10 Examples of Oka Sukanta's Poems

Putu Oka Sukanta and Examples of His Poetry - Who is this poet who came from Bali and was a political prisoner? His name is Putu Oka Sukanta who was born in Singaraja, July 29, 1939. He started his pioneering work when he was 16 years old. He was active in writing poetry, short stories, novels, and children's stories both while still in Bali, and after moving to Yogyakarta and Jakarta. He has also been active in drama performances.

In 1958, Putu Oka Sukanta was named Bali's best proclamation. In 1982, he became the 2nd winner for storytelling at the Environmental Fairy Tale Competition in Jakarta.

In 1982 and 1983, Putu Oka Sukanta attended Popular Theater Workshops in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. In April and May 1985, he was invited to lecture on literature and read poetry in Tembang Jalak Bali at several universities in Australia (Flinders University, Monash University, ANU, Sidney University). In addition to Australia, he also reads his poetry in Jakarta and Malaysia (Language and Library Council).

Putu Oka Sukanta's other books (some of which have been published in foreign languages) are I Belog (Balinese children's stories, 1980), Selat Bali (poetry collection, 1982), Salam or Greetings (bilingual poetry collection, 1986). ), Tembang Jalak Bali or The Song of The Starlings (a collection of bilingual poems, 1986 and 2000), Tas or Die Tasche (a collection of short stories, 1987), Luh Galuh (a collection of short stories, 1988), Sweat Mutiara or The Sweat of Pearls ( collection of short stories, 1991 and 2006), Matahari, the Berlin Wall or Die Sonne Die Mauer Berlin (poetry collection, 1992), Water jokes, Air jokes (novel, 1999), Merajut Harkat (novel, 1999), Kerlap Kerlip Mozaik (novel, 1999). 2000), Above the Day Under the Night (novel, 2004), Wounded Longing or Rindu Terluka (collection of short stories, 2004 and 2005).

Putu Oka Sukanta's literary writings are also found in Indonesian Contemporary Progressive Poetry (Indonesia, 1963), The Prison Where I Live (London, 1996), Voice of Conciences (USA, 1995), Bali Behind The Seen (Australia, 1997), Black Cloud Over Paradise Isle (USA, 1997), Manageri IV (Indonesia, 1998), and Silenced Voices (Hawaii, 2000).

Here are 10 examples of Putu Oka Sukanta's poems that you can listen to:


My name is E.T.

Good morning, good evening, good evening
Is anyone home?
Kulonuwun – is anyone home, Punten – are you at home? Jero meduwe jero – are you at home?
Since no one answered, I sat on the porch with my wife and kids
One day one of the employers came to check
“My name is E.T., sir.”
I'll show you my ID card and family ID card
Legal evidence that I carry everywhere
“Oh, yes, Second Class”


In Cell

I'm like water
Settle after being shaken
Let the foam soar
Let the trash form
Get rid of the fake
One sunny morning
I'm like water
Settle after being shaken
Look inside
Clarity surrounded by mist
And the figure that appears in its entirety
Not just someone at all

I'm like water like
What settles after being shaken by the darkness disappears
And the light shines smoothly
It's not just someone anymore


They Give Me

They gave me a lump of courage
Flowing all over my body
They give a light
Shining in my eyes

They give you a cup of bile
Strengthen my every step
They give a stone
The one I destroy and make a highway

They wreak whips on my body
Which strengthens the muscle at the base of my tongue
What else can you give
To test my pride?


Moon on the Terrace

Luminous pottery circle

blue silk recesses from
the terrace meet eyes
peace of mind flashesfor a moment before
remembering friendsin the refugee camp

The moon above theterrace, the natural
light pottery moonabove the shelter

RM, 2007


More often

More and more we ask
not only where are we now
the exhaust fogcloses the view isn't
it still in the houseof the two of us
Doubt, doubt, indecision, indecision

Who are you my wife?
who am i your husband

Horse racing, horse whipped gallop
carry ideas, as well as God's mandate
has become a mantle or a heartbeat
Ah, it's time tolook for the terminal
for a while, at leastreminisce about love
in faceless longing

Jakarta, 2006


Please Mr New President

please be careful with the ass
don't get wet too much licked

please be careful buying glasses
don't choose the wrong horse glasses

please check your teeth often
don't let the fangs lengthen by

yourself please makespecial instructions
that it is mandatoryto install mouse
traps in the workplaceand in the chest

Please make it mandatoryevery morning for head
exercises to look leftand right, back to front
up and down, forthe rich, the police,
politicians and soldiersare no exception

please sir-new president remind the men
don't forgetyourself to remember
your grandmother is a girl
to remember his mother is a girl
to remember hiswife to be a girl
to remember his girlfriend is a
girl to rememberto have a daughter
(sorry my gay friends, and
lesbians aresymbols, not just sex)
we wouldn't exist if they perished

ah it's okay too much I'm asking for help
I mean well, so as notto forget people asking
for help or just beingconsidered a howling dog

Once again, I beg of you please
don't say too much you know
there are still manydiscriminatory rules
you know that makesme a prisoner you know
please don't stay, let
alone just say you know

Tabik Mr President-new
I will often send poetry please
don't reply bysending the police

Jakarta, September 2004


Past

It's not sorrow, it's not bitter,it's cloudy, it's not longing,
sometimes it's a distant housethat is getting farther and farther away
not only obsolete album

but the spine of the past
the tree that sheds the leaves of revenge
yellow, dry absorbed by the

earth's fibers ifyou ask: who am I?
I answered briefly, but I hope you are not disappointed
: I hope it's not Gautama who
throws the raft awayafter being unused
I am Gautama who builds nirvana while searching

RM, November 2003


Poverty

In room 210 you are
constantly harassing
Ah, I'm uncomfortable,give me a moment to break
free, give me a momentto reflect on myself
in luxury I want to forget poverty, you know?

Ubud, October 11, 2004


Statue of Liberty

Gaze at the Statue of Liberty
Remember the poetry of living in prison

New York, 2000

Brother Agam

you never go where you are now

left behind poetry
grows pounding tyranny
taking noteslatini, bandar betsi,
reformation of yourtwins carves poetry
to the limit of human

you never go where you are now
suddenly i feel alone

Jakarta, 2003

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