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.