Poem
Sapardi Djoko Damono
QUATRAINS
/1/I sent you a few words
ones that are now rare –
if they reach you one day,
hide them, there’s no way to understand me
/2/
the space that exists within a word
is like our home:
there are pictures, sounds, and gestures in it –
and yet we are forbidden to decipher it
/3/
for those who still believe in words:
silent is their surging core, pitch-dark is their heart of fire –
but when will we ever understand the sea?
and the eternal fire?
/4/
what do we find beyond words:
a flower garden? deep space?
in the garden, so many things are left unsaid
in space, so stark is the void
/5/
what else is left to cling on to? some words
insist on bursting through reality’s edge –
upon reaching the other shore, will it still be meaningful,
to you, everything I want to say?
/6/
in every word you read there are always
missing letters –
you will find them again someday
amidst thickets of memories.
© Translation: 2009, Hasif Amini and Sapardi Djoko Damono
Sajak-Sajak Empat Seuntai
Sajak-Sajak Empat Seuntai
/1/kukirim padamu beberapa patah kata
yang sudah langka –
jika suatu hari nanti mereka mencapaimu,
rahasiakan, sia-sia saja memahamiku
/2/
ruangan yang ada dalam sepatah kata
ternyata mirip rumah kita:
ada gambar, bunyi, dan gerak-gerik di sana –
hanya saja kita diharamkan menafsirkannya
/3/
bagi yang masih percaya pada kata:
diam pusat gejolaknya, padam inti kobarnya –
tapi kapan kita pernah memahami laut?
memahami api yang tak hendak surut?
/4/
apakah yang kita dapatkan di luar kata:
taman bunga? ruang angkasa?
di taman, begitu banyak yang tak tersampaikan
di angkasa, begitu hakiki makna kehampaan
/5/
apa lagi yang bisa ditahan? beberapa kata
bersikeras menerobos batas kenyataan –
setelah mencapai seberang, masihkah bermakna,
bagimu, segala yang ingin kusampaikan?
/6/
dalam setiap kata yang kaubaca selalu ada
hurung yang hilang –
kelak kau pasti akan kembali menemukannya
di sela-sela kenangan penuh ilalang
© 1989, Sapardi Djoko Damono
From: Hujan Bulan Juni
Publisher: Grasindo, Jakarta
From: Hujan Bulan Juni
Publisher: Grasindo, Jakarta
Poems
Poems of Sapardi Djoko Damono
Close
QUATRAINS
/1/I sent you a few words
ones that are now rare –
if they reach you one day,
hide them, there’s no way to understand me
/2/
the space that exists within a word
is like our home:
there are pictures, sounds, and gestures in it –
and yet we are forbidden to decipher it
/3/
for those who still believe in words:
silent is their surging core, pitch-dark is their heart of fire –
but when will we ever understand the sea?
and the eternal fire?
/4/
what do we find beyond words:
a flower garden? deep space?
in the garden, so many things are left unsaid
in space, so stark is the void
/5/
what else is left to cling on to? some words
insist on bursting through reality’s edge –
upon reaching the other shore, will it still be meaningful,
to you, everything I want to say?
/6/
in every word you read there are always
missing letters –
you will find them again someday
amidst thickets of memories.
© 2009, Hasif Amini and Sapardi Djoko Damono
From: Hujan Bulan Juni
From: Hujan Bulan Juni
QUATRAINS
/1/I sent you a few words
ones that are now rare –
if they reach you one day,
hide them, there’s no way to understand me
/2/
the space that exists within a word
is like our home:
there are pictures, sounds, and gestures in it –
and yet we are forbidden to decipher it
/3/
for those who still believe in words:
silent is their surging core, pitch-dark is their heart of fire –
but when will we ever understand the sea?
and the eternal fire?
/4/
what do we find beyond words:
a flower garden? deep space?
in the garden, so many things are left unsaid
in space, so stark is the void
/5/
what else is left to cling on to? some words
insist on bursting through reality’s edge –
upon reaching the other shore, will it still be meaningful,
to you, everything I want to say?
/6/
in every word you read there are always
missing letters –
you will find them again someday
amidst thickets of memories.
© 2009, Hasif Amini and Sapardi Djoko Damono
Sponsors
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère