Poetry International Poetry International
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.

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
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.

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.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère