I Knocked at Your Door

On a gloomy, chilly evening,
bitten by hostile wind,
I was knocking at your door.

After some moments, however,
I felt my fingers grow tire,
and my dress was totally soaked
by the falling drizzle.
I realized how fruitless
my journey has been.

I have decided that was the last time
I would knock at your door
That night I turned away,
because I heard from inside myself
only the voice of my heartbeat.

By Priojono Tjiptoherijanto

Translated by TIS

Falling Star

I

After catching a falling star
a child dreams of being a king
from ancient history

II

After catching a falling star
a pregnant woman strokes her belly
hoping that her new child will be
a prince or beautiful princess
from the Thousand and One Nights

III

After catching a falling star
all eyes keep looking at the sky
and all hearts express
hope and despair
Because so many dreams
have come and faded away

By Prijono Tjiptoherijanto

Translated by TIS

A Journey

Arriving at the last station
of your long journey,
near an open meadow
next to a deserted area.
You step down with an old bag in your hand
You walk alone, all alone.

Then you hear someone call your name
from an old, deserted building
in a solitary location.

Look again at the path you have trodden
just for a second, and after that
look straight forward,
And now remember what you have seen
and experienced
before you knock at any door,
and ask yourself have you put
everything you need in your bag?

Take a last breath before you open the door
This is the last porch
of a small house
in a deserted area
where you'll hear an unusual call
which you have no authority to reject.

By Prijono Tjiptoherijanto

Translated by TIS

Prison

Why do we abruptly find ourselves here
to calculate the time, share promises
while we have possibly forgotten
to note down many of our major deeds?

Why are we dreaming of new hopes
from behind the bars which deny
our freedom to dream, see realities,
tell a lie and express anew...?

Why don't we have courage
and honesty to abolish
a wall which separates
a jail and freedom?

By Prijono Tjptoherijanto

Translated by TIS