Indonesian Language and Culture Poetry from Year of The Poet (Vol 72)
Featured in The Year of the Poet December, 2019 Volume 72.
Madura Peaceful Listening
Madura a peaceful Indonesian island
means “paradise” in Tamil
we don’t hear too much about her
perhaps because “anteŋ” the word for peace
in Madurese also means still, calm, gentle
and most of all quiet
not speaking much
giving more time to listen
to the waves and waterfalls
the wild Banteng and Balinese cattle
and occasionally a wandering whistling duck
Shirt of Peace
Words are amazing
a few letters carry so much meaning
unique in different languages
even in the same language
In Mengen
an Austronesian language of New Britain in Oceania
‘Malo” is peace
as well as
a cloth or bark wrapping like a shirt
the shirt of a man
the shirt of a tree
compared in four letters
“Malo” also to become quiet
calm and be at peace
“Ka malo!” is to tell someone
to be quiet
listen and “malolo” means ruins
I wonder at these letters carrying meaning
the inner peace of knowing you are love
that someone would give you the shirt off their back
quietly even when your life feels like it is in ruins
Maaropo Calm
Words describe actions
building an image of a life
on the Oceanic island of Vanuatu
in Mele “maaropo” describes
what a fire does when it burns low
stream subsiding
or when the swelling goes down
and the wind dies
as the sea calms
flattening after a storm
“Tam̄ateemanu” is quietness
while “manumanu” describes a person
a hostage exchanged between villages
to ensure peace “tam̄ate”
calm of the sea and a ceremony
to commemorate peace between tribes
or honor the death of a chief
“Marie” is good
a common greeting “kor ragonaji marie?”
do you feel well?
as “oina” describes the tide when moderately low,
especially in the morning calm
and “sale-jiijiro” is to drift along in calm waters
looking down for fish
Originally published in The Year of The Poet (Vol 72) at http://www.innerchildpress.com/the-year-of-the-poet.php on December 1, 2019.
