Moslem scholar turns his notes into humorous poems<\/p>\n
In a gathering in Jakarta last month, a man mesmerized an
\naudience of 1,000 people with his bitter and humorous poems about
\nsocial issues.<\/p>\n
The audience, who called themselves \"lovers of democracy\" was
\nlistening to Mustofa Bisri, who come from Rembang. The Jakarta
\nPost talked to Bisri, a respected kyai-cum-poet in his home in
\nthe coastal town of Central Java recently.<\/p>\n
Question: When did you start writing poems?<\/p>\n
Answer: Just like anybody else, I wrote poems when I was a
\nteenager. At that time, I wrote romantic poems. Actually I never
\ndeliberately wrote any poem. I like writing notes. I write what I
\nfeel, experience, and think. But my friends, some poets, think
\nthat they are good poems. So they invite me to read my poems in
\npublic, and support in publishing them.<\/p>\n
Q: And now you become a poet yourself?<\/p>\n
A: Whatever people say. I have befriended some kyai (Moslem
\nscholar), they say I am a kyai too. I befriend poets, and they
\nsay I am a poet. I don't mind.<\/p>\n
Q: Is there any purpose in writing poems? Or, is it just a hobby
\nfor you?<\/p>\n
A: I don't have any purpose or ambition when I write my notes.
\nBut it certainly does me good. For instance, when I get mad with
\nmy wife, I do not confront her. I write down my anger, calling
\nher names. I keep my notes not to be read by her, of course.
\nAfter some time, I feel fine. Then, perhaps, we can talk in a
\ncalm manner.<\/p>\n
Q: Some critics say that your poems are impressive but actually
\nlack originality.<\/p>\n
A: I agree. Of course I can't be original. I write about the
\nbasic needs in life; human rights, justice, violation of the law
\netc, that people have been writing since the beginning of
\ncivilization.<\/p>\n
Q: Do you expect that poems will purify the world?<\/p>\n
A: No. The most a poem can do is just like a friend tapping your
\nshoulder, to warn you softly. The rest is up to you.<\/p>\n
Q: But Robert Browning said that politics pollutes the world and
\npoems clean it up...<\/p>\n
A: I disagree. Let me quote a saying from the Koran. A poet is
\nsomeone who is popular. They tend to talk too much, and can not
\ndo anything about what they speak of. Only poets who believe in
\nGod will be blessed. It means that being a poet is very risky and
\nclose to hell and it's devils. You've got to be extra careful,
\nyou've got big responsibilities. And I believe there is a good
\npolitics which can purify the world.<\/p>\n
Q: How would you explain that?<\/p>\n
A: Because the Prophet Mohammad showed us. He was the example of
\ngood politics. Good politics can be carried out. He didn't only
\ntalk about democracy, he achieved it. When his wife, an old
\nwoman, and a poor citizen protested about him, he listened to
\nthem, and took their opinions into consideration. Good politics
\nare not impossible.<\/p>\n
Q: If so, good politics may not presently exist,judging from the
\nspate of riots lately?<\/p>\n
A: Actually, there is an ulcer with many eyes, as I have
\ncommented about our society. Having ulcer with many eyes, you
\nhave to be careful, because a small touch with a soft cloth could
\ncause a terrible pain. In that case, we have to operate, to take
\nout all the eyes. Our government has busied itself seeking the
\ncause of pain from outside, not by taking out the eyes of the
\nulcer.<\/p>\n
Q: What are the ulcer's eyes, in your opinion?<\/p>\n
A: The gap between the rich and the poor, which is continually
\nwidening, injustice, and violation of the law. Our people are the
\nmost obedient people in the world. They accept whatever
\nconditions they are pushed into. They are willing to live in
\npoverty. They have only one need: to be left alone and not to be
\nbothered. We all know what the government and the haves do to
\nthem.<\/p>\n
One of Bisri's poems called \"What are you like or what do you
\nwant me to do\" published in OHOI reflected his stance on this
\nissue:<\/p>\n
Kau ini bagaimana?<\/p>\n
Kau suruh aku menggarap sawah<\/p>\n
Sawahku kau tanami rumah-rumah<\/p>\n
Kau bilang aku harus punya rumah<\/p>\n
Aku punya rumah kau meratakannya dengan tanah<\/p>\n
(What are you really at?<\/p>\n
You asked me to work on my paddy field<\/p>\n
But you grow houses on them<\/p>\n
You said that I have to own a home<\/p>\n
I own one and you demolish it)<\/p>\n
Q: So, the people are victims of a corrupt government ...<\/p>\n
A: We can't blame anybody. If we want to blame somebody, blame
\nourselves. The existence of corrupt leaders and government is
\nbecause of our own sins. Do you know what's the biggest sin? That
\nis, to let our leaders be near hell, to do sinful things. It
\nmeans, we do not love them. We do not care. That is a sin.<\/p>\n
Q: What do you expect from the people?<\/p>\n
A: Speak up. Criticize. Show that you care about this government.<\/p>\n
Q: Nobody dares to do that. If some one does, he would be
\nstopped. Doing the right thing could prove to be wrong.<\/p>\n
A: Yes, but you must remember our mothers. Mothers never stop
\ncriticizing us, every day, every time. They never get tired. The
\nbasic fact is that mothers do it out of love. They want their
\nchildren to be good people. We could imitate them.<\/p>\n
Q: Perhaps it is a matter of how we do it...<\/p>\n
A: Neither the approach or the method is so important. As long as
\nboth sides, those who criticize and those being criticized, have
\ngood will, there will be a solution. If you don't have good will,
\nno matter how good the approach is, it could be wrong.<\/p>\n
Q: What do you think about our coming election?<\/p>\n
A: I am optimistic.<\/p>\n
Q: On what?<\/p>\n
A: I am optimistic that there won't be any change. I am also
\noptimistic that Soeharto will become president again.<\/p>\n
Q: Are you also optimistic about the impact of the television
\ncampaign after the government bans street rallies?<\/p>\n
A: It's a joke. We know who has the money, and who owns and
\ncontrols television stations.<\/p>\n
Q: What is your opinion about our political leaders?<\/p>\n
A: I think Golkar would have a clean sweep if only it gets rid of
\nsome figures who invite a backlash.<\/p>\n
Q: What about them?<\/p>\n
A: In general, I see that there is a weird tendency in the
\nattitude of our leaders. Take, for example, a Central Javanese
\nauthority who is excessive with his \"yellowization\", (coloring
\npublic facilities with yellow, the party color of Golkar). Ismail
\nHasan (PPP), belittles his own party by opposing some NU leaders.
\nIf he's smart, he should realize that NU contributes a great deal
\nto the PPP. He should have been closer to NU leaders. And
\nSoerjadi, everybody knows that he jeopardized his own party. My
\nconclusion is that these three leaders are actually promoting
\nGolput (those who refuse to vote in election).<\/p>\n
By the way, don't stay too long in Central Java. Everything
\npermanent here will be painted yellow. I am afraid they will
\npaint you yellow as well.<\/p>\n
Q: A kyai is an opinion leader. There are now many new kyai,
\nespecially in big cities. Now, many people including celebrities
\nwho have no strong religious roots are preaching to others. Is
\nthere a renewed interest in religion?<\/p>\n
A: I admit that the spirit of religion is growing and increasing.
\nBut I am worried, there is no real understanding of the religion
\nthey are learning. I just wish that all those new and young kyai
\nwill continue to learn. Because if they don't, the extremes will
\nbecome more extremes, and the cosmetics will still be cosmetics.<\/p>\n
Q: We heard that now you are often asked to read poems before
\nyour religious audiences...<\/p>\n
A: Yes. Especially if the audience are young people. They always
\nask me to read one or two of my poems before I commence the
\nreading of the Koran. The problem is that I don't memorize my
\npoems. I can't recite them. But since I have to now I can recite
\nsome short poems of mine. Like a one sentence poem I have
\n\"Negeriku telah menguning\" (My country has turned yellowish).
\nThat's all. They love it.<\/p>\n
Q: Some of your poems feel like real portrayal of Indonesian
\nlife. Have any of your poems been banned<\/p>\n
A: Yes, sometimes. Not me, but the poems have been. Recently, a
\nlocal community was forbidden to read one of my poems in a poetry
\nreading competition. It is Sajak Dor Dor Hure Dua (a cynical poem
\nabout Pancasila). It's a pity. There is no freedom in this
\ncountry. This is an independent country we live in. There should
\nbe more freedom. (Sirikit Syah)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/moslem-scholar-turns-his-notes-into-humorous-poems-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}