Oka Rusmini, translated by Deborah Cole
Published as a part of Cordite Poetry Review — 40.1: INDONESIA, Nov 04, 2012
First published in Patiwangi as Patiwangi.
this is my new land
a spring guarantees its existence
fish embark on new love affairs
branches bearing budding leaves
fashion a burial ceremony
I can smell all kinds of flowers
and ritual offerings curse the feet I sink into soil
the tinkling of bells arrests the compass
powerless to guide the gods home
In the temples I make a map
to carry my colors to the sun’s family tree
the earth broods, the soil buries its wrath
no fragment of sound remains
to set my colors free
the men who are present challenge the sun
awaiting their chosen woman’s hue
no temple rites exist for them to perform
the officiants can only inhale the incense
required to recognize too many gods
and still the men press their suits for my hand
because of my name
I need to possess a ritual history
of this selection
I will bathe posterity’s children clean
Read the full story here.
