Contemplating Upon A Crater Poem by RIC BASTASA

both of us manage to climb uphill
on a rainy day
to look closely upon the crater of
Kawatu
fuming sulfur gas on its side
and acid river on its basin

we have same thoughts
about how death can smell like that
how terrible
when its fury finally comes out someday
to cover perhaps the whole city
of Bandung

we keep our bodies warm and close
under one black umbrella
which the strong wind from the high mountains
break its thin metallic bones

the rain becomes heavy
spectators take shelter inside a concrete cottage
she takes time away to join another group
i am left alone
wet in the rain
brave in the wind

i have nothing to fear
for years my life has been wasted
in the luxuries of my academe
in the selfishness of
my dreams

i think
how nature perhaps can check
what real dreams are made of.