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.