Poets mock RI's gloomy past, uncertain future

Poets mock RI's gloomy past, uncertain future

By Yudha Kartohadiprodjo

JAKARTA (JP): In the midst of Indonesia's current
uncertainties three poets descended on the Taman Ismail Marzuki
arts center this week and mocked the country's gloomy past and
uncertain future.

For two hours Taufiq Ismail, Sutardji Calzoum Bachri and W.S.
Rendra captivated the audience at the center's Graha Bakti Budaya
on Tuesday. Each poet came with his own distinct style, and fans.

The overflowing crowd, some of whom had to sit in the
auditorium's aisles, were attracted to the appeal of the three
poets more than what they had to offer. Appreciation of a
literary event is at times eclipsed by the big names.

The names said it all; the poets are not only the masters of
words but offered a sensitive critique of contemporary
sociopolitical conditions. Cunningly, the poets' wit cajoled, and
charmed but mainly entertained the audience, who have long been
deprived of such a literary event.

Calmly sitting behind a modest desk, Taufiq read poems from
his new anthology Malu (Aku) Jadi Orang Indonesia, (I am) Shamed
To be an Indonesian. Starting slowly with 12 Mei 1998 he captured
the spirit behind the four victims of the Trisakti incident, and
the long road ahead.

But we discourage metal bullets with a communal prayer/ and we
are heroes, pure from revenge/ because the road is still long
ahead of us and we need the guidance of God.

Taufiq has not left his roots, for as a student he was an
activist in the 1966 student movement.

Literally however, he did not stop at the contemporary issues
triggered by tragedy.

In his sonnet Komisi (Commission) Taufiq criticized the
manipulation of the 1945 Constitution. By personifying the
Constitution, Taufiq is seeking a cause that legitimized
corruption in Indonesia's development. Indonesia's permissive
attitude toward commissions, may be based on the Constitution.

But the words bribe and tribute have been avoided from the
earliest interaction/ because they are insults and far from the
prestige of this commission generation

And he did find the word komisi in the Constitution. Garnished
by traditional West Sumatran rhyme, Taufiq realizes that the word
commission was written in the Constitution -- referring to
Indonesia's independence committee.

Taufiq's clear voice reverberated around the hall. At times he
became playful with the rhyme by varying his speed of delivery:
sometimes fast and entertaining, but at times slow and with an
air of desperation.

Taufiq may be cynical at times but as a poet he did not forget
to question the existence of humankind, between God and Nation in
Padamu Negeri, For You, (My) Country.

Are our souls national property? Taufiq disputed the notion,
which although portraying the patriotic song which inspired him,
was stretched out by the government's act in taking people's life
in tragedies occurred in places like Aceh and Irian Jaya.

In his poem, Taufiq insisted that humans gave their souls to
God. It is up to Him whether He wants to share it with the
nation.

The night's spotlight, however, was taken by Sutardji Calzum
Bachri. Known for his spiritual poems, Sutardji began his reading
by singing Hello Dolly from a swing that floated in the middle of
the stage.

Accompanied by pianist Donna and the vocals of Doni Pulungan
and Tommy F. Awuy, Sutardji read his poems in his famous drunkard
style. He read some of his well-known repertoire such as Herman,
Sejak (Since) and Kucing (Cat). A beer bottle filled with ginger
tea boost him as he jumped, sang, shouted and danced around the
stage.

However entertaining his performance was, Sutardji came with a
contemporary spirit and awareness. In Kata (Words), he urged the
nation to look for another meaning in life.

O my nation/ gouge yourself/ from this dictionary of
destruction/ seek words/ find a statement/ like it used to be/
when the youth of the past found/ words/ in their oath.

The night ended with Rendra, who, with charisma, read a
mixture of social critique poems and topped his performance with
a splice of a romantic offering. The old peacock has not lost his
charms.

It was Rendra who sent the audience home with a lighthearted
ditty in his humorous finale Pantun Jurnalistik (Journalistic
Sonnet).

Go go go ale ale ale/ bakso bakso bakso/ onde onde onde/
'mikul duwur mendem jero' ape artinye/ artinye kalau ente jadi
presiden/ berdose boleh aje.

In this poem he chose the words bakso (meatball soup) and
popular traditional snacks onde onde to rhyme with the verse
taken from the World Cup theme song. Then, in a Jakarta dialect,
he quoted former president Soeharto's Javanese philosophy mikul
duwur mendem jero, which means, remember one's achievements but
forget the faults. But in Rendra's words, this means: "if you
become president, it's ok to commit sins."

The poetry readings were part of the November Festival
commemorating the center's 30th anniversary. On Dec. 4,
celebrities like Reza, AB Three, Tamara Bleszynski and Iwa K.
will read poems. The festival will also see a short-story reading
evening on Dec. 10, featuring well-known writers such as Hamsad
Rangkuti, Putu Wijaya, Gerson Poyk and Danarto.