I’ll take you back
For myself, but
I won’t share even with a mirror.

“The Beach”

By Sitor Situmorang

Beyond Tampaksiring and Ubud
the ocean
rolls over blue space
washing

ashes of cremation
off the garland of skulls
on the tantric beach of Bali

off the crowning sun
of Kuta’s sunset

the supreme moksa of Durga
in the bronze of my body
surfriding on currents
of bliss.

“I Want”

By Sapardi Djoko Damono

I want to love you simply
In words not spoken:

Tinder to the flame which
transforms it to ash

I want to love you simply
In signs not expressed:

Clouds to the rain which make
them evanesce

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References

Anwar, Chairil. “Me.” The Voice of the Night: Complete Poetry and Prose of Chairil Anwar, translated by Burton Raffel. Ohio University Press, 1993.

Anwar, Chairil. “Willingness.” The Voice of the Night: Complete Poetry and Prose of Chairil Anwar, translated by Burton Raffel. Ohio University Press, 1993.

Damono, Sapardi Djoko. “I Want.” Before Dawn, translated by John H. McGlynn. The Lontar Foundation / UBC Press, 2012.

Situmorang, Sitor. “The Beach.” The Rites of the Bali Aga: Poems, Metafor Intermedia Indonesia, University of Michigan, 2001.

Situmorang, Sitor. “The Island.” The Rites of the Bali Aga: Poems, Metafor Intermedia Indonesia, University of Michigan, 2001.