swirl
twirl
swirl
twirl
up and down and up again
this is the life, baby
disorientation is a sign that you’re
on track
Author: violeteye
Gratiagusti Chananya Rompas was born in Jakarta, 19 August 1979. She studied English Literature in Universitas Indonesia, Depok (2003) and received her masters in The Gothic Imagination from University of Stirling, Scotland (2005).
She is one of the founders of Komunitas BungaMatahari, a mailing list-based Indonesian poetry community that have embraced many poetry enthusiasts with its catchphrase “semua bisa berpuisi” or, roughly translated, “poetry for all”. She is also involved in Selatan, a literary journal, and Paviliun Puisi, a monthly open mic event--both managed by her and her like-minded friends.
She currently resides in Jakarta, trying to find balance between writing and day-to-day living.
o
the full moon is up
i am ready to
transform
merdeka
tak menjejak
tapi nyata
tanya curiga dan prasangka
mengabur jadi keyakinan
apa yang kau cari, kawan?
apa yang kau mau, kawan?
kata kata klise
berjejer di kepala
menjadi norma
di pelupuk mata,
rajin menemani
ketika kau bangun
atau tertidur
lalu kau pikir
dirimu telah begitu kesetanan
hingga mustahil terselamatkan
apa yang kau cari, kawan
apa yang kau mau, kawan
tak menjejak
tapi nyata
(tak tahukah kau –
aku sudah lama merdeka)
7lc, 17 agustus 2005
ditulis segera setelah membaca puisi karangan uga yang berjudul “kita”
day 7
it was 22nd july 2005, the day i was supposed to hand in the 5000-word piece.
instead of that, i sent my supervisor an email saying that i couldn’t meet the target
and asking for an extension until next week. he replied right
away and granted my request.
feeling relieved and somewhat charged, i went to the library and
borrowed some books. after a nice dinner and a hot shower, i plopped
myself onto my bed and opened one of them. i decided that from then on
i would devote more of my time and thoughts to my work. i would not let
anything distract me. i would not bulge to any temptations.
hohoho
day 4
it was 19th july 2005.
i had found a new hobby. watching the smokes coming out from my
cigarette. examining how they slowly emerge from the vermillion tobacco
tips, elegantly dance their way out into the vast domain of thin air,
swirl swirl like nothing else could – for it was why they were born –
to finally withdraw from the split-second performance quietly and
slowly and then be forgotten.
imagine. being born to swirl. then forgotten. yet they were so full of grace.
i took a sip of vanilla and coconut tea from my favorite cup. and moved
my laptop, notes, and books onto my bed. i needed a new workspace.