Si Anak Hilang The Lost Child

Si Anak Hilang

Pada terik tengah hari
titik perahu timbul di danau
ibu cemas ke pantai berlari
menyambut anak lama ditunggu
 
Perahu titik menjadi nyata
pandang berlinang air mata
anak tiba dari rantau
sebaik turun dipeluk ibu
 
Bapak duduk di pusat rumah
seakan tak acuh menanti
anak di sisi ibu gundah
-laki-laki layak menahan hati-
 
Anak duduk disuruh bercerita
ayam di sembelih nasi dimasak
seluruh desa bertanya-tanya
sudah beristri sudah beranak?
 
Si anak hilang kini kembali
tak seorang dikenalnya lagi
berapa kali panen sudah
apa saja telah terjadi?
 
Seluruh desa bertanya-tanya
sudah beranak sudah berapa?
Si anak hilang berdiam saja
ia lebih hendak bertanya
 
Selesai makan ketika senja
ibu menghampiri ingin disapa
anak memandang ibu bertanya
ingin tahu dingin Eropa
 
Anak diam mengenang lupa
dingin Eropa musim kotanya
ibu diam berhenti berkata
tiada sesal hanya gembira
 
Malam tiba ibu tertidur
bapa lama sudah mendengkur
di pantai pasir berdesir gelombang
tahu si anak tiada pulang
 

The Lost Child

In the midday heat
a speck appears on the lake.
The anxious mother runs down to the beach
to welcome her long-awaited child.
 
The boat takes shape.
As she stares her tears flow -
the child has come back from his journeying.
The moment he sets foot, mother embraces him.
 
Father sits at the centre of the house
as if he couldn't care less.
The child is crestfallen at his mother's side -
but men know to restrain their feelings.
 
The child sits down, is told to talk,
a chicken is slaughtered, rice cooks.
The whole village is asking,
'Are you married, any children?'
 
The lost child has come back
but now he knows no-one.
How many harvests have been and gone?
What has happened?
 
The whole village is asking,
'Any children, how many?'
The lost child is silent -
He has questions of his own.
 
At dusk after the meal
his mother moves closer, she wants him to speak.
The child stares, the mother asks
if it is cold in Europe.
 
The child is silent, remembering forgotten things -
the cold of Europe, the seasons of its cities.
His mother is quiet, has ceased talking -
no resentment, only joy.
 
Night has come, mother is asleep,
father has been snoring some time.
The waves swish on the beach.
They know the child has not returned.
 

This poem is taken from his collection of 1955, Dalam Sajak.

The Lost Child

In the midday heat
the speck of a boat emerges on the lake
mother is anxious, to the beach she runs
to welcome the long-awaited child
 
The dot of a boat becomes real
looking at it the tears flow
the child has arrived from its wanderings
as soon as it steps off mother embraces it
 
Father sits in the centre of the house
as if he hadn't bothered waiting
the child feels dejected at mother's side
- men properly restrain their feelings -
 
The child sits down, is told to talk
a chicken is slaughtered, rice is cooking
The whole village keeps asking
are you married, any children?
 
The lost child is now back
Not a single person it knows anymore
How many harvests have there been
Whatever has happened?
 
The whole village keeps asking
Any children, how many?
The lost child just keeps silent
It rather would want to ask the questions
 
After the meal at dusk
mother approaches him, wants to be talked to
the child looks, the mother asks
wanting to know if it is cold in Europe
 
The child keeps silent remembering things forgotten
the cold of Europe, the seasons of its cities
mother is quiet, has stopped talking
without resentment, only with joy
 
Night has come, mother has fallen asleep
father has been snoring long since
on the beach the waves swish
knowing, the child has not returned
 

Original Poem by

Sitor Situmorang

Translated by

Ulrich Kratz with The Poetry Translation Workshop Language

Indonesian

Country

Indonesia