Those who are really close to me know that I love poetry - be it writing, reading or appreciating them (poems). Hence, the news of Indonesian poet, WS Rendra's death on the night of August 6 - after undergoing treatment for a month for conorary heart disease - came as a sad shock to me. After all, he is well-known not only in his native country, but also in Malaysia as well. But then again, Allah loves him more...
In his memory, I would like to share one of his works with all of you (together with the Engilsh translation of the poem), especially to all the poetry lovers out there. Al-Fatihah.
KANGEN
Kau tak akan mengerti bagaimana kesepianku
menghadapi kemerdekaan tanpa cinta
kau tak akan mengerti segala lukaku
kerna luka telah sembunyikan pisaunya.
Membayangkan wajahmu adalah siksa.
Kesepian adalah ketakutan dalam kelumpuhan.
Engkau telah menjadi racun bagi darahku.
Apabila aku dalam kangen dan sepi
itulah berarti
aku tungku tanpa api.
-WS Rendra-
And here's the English translation for my non-Malay speaking friends (forgive me, if my version does not do justice to the original one...)
YEARNING
You will never understand about my loneliness
having freedom without love
you will never understand about my wound
because the wound has already hidden its knife.
Just imagining your face is sheer torture.
Loneliness is fear in paralysis.
You have become the poison in my blood.
When I am in yearning and in loneliness
that means
I am the heating stone, without the fire.
-WS Rendra-
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