Traveling poets give door-to-door readings
Traveling poets give door-to-door readings
By Agus Maryono
PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): The two young men shuffled
slightly, politely asking permission as they came in the door at
an office on Jl. Jenderal Soedirman in the town.
Dressed in modest clothing of casual shirts, pants and
sandals, they proceeded to open a little book and read aloud
several poems. They also read poems by Afrizal Malna, taken from
Pikiran Rakyat daily in West Java.
There was a common theme to the verses -- the crisis besetting
the nation.
At the end of their performance, the men stopped and extended
a polite apology to the employees, who had gathered in the front
of the room to hear the impromptu "show".
"We're so very sorry if our uninvited visit here has disturbed
you. We only hope for whatever you can give us. Thank you
beforehand," said Budi Reksa Pranata, 25.
Some of the people gathered in the lobby of the office handed
over money to them, ranging from Rp 500 to Rp 1,000, with the men
uttering their thanks.
After they left the office, Budi told The Jakarta Post he was
from Tegal regency in Central Java but he and his friend were
members of the Pawon theater group, which specializes in poetry
recitals, in Yogyakarta.
The men began reading poems for contributions -- Budi
unashamedly called it "begging" -- to improve their craft as good
poets and gain confidence in performing before an audience.
They have traveled to cities in Central Java for the past
year. They feel that the more door-to-door shows they do, the
better they will become in performing on a real stage.
"We believe that with a broad mentality we could express our
poems as well as possible, especially in our later shows. And we
also believe that through begging like this we become part of a
process which broadens our mental horizons," Budi said.
"Besides that we also need funds for our theater living
because we have no money at all now. We couldn't live without
funds which are needed to express ourselves as poets in shows."
He acknowledged that sometimes the reception to their efforts
was hostile.
Instead of applause and contributions, the men are greeted by
insults, with people ridiculing their efforts or doubting their
intentions.
"But it's something that we have to accept. It is perhaps part
of the education process of our mentality," Budi said
philosophically.
Their income varies, depending on the generosity of those they
visit.
"Sometimes we get up to Rp 30,000 a day. But we also often get
only Rp 5,000 a day", said Budi.
They have traveled to cities such as Semarang, Pekalongan,
Cilacap, Purbalingga, Yogyakarta and Surakarta. Accommodation in
the various areas often consists of sleeping in mosques or
roughing it outside.
The money they collect is used for poetry shows organized by
Pawon Theater around Tegal.
"We do our shows with the money gotten by begging we are
driven to do it," Budi said. "We couldn't get funds from other
sources to produce our poetry shows."
Nevertheless, he is trying other ways to gain funding. He has
sent proposals to the office of the education and culture
ministry in Tegal.
Unfortunately, they were returned without any explanation of
why they were rejected..
Budi, who has been admitted to Panca Sakti University in
Tegal, said he would continue the "performances" until he
considered himself a poet and a performer.
"We are sure we will get what we want although it means
begging door to door. And even though some people have insulted
us, we'll stick to our poems," Budi said.