Baca PDF (OCR): Indonesia Sings of Afro-Asia

BINTANG RUSADI

Indonesia Sings of Afro-Asia

featuring the translated works of

D.N. Aidit, S. Anantaguna, Rivai Apin, M.S. Ashar, Hr. Bandaharo, Benni Tjung, Kr. Bedjo, S.W. Kuntjahjo Njoto, F.L. Risakotta, Sitor Situmorang, and Sudisman

Kacabenggala Editions

Publisher Note

dedicated to the II nd Conference of Afro-Asian Writers Cairo, UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC

February, 1962.

design by Basuki Resobowo translation by Bintang Suradi

Digitizer Note

This digital edition is a faithful typeset of the printed text, preserving the original layout, spelling, punctuation, and front matter as closely as possible.

All original rights remain with their respective publishers and translators. Where copyright has expired or the material falls under fair use for preservation, the text is reproduced for historical study.

The Kacabenggala Editions are non-commercial and undertaken for study and admiration, shared purely for archival and educational purposes, without commercial intent.

“The earth and all its riches Ave yours from this time onwards The blazing sun in the colourless sky Dissolves our sorrow in a wave of warmth Its burning rays will help to dry forever The flood of tears shed by our ancestors.”

PATRICE LUMUMBA

THE DEAD WILL LIVE ETERNALLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 JAMILA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 PEKING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 TO UNCLE HO CHI MINH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 AFTER PANMUNJOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 PARTNERSHIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 GREETINGS FROM A FRIEND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 DAWN OVER PALAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 HAIKU VARIATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 YESTERDAY DAN TODAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 ASIAN-AFRICAN SOLIDARITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 THE STRUGGLE OF EREVAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Aidit, D.N. THE DEAD WILL LIVE ETERNALLY

For many years, I have not wept

not because my eyes are dry

or my heart is stiff with cold

but this time unawares

my head and heart could not endure

and my tears moistened the morning paper;

A black man white of heart

murdered by a white man whose heart is black

But is it not the murderer who has been killed?

Lumumba will live forever

Lumumba died to live eternally

Today this earth is not for the black white man

but for all

white, yellow, brown, black

Now the air is filled with Lumumba

for Lumumba stands for freedom

Anantaguna, S. JAMILA

The world did once inflict a wound but understanding rose from within

One touch of light in the soldier’s breast and willilingly she accepted death for she herself is the world and holds life in her hands for she herself is the native land and the fruit of love

Another touch came down at dawn

and she defended all her dreams

The world has inflicted a wound but consciousness was conceived within its womb

One draw of breath in the soldier’s breast and she did profess herself slowly but without complaint for she herself is time and the blaze in the Sahara for she herself is liberty and free in imagination

Another draw as night did fall and away she flung the world full of wrath

The world has inflicted a wound but she herself is the world and holds life in her hands

Apin, Rivai PEKING

I

Do not say that the night it as hard as granite

Since here in China not a stone is left unworked by the people

Here nature is like marble

Everything is carved and polished by the hands of working people building culture.

II

The cruel Peking wind has no equal

The nights are heavy with dust yet from bustling cracks The rumble of mountain rocks being split booms forth In the night in the night the whirl wind gathers strength And still people are at work tempering the steel

From the stones split in the night is born the morning twinkling

And the fountain of sparks forged by the blows of the smith

Are the stars in the sky, the medals of the workers.

Ashar, M. S. TO UNCLE HO CHI MINH

We bid you welcome, uncle Ho Although we always meet

Are not you, uncle Ho a tale of the mighty jungle and of fragrant flowers each bud that falls infusing a thousand energies into those that bloom?

And didn’t the sun once refuse to set in your country and dusk did not descend: a new road for the new man?

Ah, we too have our tale of sun and jungle kissing and hiding the bodies slain mending the torn threads of history with sweat and love together

And we who still stand erect we too are just emerging from the mud Strength on the right, hope on the left clearing a new road for the new

A friend will soon pass by With a beating heart that stores memories And blood that gushes forth the same, same ideals

We bid you farewell, uncle Ho Although we never part.

Bandaharo, Hr. AFTER PANMUNJOM

Tjung, Benni PARTNERSHIP

to Mario d’Andrade

I too am called upon—angola

urges each niche of feeling to open up

I can’t sit down with folded hands

when people are deprived of independence

what then is left, oh contemporaries?

I dare not look at the faces

of those still young

angola

because these ranks are not alone

I raise this partnership:

Solidarity for you.

Bedjo, Kr. GREETINGS FROM A FRIEND

to the patriotic sons of the Congo

greetings to you, beloved friends best sons who break asunder the chains that bind you stride on! and if, as happens, a traitor sneaks in to the patriotic ranks right up to the very front line, cast him out!

greetings to you, beloved friends best sons who break asunder the chains that bind you the doomed, the exploiters and oppressors, have run but now a don juan parades the street wooing you a beautiful girl just freed from bondage advancing courageously along your chosen path

I believe in your strong body, I firmly belief that your hand will surely grip the radiant day

I lift my hands high in ardent salute for you, beloved friends from my honest heart on top of the lighthouse illuming the thousands islands

Kuntjahjo, S.W. DAWN OVER PALAM

to M. Achuttan and S. Mukkerjee

A swarm of crows flies over Palam

but not as a sign of mourning

in the east a crimson red floods the earth with light

and the full moon lingers in the sky

US Airforce planes rise arrogantly into the sky

in the bars the officers loaf

but here, the Aeroflot stands splendidly

bringing Bernal and Nazeeha with peace in every heart.

Njoto HAIKU VARIATIONS

to Yoko

I

Flowers on the aerodrome hearts beat in union two fighters embrace

II

Fuji and Kenji nature is there to be harnessed man to be won

III

The Uji flows Senji’s spirit marches on relentlessly

IV

Chimneys without smoke the soil is hot the spirit is hot

V

Triumph of mankin waves that roll o’er the roof when will the people be master

VI

Simosiki soldiers departed smiling returning ghastly pake

VII

Hiroshima atrocities unbridled turned to boundless struggles

VII

On the right tidal waves on the left the beaches the train is heading for Sendayaya

IX

Thank you domo arigato half my heart I leave behind

Risakotta, F.L. YESTERDAY DAN TODAY

to the Arab people

yesterday a peasant a soldier without rank today he lies prostrate in Beirut the tale still shakes the earth

with trampling steps the colonialists swallow cities everything withers and lies scorched

no time to gaze at sweetheart and parents where will sorrow go where the enemy steps in front

yesterday a peasant a common soldier today he lies prostrate in Beirut facing victory in his heart

over the dust of the roads heavy steps resound the Arab patriots enter town their voices echo in the hearts arise ye Arab patriots the age of victory is right ahead

yesterday a peasant a soldier true today in Beirut he was slain in Beirut he will live again

Situmorang, Sitor. ASIAN-AFRICAN SOLIDARITY

It is a law of human society To meet and talk together Since solidarity Is the breath we breathe

It is a law of life To work and eat together Since the rice and bread we share Is indispensible to friendship

To work together, eat together (water is the bread we drink) Is the law of laws The sphere of liberated people

It is a law of human society To build and build Friendship of all continents Freedom for each, nation

This is the harmony of all harmony The oppressed people of Asia and Africa

Sudisman THE STRUGGLE OF EREVAN

Erevan the heart of Armenia has barren mountains rising high the snowy cap of Mount Ararat white as foam melts and flows to the Soviet-Turkish border For centuries Lake Sewan in did in trout abound and silently she saw oppresion lovely Armenia lay stiff and cold her bones covered with dried-up skin crawling up in resistance the struggle of Ajastan, of Erevan

On November twenty-nine in the twenties Erevan’s struggle found its throne red silk fluttered changing humiliation into shining faces the barren hills bear iron ore densely rise the electric poles and Ararat’s wines refreshes the thirsty

Lake Sewan bends it clear water down for coal The glittering gold sens beams Electric light the child of times the fruit of love Erevan’s struggle

Erevan has become young again the twitter of the swallows resound accompanied by native tones

Come, clap your hands and dance and sing Erevan’s struggle glows fiery red triumphant now and tomorrow human fingers are subjugating nature gone forever lamentations, laughter was born gone forever privations, nirwana was born Erevan’s struggle rejoices happiness