August 17 (On Indonesia's Independence Day) Poem by Aj Anwar

the wicked are always
the most persistent in their
endeavors for wrong reasons

it takes only a few bad men
to unsettle a nation

few corrupt officials to drain
public money

few boneheaded policy-makers
to distort real progress

few selfish politicians to keep
the gullible divided

few scheming provocateurs
to incite chaos

few radical zealots to spoil
religion

few stealth hoaxers
to nurture biases

few thugs to intimidate
communities

......
......

and just "a drop of blue dye
to ruin the fresh white milk"

and the fact that they're ample,
never just a few, the nation
has only dire chances

and Happy Independence Day
dear fellow countrymen
Happy Independence

Let's march in her defense!


[Jkt, August 2018]


_________

The above poem is my translation of the Indonesian version.


17 Agustus


orang jahat selalu lebih kukuh
dalam niat busuknya

tak perlu banyak orang
untuk merusak sebuah negara

cukup beberapa koruptor untuk
menyikat ludes uang rakyat

beberapa pejabat bebal
menggagalkan pembangunan

beberapa politisi
memecah belah rakyat

beberapa provokator licik
untuk memicu kerusuhan

beberapa orang fanatik
membenturkan agama

beberapa tangan terselubung
merawat prasangka

beberapa preman
meresahkan masayarakat

……………
……………

cukup "setitik nila
merusakkan susu sebelanga"

dan bahwa jumlah mereka melimpah,
tak pernah cuma seberapa, maka negara
hanya punya peluang terbuang

dan Selamat Hari Kemerdekaan
saudara sebangsa, Selamat
Hari Kemerdekaan

Mari berbaris membelanya!


[Jkt, Agt 2018]