Moslem scholar turns his notes into humorous poems

Moslem scholar turns his notes into humorous poems

In a gathering in Jakarta last month, a man mesmerized an
audience of 1,000 people with his bitter and humorous poems about
social issues.

The audience, who called themselves "lovers of democracy" was
listening to Mustofa Bisri, who come from Rembang. The Jakarta
Post talked to Bisri, a respected kyai-cum-poet in his home in
the coastal town of Central Java recently.

Question: When did you start writing poems?

Answer: Just like anybody else, I wrote poems when I was a
teenager. At that time, I wrote romantic poems. Actually I never
deliberately wrote any poem. I like writing notes. I write what I
feel, experience, and think. But my friends, some poets, think
that they are good poems. So they invite me to read my poems in
public, and support in publishing them.

Q: And now you become a poet yourself?

A: Whatever people say. I have befriended some kyai (Moslem
scholar), they say I am a kyai too. I befriend poets, and they
say I am a poet. I don't mind.

Q: Is there any purpose in writing poems? Or, is it just a hobby
for you?

A: I don't have any purpose or ambition when I write my notes.
But it certainly does me good. For instance, when I get mad with
my wife, I do not confront her. I write down my anger, calling
her names. I keep my notes not to be read by her, of course.
After some time, I feel fine. Then, perhaps, we can talk in a
calm manner.

Q: Some critics say that your poems are impressive but actually
lack originality.

A: I agree. Of course I can't be original. I write about the
basic needs in life; human rights, justice, violation of the law
etc, that people have been writing since the beginning of
civilization.

Q: Do you expect that poems will purify the world?

A: No. The most a poem can do is just like a friend tapping your
shoulder, to warn you softly. The rest is up to you.

Q: But Robert Browning said that politics pollutes the world and
poems clean it up...

A: I disagree. Let me quote a saying from the Koran. A poet is
someone who is popular. They tend to talk too much, and can not
do anything about what they speak of. Only poets who believe in
God will be blessed. It means that being a poet is very risky and
close to hell and it's devils. You've got to be extra careful,
you've got big responsibilities. And I believe there is a good
politics which can purify the world.

Q: How would you explain that?

A: Because the Prophet Mohammad showed us. He was the example of
good politics. Good politics can be carried out. He didn't only
talk about democracy, he achieved it. When his wife, an old
woman, and a poor citizen protested about him, he listened to
them, and took their opinions into consideration. Good politics
are not impossible.

Q: If so, good politics may not presently exist,judging from the
spate of riots lately?

A: Actually, there is an ulcer with many eyes, as I have
commented about our society. Having ulcer with many eyes, you
have to be careful, because a small touch with a soft cloth could
cause a terrible pain. In that case, we have to operate, to take
out all the eyes. Our government has busied itself seeking the
cause of pain from outside, not by taking out the eyes of the
ulcer.

Q: What are the ulcer's eyes, in your opinion?

A: The gap between the rich and the poor, which is continually
widening, injustice, and violation of the law. Our people are the
most obedient people in the world. They accept whatever
conditions they are pushed into. They are willing to live in
poverty. They have only one need: to be left alone and not to be
bothered. We all know what the government and the haves do to
them.

One of Bisri's poems called "What are you like or what do you
want me to do" published in OHOI reflected his stance on this
issue:

Kau ini bagaimana?

Kau suruh aku menggarap sawah

Sawahku kau tanami rumah-rumah

Kau bilang aku harus punya rumah

Aku punya rumah kau meratakannya dengan tanah

(What are you really at?

You asked me to work on my paddy field

But you grow houses on them

You said that I have to own a home

I own one and you demolish it)

Q: So, the people are victims of a corrupt government ...

A: We can't blame anybody. If we want to blame somebody, blame
ourselves. The existence of corrupt leaders and government is
because of our own sins. Do you know what's the biggest sin? That
is, to let our leaders be near hell, to do sinful things. It
means, we do not love them. We do not care. That is a sin.

Q: What do you expect from the people?

A: Speak up. Criticize. Show that you care about this government.

Q: Nobody dares to do that. If some one does, he would be
stopped. Doing the right thing could prove to be wrong.

A: Yes, but you must remember our mothers. Mothers never stop
criticizing us, every day, every time. They never get tired. The
basic fact is that mothers do it out of love. They want their
children to be good people. We could imitate them.

Q: Perhaps it is a matter of how we do it...

A: Neither the approach or the method is so important. As long as
both sides, those who criticize and those being criticized, have
good will, there will be a solution. If you don't have good will,
no matter how good the approach is, it could be wrong.

Q: What do you think about our coming election?

A: I am optimistic.

Q: On what?

A: I am optimistic that there won't be any change. I am also
optimistic that Soeharto will become president again.

Q: Are you also optimistic about the impact of the television
campaign after the government bans street rallies?

A: It's a joke. We know who has the money, and who owns and
controls television stations.

Q: What is your opinion about our political leaders?

A: I think Golkar would have a clean sweep if only it gets rid of
some figures who invite a backlash.

Q: What about them?

A: In general, I see that there is a weird tendency in the
attitude of our leaders. Take, for example, a Central Javanese
authority who is excessive with his "yellowization", (coloring
public facilities with yellow, the party color of Golkar). Ismail
Hasan (PPP), belittles his own party by opposing some NU leaders.
If he's smart, he should realize that NU contributes a great deal
to the PPP. He should have been closer to NU leaders. And
Soerjadi, everybody knows that he jeopardized his own party. My
conclusion is that these three leaders are actually promoting
Golput (those who refuse to vote in election).

By the way, don't stay too long in Central Java. Everything
permanent here will be painted yellow. I am afraid they will
paint you yellow as well.

Q: A kyai is an opinion leader. There are now many new kyai,
especially in big cities. Now, many people including celebrities
who have no strong religious roots are preaching to others. Is
there a renewed interest in religion?

A: I admit that the spirit of religion is growing and increasing.
But I am worried, there is no real understanding of the religion
they are learning. I just wish that all those new and young kyai
will continue to learn. Because if they don't, the extremes will
become more extremes, and the cosmetics will still be cosmetics.

Q: We heard that now you are often asked to read poems before
your religious audiences...

A: Yes. Especially if the audience are young people. They always
ask me to read one or two of my poems before I commence the
reading of the Koran. The problem is that I don't memorize my
poems. I can't recite them. But since I have to now I can recite
some short poems of mine. Like a one sentence poem I have
"Negeriku telah menguning" (My country has turned yellowish).
That's all. They love it.

Q: Some of your poems feel like real portrayal of Indonesian
life. Have any of your poems been banned

A: Yes, sometimes. Not me, but the poems have been. Recently, a
local community was forbidden to read one of my poems in a poetry
reading competition. It is Sajak Dor Dor Hure Dua (a cynical poem
about Pancasila). It's a pity. There is no freedom in this
country. This is an independent country we live in. There should
be more freedom. (Sirikit Syah)