Envoys read poems to console tsunami victims

JP/18/Envoy

Envoys read poems to console tsunami victims

M. Taufiqurrahman The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

In the aftermath of the tsunami that swept across Aceh and North Sumatra, countries around the world have contributed much to ease the suffering of survivors.

Now, almost two months after the monstrous tidal wave struck, with much material support already committed, countries are providing another form of comfort to the Acehnese of a more personal and poetic nature.

To express their grief and compassion for the tsunami victims and survivors, envoys of foreign countries in Jakarta took part in a low-key poetry reading on Tuesday organized by Cooperatives for the Well-being of Indonesian Artists, held at the Gedung Kesenian Jakarta.

Together with a number of Jakarta-based poets, former models and politicians, some of whom read their self-penned works dedicated to those who perished in the tsunami, British Ambassador to Indonesia Charles Humphrey, Iranian Ambassador Shaban Shahidi-Moaddab and a representative from the Finnish Embassy read moving poems.

Humphrey, who took the stage in an encore after a break, read a poem on the sense of guilt for being able to lead a comfortable life when most survivors in Aceh were toiling in hardship in the wake of the monstrous waves.

"This poem was written by one of my staff, who was grieved by what has happened in Aceh," Humphrey told the audience in careful Indonesian language, before reading:

Maafkan kami saudara saudara kami di Aceh dan Sumatra Utara/ Kami paham penderitaanmu sementara kami makan enak tiga kali/ Sehari tidur nyenyak di atas kasur dengan bantal bulu angsa/ Sementara kau, kau dan kau mencari kehangatan dari sehelai sarung. (Forgive us, brothers and sisters in Aceh and North Sumatra, We witness your suffering while we have our daily meals. While we are sleeping on a comfortable mattress, you are looking for warmth from a piece of sarong.)

The Iranian Ambassador, who appeared on stage before Humphrey, read his self-penned English poem about nature's wrath that had befallen Aceh and the outpouring of international solidarity for the tsunami survivors.

Veranda of Mecca was called this place

Rich, prolific and full of grace

Ocean became jealous of this wealthy land

And wave decided to cut every kind

That day 26 of December

The day everyone will always remember

Few days after this calamity

The whole world expresses its solidarity

A representative from the Finnish Embassy, Thorolf S. Nyfors, who appeared on stage before the two envoys, attempted to console the anguished Acehnese.

Aceh, pantaskah aku memintamu berhenti menangis/

Sedangkan airmata telah diciptakan untuk membasuh luka/

Maka menangislah saudaraku hingga kering air mata

(Aceh, who am I to ask you to stop crying

While tears were created to wash away the pain?

Then, cry out my sisters and brothers until the tears run dry)

Speaking after the poetry reading wrapped up, Nyfors said he had only 30 minutes to write the poem and rehearse for the evening performance.

"I've been in the country for more than 20 years, so reading an Indonesian-language poem is no problem," he said in fluent Indonesian.