My Favourite Poems

One of my favourite Indonesian poets is Sapardi Djoko Damono. Many of his poems are short and composed with simple words. I wrote some of his poems in a post before. 
I recently found translation of some poems by Sapardi Djoko Damono. I personally think that translating poem is difficult and often, the translation doesn't create the same emotion as the original one. However, there are some good English translation that I want to share. Here I will write both Indonesian and English versions.

Aku Ingin

aku ingin mencintaimu dengan sederhana:
dengan kata yang tak sempat diucapkan
kayu kepada api yang menjadikannya abu

aku ingin mencintaimu dengan sederhana:
dengan isyarat yang tak sempat disampaikan
awan kepada hujan yang menjadikannya tiada


The poem was then translated by John. H. McGlynn.


I Want

I want to love you simply:
in words not spoken
tinder to flame which transforms it to ash

I want to love you simply:
in signs not expressed
clouds to the rain which makes them evanesce

That "Aku Ingin" poem is quite popular here. It talks about love in simple words while the meaning may not be so simple.

Another good translation that I found is "In Children's Hands" from the original work, "Di Tangan Anak-anak".


Di Tangan Anak-anak

Di tangan anak-anak, kertas menjelma perahu Sinbad
yang tak takluk kepada gelombang, menjelma burung
yang jeritnya membukakan kelopak-kelopak bunga di hutan;
di mulut anak-anak, kata menjelma Kitab Suci.

"Tuan, jangan kauganggu permainanku ini."

That poem was translated by Harry Aveling and became like this one below.


In Children's Hands

In children's hands, paper becomes Sinbad's boat
unconquered by the waves, become a bird
whose calls open flowers in the forest;
in children's mouths, the word is Sacred.

"Hey mister, please leave my game alone."

The interpretation can vary. So let your imagination show you what this poem is about.

Note: If I make mistake in writing the poems, please let me know because in poem, every letter, mark, and space matters.