Poets mock RI's gloomy past, uncertain future<\/p>\n
By Yudha Kartohadiprodjo<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In the midst of Indonesia's current
\nuncertainties three poets descended on the Taman Ismail Marzuki
\narts center this week and mocked the country's gloomy past and
\nuncertain future.<\/p>\n
For two hours Taufiq Ismail, Sutardji Calzoum Bachri and W.S.
\nRendra captivated the audience at the center's Graha Bakti Budaya
\non Tuesday. Each poet came with his own distinct style, and fans.<\/p>\n
The overflowing crowd, some of whom had to sit in the
\nauditorium's aisles, were attracted to the appeal of the three
\npoets more than what they had to offer. Appreciation of a
\nliterary event is at times eclipsed by the big names.<\/p>\n
The names said it all; the poets are not only the masters of
\nwords but offered a sensitive critique of contemporary
\nsociopolitical conditions. Cunningly, the poets' wit cajoled, and
\ncharmed but mainly entertained the audience, who have long been
\ndeprived of such a literary event.<\/p>\n
Calmly sitting behind a modest desk, Taufiq read poems from
\nhis new anthology Malu (Aku) Jadi Orang Indonesia, (I am) Shamed
\nTo be an Indonesian. Starting slowly with 12 Mei 1998 he captured
\nthe spirit behind the four victims of the Trisakti incident, and
\nthe long road ahead.<\/p>\n
But we discourage metal bullets with a communal prayer\/ and we
\nare heroes, pure from revenge\/ because the road is still long
\nahead of us and we need the guidance of God.<\/p>\n
Taufiq has not left his roots, for as a student he was an
\nactivist in the 1966 student movement.<\/p>\n
Literally however, he did not stop at the contemporary issues
\ntriggered by tragedy.<\/p>\n
In his sonnet Komisi (Commission) Taufiq criticized the
\nmanipulation of the 1945 Constitution. By personifying the
\nConstitution, Taufiq is seeking a cause that legitimized
\ncorruption in Indonesia's development. Indonesia's permissive
\nattitude toward commissions, may be based on the Constitution.<\/p>\n
But the words bribe and tribute have been avoided from the
\nearliest interaction\/ because they are insults and far from the
\nprestige of this commission generation<\/p>\n
And he did find the word komisi in the Constitution. Garnished
\nby traditional West Sumatran rhyme, Taufiq realizes that the word
\ncommission was written in the Constitution -- referring to
\nIndonesia's independence committee.<\/p>\n
Taufiq's clear voice reverberated around the hall. At times he
\nbecame playful with the rhyme by varying his speed of delivery:
\nsometimes fast and entertaining, but at times slow and with an
\nair of desperation.<\/p>\n
Taufiq may be cynical at times but as a poet he did not forget
\nto question the existence of humankind, between God and Nation in
\nPadamu Negeri, For You, (My) Country.<\/p>\n
Are our souls national property? Taufiq disputed the notion,
\nwhich although portraying the patriotic song which inspired him,
\nwas stretched out by the government's act in taking people's life
\nin tragedies occurred in places like Aceh and Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
In his poem, Taufiq insisted that humans gave their souls to
\nGod. It is up to Him whether He wants to share it with the
\nnation.<\/p>\n
The night's spotlight, however, was taken by Sutardji Calzum
\nBachri. Known for his spiritual poems, Sutardji began his reading
\nby singing Hello Dolly from a swing that floated in the middle of
\nthe stage.<\/p>\n
Accompanied by pianist Donna and the vocals of Doni Pulungan
\nand Tommy F. Awuy, Sutardji read his poems in his famous drunkard
\nstyle. He read some of his well-known repertoire such as Herman,
\nSejak (Since) and Kucing (Cat). A beer bottle filled with ginger
\ntea boost him as he jumped, sang, shouted and danced around the
\nstage.<\/p>\n
However entertaining his performance was, Sutardji came with a
\ncontemporary spirit and awareness. In Kata (Words), he urged the
\nnation to look for another meaning in life.<\/p>\n
O my nation\/ gouge yourself\/ from this dictionary of
\ndestruction\/ seek words\/ find a statement\/ like it used to be\/
\nwhen the youth of the past found\/ words\/ in their oath.<\/p>\n
The night ended with Rendra, who, with charisma, read a
\nmixture of social critique poems and topped his performance with
\na splice of a romantic offering. The old peacock has not lost his
\ncharms.<\/p>\n
It was Rendra who sent the audience home with a lighthearted
\nditty in his humorous finale Pantun Jurnalistik (Journalistic
\nSonnet).<\/p>\n
Go go go ale ale ale\/ bakso bakso bakso\/ onde onde onde\/
\n'mikul duwur mendem jero' ape artinye\/ artinye kalau ente jadi
\npresiden\/ berdose boleh aje.<\/p>\n
In this poem he chose the words bakso (meatball soup) and
\npopular traditional snacks onde onde to rhyme with the verse
\ntaken from the World Cup theme song. Then, in a Jakarta dialect,
\nhe quoted former president Soeharto's Javanese philosophy mikul
\nduwur mendem jero, which means, remember one's achievements but
\nforget the faults. But in Rendra's words, this means: "if you
\nbecome president, it's ok to commit sins."<\/p>\n
The poetry readings were part of the November Festival
\ncommemorating the center's 30th anniversary. On Dec. 4,
\ncelebrities like Reza, AB Three, Tamara Bleszynski and Iwa K.
\nwill read poems. The festival will also see a short-story reading
\nevening on Dec. 10, featuring well-known writers such as Hamsad
\nRangkuti, Putu Wijaya, Gerson Poyk and Danarto.<\/p>",
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