Let's Go Back to Reading Poetry

We're now in the dizzying age of technology,

marked by the deafening sound of spacecraft

down here public buses traverse the city

making their way between tall buildings

Up there neon lights shine brightly

on other corners are a fountain

and cloverleaf bridge

But, alas, all hope has been turned into slogans

as omnipresent soldiers loiter around us

We hear the roar of politicking

and announcement of new decrees,

while now there is nothing unlawful with prostitutes

and transvestites

made objects of exploitation

Now we bear witness to detention camps everywhere

along with abuses of power

and violations of human rights

All this should serve as a warning

that it's not too late to return to the Holy Book

to read stories about prophets

-- or even a collection of poetry

-- By Todung Mulya Lubis

Translated by TIS

Prayer

All of us have committed blunders, oh God

because we have failed to learn from history

we also have yielded to greed

and the brutish lust of the villain

All of us have committed blunders, oh God

because we have thrown away our priceless freedom

while we pointlessly wandered about

and here we have destroyed the future

of the next generation

Forgive us, oh God

Guide us to the right path

so that we can save ourselves

from the danger of disintegration

and that we can safely proceed

to a peaceful world

-- By Todung Mulya Lubis

Translated by TIS

The poems are from Sudah Masanya Kita Membaca Puisi Kembali (Let's Go Back to Reading Poetry), an anthology of poetry published in celebration of the author's 50th birthday in Jakarta earlier this month.