'The Peacock' still struts his stuff

'The Peacock' still struts his stuff

Dewi Anggraeni, Contributor, Melbourne

He may be 70, but the Peacock, as he is known, still draws crowds, and what's more, he still delivers. And whether he is reciting poetry or giving a lecture, he has not lost much of the bite that rendered authorities in Indonesia hot under the collar during the New Order era (late 1960s to 1998).

It was 13 years since Rendra's last performance in Australia.

And this time he was accompanied by his wife, actor and author Ken Zuraida and fellow actor-musician Sawung Jabo. Rendra may have mellowed since then, though not noticeably so.

He did show distinct mellowness when Zuraida joined him in the poetry reading at Sidney Myer Asia Centre, University of Melbourne, on Sept. 28.

The space between them was quickly conflated by longing and romantic energy when Rendra recited Sajak Joki Tobing untuk Widuri (Joki Tobing's Poem for Widuri):

Against a background of cardboard huts / I recall your face / In the dust of poverty / I stand facing you / Stroke my face Widuri.

Zuraida replied with Sajak Widuri untuk Joki Tobing (Widuri's Poem for Joki Tobing):

Dust clouds cloak the parking attendant's faces / Anger hangs on deep in the ancient soul / The poor are against poverty / Hey Joki Tobing I call you / because your face appears in my dreams / Hey Joki Tobing I call you / because I'm caught up in your breath.

To the audience's delight, Rendra did not follow a set program, but kept surprising them with poems he delivered now with passion, then with lightness and comic air. When he performed Ada Tokek Rangkasbitung (The Gecko of Rangkasbitung) the audience giggled with delight because most of them know the poem, yet their enthusiasm in seeing it performed each time never diminishes.

Then toward the end of the evening Rendra picked up Sajak Kenalan Lamamu (Song of Your Old Friend), and the audience was overcome with sadness tinged with nostalgia watching the reminiscences of two old friends, now old and decrepit, one obviously high and halfway to oblivion while the other depressed and weighted down by remorse:

/ Politics helped us to take the world by storm / Politics helped us get rid of the old, decadent forces, so we could rule instead. / Politics has helped us get ahead: / from pedicabs to taxis, from taxis to our own cars, / then sports cars and helicopters!.

Where have the fireflies gone? / Why aren't my wooden sandals outside the door? / The times are hard, / I look for my glasses / and can't find them.

The delivery of the poetry was very much enhanced by the impromptu accompaniment of Sawung Jabo's music that he created on the spot and played by ear, so synchronized has their artistic energy become.

When asked why it had taken him 13 years to finally return to Australia, Rendra did not mince words. While conceding that he had been too busy touring nationally, he revealed that he had also been annoyed by Australia's prime minister John Howard's show of disrespect toward Indonesia.

He talked publicly about what Australia would do as if Indonesia didn't exist.

He unilaterally decided that Australia would not hesitate to attack a foreign country if he believed there were terrorists threats there.

Then he also unilaterally planned a restructure of the maritime zone which infringed upon Indonesian waters, ostensibly to protect Australia's security.

Hey, has he forgotten about us, about Indonesia? As you know, for us Indonesians space has mystical significance. It is personal. We treat it with respect. We excuse ourselves even if we want to walk behind someone who is seated! To be frank, Howard comes across as someone with very little diplomatic skills in terms of international relations.'

Eventually those close to him persuaded him to come to Australia again.

And here he is touring Australia, organized by Sydney's group, Wot Cross-cultural Synergy until Oct. 22, where apart from poetry reading and performances together with Zuraida and Jabo, he is also giving lectures and conducting drama workshops.

Despite having been imprisoned repeatedly during the New Order era, Rendra is never subdued or cowered. Having expressed his misgivings about Australia's political leader, he said, "But I'm happy here. In spite of the attitudes of their government, Australians are very open-minded."

"That's why they are so well-liked in Indonesia. Wherever they go they are treated with courtesy and warmth. That's what I'm feeling now, not the disrespect shown by the government. You know, I can see that in Australia, the government does not try to control their people's minds and behavior."

"In reality, I detect a monitoring exercise from the Indonesian foreign affairs department instead. They still try to control what I am doing. Because I speak my mind, my meeting with some communities have been canceled, for instance. I find this rather suffocating."

How can one stop Rendra speak his mind? An exercise of futility.