Testimony (Kesaksian)

Testimony (Kesaksian)

by Maskirbi

The people vow, witness calamity then hold revenge in a chest wounded under bloody skies the people weep while they dig their own graves the people are forced to shut their mouths to save truth. but calamities are being designed more and more for the weak and downtrodden.

It grows harder for the people to choose between rights and cruelty everything has been muffled, then as a source of suspicion the people fear to speak their own names no one dares to prevent calamity upon calamity there are no more men as husbands all suspected, all finished the people can only witness the brutality of civilization and helplessness while awaiting their turn for a futile death.

Angels weep, witness death being snatched witness blood dripping from the sky, the people can only pray, that God stop the calamity being lit at the end of a gun. Here there is no place for reporting, except to the All Knowing.

Then the people hold their testimony in silence then the people hold revenge in silence then the people hold revenge in their testimony the people hold revenge the people hold their testimony in silence and sorrow, in a silent sorrow.

Oh God! silence becomes stone revenge becomes stone the people swear it!

-- 1990

The English version of this poem was translated and performed by Kadek Krishna Adidharma during A Tribute to Aceh.