Poem

Joko Pinurbo

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Original language

Shaking

The bed shook all night long.

Perhaps two souls, two lions were fighting.
Or two deaths waged war.

The bed shook all night long.

While in fact there was only a pair of pants,
a white heap on a black pillow.

© Translation: 2002, Harry Aveling
From: Trouser Doll
Publisher: Lontar, Jakarta, 2002

Goyang

Goyang

Ranjang bergoyang sepanjang malam.

Mungkin sepasang nyawa, sepasang singa,
sedang tempur.
Atau sepasang maut sedang perang.

Ranjang bergoyang sepanjang malam

Padahal cuma ada sepasang celana
teronggok putih di bantal hitam.

© 1998, Joko Pinurbo
From: Di Bawah Kibaran Sarung
Publisher: IndonesiaTera, Magelang

Joko Pinurbo

Joko Pinurbo

(Indonesia, 1962)

Joko Pinurbo is one of the most widely read poets in Indonesia today. Somewhat at a distance from the dominant lyric camp in Indonesian poetry, his work brings a refreshing mixture of narrative drive, irony, and self-reflexivity. Born in Sukabumi, West Java, in 11 May 1962, he later studied Indonesian language and literature at the Sanata Dharma University of Teachers’ Education and taught at h...

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Shaking

The bed shook all night long.

Perhaps two souls, two lions were fighting.
Or two deaths waged war.

The bed shook all night long.

While in fact there was only a pair of pants,
a white heap on a black pillow.

© 2002, Harry Aveling
From: Trouser Doll
Publisher: 2002, Lontar, Jakarta

Shaking

The bed shook all night long.

Perhaps two souls, two lions were fighting.
Or two deaths waged war.

The bed shook all night long.

While in fact there was only a pair of pants,
a white heap on a black pillow.

© 2002, Harry Aveling
From: Trouser Doll
Publisher: 2002, Lontar, Jakarta

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