A lone

His life is getting worse of lonely, worse of empty
even worse off at night time
he shouted and scared
gulped off of his room of emptyness

how he hates. himself of all
whose wishing a woman of mate

ev'ry threats in ev'ry corners. Even coming closer
within scares of waiting he whisper a name

he laiden down and shouted. Who's calling is it?
tiredly he wept: Mother! Mother!


Chairil Anwar
Februari 1943

Centrum

I ever drink out of your eyes
firmly respect the days
guess not the whirling leaves
falling to burry you laid down in the haze

that was: the sun laying
burns the grass in dying
as lonely sky breathing
draughty song is blowing

and when the bell rang
it was you home, I’d thought.
soon I opened the door:
it seems
just a fuzzy wind blew


[translated from: sumber, wing karjo's selembar daun, 1974]