This poem was made by Maz Leon, my college friend, my senior, the popular and young Indonesian poets in his circle lol. It was originally made in Bahasa Indonesia but it was translated into English by me for our English Club bulletin board at college. This poem was dedicated to commemorate one of the well-known woman figures in Indonesia, Raden Ajeng Kartini, which was celebrated every April 21st.
Call Me Kartini
© 2015 Maz Leon & Katarina Yuri
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| We do not own the illustration. |
The piece of past – I am
The voice that keeps
timing – I am
The ordinary girl – I
am
Kartini – call me by
that name
For my ripples of
weeping
Uncertainly keeps
falling
Then it is written to
you poignantly
Have you ever missed
or only just kissed?
No, I’m naked still
In mother’s womb that
is quiet eternally
But listen please,
Listen to this
singing scream
Just a name – I am
Who is called on a
period of time
Who for a moment does
sorrow squeal through a quill
Now Kartini is just
memory
My piece of letter is
hung in agony
I don’t know
Even though the light
stays still
This desire with the
whole hands of mine is prepared for a reason
Not for doing nothing
Not for raving
Also not for lively
pretending
Be the gleam which is
calming
Let the dark be
exuviated, but you stay surely strong
May you hear them
In every kind of
shapes
Kartini – call me by
that name
This quiet singing
belongs to me
