WS Rendra’s poetry – Poetry, the art of writing uses a variety of languages with additional semantics and metaphors to add to the beauty of the writing. Poetry is stanzas that contain a beautiful sentence that is arranged and packaged as attractively as possible. Poetry has a complete uniqueness accompanied by figure of speech, so poetry connoisseurs don’t get tired of enjoying it.
In the world of literature, in Indonesia itself, many famous writers have been born who are legendary. His names have gone global and can inspire anyone who reads and meditates on his poems.
One of them, is WS Rendra. Who doesn’t know the famous Indonesian poet whose real name is Willibrordus Surendra Broto? Just by looking at the name Rendra, Sinaumed’s definitely knows this poet right away, because his literary works are so popular.
Rendra is known as the richest poet in Indonesia. No wonder, because he is very productive in creating and using metaphors to support dramatic and visual imagery in his poems.
In fact, WS Rendra also earned the nickname The Peacock for his appearance as a poet who always fascinated the audience. A lover, like a peacock that stretches its beautiful tail to attract the attention of its lover. It is for them, lovers, WS Rendra pours out his love through poetry in his book entitled Poems of Love which can be found at sinaumedia.
However, before taking a peek at some of his love poems. The saying goes, if you don’t know, you don’t love. Come on, Sinaumed’s , let’s first get to know WS Rendra through his short biography.
Get to know WS Rendra at a glance
WS Rendra alias Willibrordus Surendra Broto, born in Solo on 7 November 1935. He is the son of Raden Cyprianus Sugeng Brotoatmodjo and Raden Ayu Catharina Ismadillah. The Rendra family is a Catholic family who grew up in a Javanese cultural environment.
His father was a teacher at a Catholic school in Solo which taught Indonesian and Javanese. Apart from that, Rendra’s father was also known as a performer of traditional drama or playwright.
Rendra’s artistic talent did not only come from his father. His mother was also an artist, namely a serimpi dancer at the Surakarta Hadiningrat Kasunanan Palace.
In addition, Rendra’s artistic talents grew because of his family’s habits. Born into a blue-blooded Javanese family, of course at special moments meetings between families were held.
At the event, one by one the family members were asked to sing spontaneously. However, it is usually preferred for children or young family members. It was at that time that Rendra’s talent began to show, even though he was only five years old.
In 1942, Rendra started his education by entering kindergarten. Until 10 years later, in 1952 he entered high school at the Catholic school, Solo where his father taught. Meanwhile, during school, his literary talent began to show when he was in junior high school. At that time, Rendra had started to show his ability by writing poetry, short stories, and plays for various school activities.
Not only writing, it turns out that he is also good at the stage. He began to recite his poems on the school stage. Not only that, Rendra also staged one of his plays entitled Fake Legs when he was in junior high school. Growing up with all these habits and an environment full of art and culture, it is not surprising that Rendra has become an artist who has produced numerous literary works, from poetry, plays, short stories, and others.
When he was in high school, Rendra returned to staging his drama entitled People at the Bend of the Road . It was from the drama performance that it was the first time that he received the main prize and award from the Regional Office of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Yogyakarta. The award made him very excited to continue working.
He began to publish his poetry for the first time in the mass media in 1952 through the Siasat magazine . After that, his poetry flowed smoothly to grace various magazines at that time, such as Story, Art, Basis, Confrontation, and New Strategy.
After graduating from high school, Rendra went to Jakarta with the intention of attending the Foreign Affairs Academy. Unfortunately, it turns out that the academy has closed. He also decided to go to Yogyakarta and enter the Faculty of Letters at Gadjah Mada University.
During his studies in Yogyakarta, Rendra was fond of participating in Yogyakarta theater activities. However, in 1954, Rendra received an invitation from the American government to attend a literature seminar at Harvard University, so he did not finish his studies at Gajah Mada University. Even so, Rendra received an Honoris Causa Doctorate from his campus.
In 1961, after returning from America, Rendra began to establish a theater group in Yogyakarta. However, the group stopped because he went back to America in 1964, because he received a scholarship to deepen his knowledge of drama and dance from the American Academy of Dramatical Art (AADA).
His departure for America at that time caused his theatrical activities in Yogyakarta to stop. Rendra completed his education abroad in 1967.
After completing his education, in 1968 Rendra re-established his theater with a new name, namely Bengkel Theatre . The play that became his first performance was Bip-Bop . The theater community he made became the talk of all Indonesian people, because it gave a new color and atmosphere to theater life in the country, especially Yogyakarta.
In his new theater, that’s where Rendra found his life partner. Rendra had a love of location with Sunarti Kelvin, a playwright in Bengkel Theater who inspired Rendra a lot in his work.
However, even though he was married to Sunarti. In 1970, Rendra married Sitoresmi Prabuningrat and converted from Catholicism to Islam. Since then, he started using the name Surendra Broto only.
WS Rendra’s Love Poems
From a glimpse of his life’s journey, of course this Indonesian writer is indeed adept at playing with words of love. Through his book entitled Poems of Love , published by Bentang Pustaka, WS Rendra has recorded 30 titles of his love poems.
He divided these love poems into three periods, namely the First Puberty (1954-1958) which he wrote during his student days at Gadjah Mada University. Second Puberty (1968-1977), namely poems written after he attended college in New York. Finally, Third Puberty (1992-2003), contains the poems he wrote during the 1998 reform period.
First Puberty (1954-1958)
In the First Puberty there are 24 poems, which contain stories of young love that are as they are. So sweet and romantic. Presented in a short, light, and simple form, but really shows the feelings of people who are in love.
The poems are entitled Request, Hair, Miss, Clothes, Papaya, Bicycle, Green Skirt, The Two of Us, His Passion, Temprament, Sculpture, To The Clouds Passing, Repentance, Bicycle Lover, Two Birds, One, Optimism, Pantun, Roosters , Be Not Away, Beloved, Evil Wind, Whispering To Your Own Ear, and Falling Flowers.
Request
O round moon
look out the window my love!
he sleeps alone,
just a friend of a longing heart.
Hair
My beloved hair
very beautiful and long.
he said,
that hair to ensnare my heart.
Miss
Fir tree from afar
imagine the length of her hair
So I miss my girlfriend too.
We both
Because our school is not finished yet
we are not married yet.
But in the soul
we have many grandchildren.
His passion
My boyfriend likes
heard me tell a story.
In storytelling I always satirized
that I love him very much.
Temperament
River stone
hit by the sun.
How hot!
When the night descends again
calm at times.
The moon is cool
and the water sings
endless.
If we get angry
on lovers
forever.
Sculpture
Under the sapodilla tree
on a bench
under the blue sky
above the gray earth
– Rest two longing hearts.
Two Birds
Are two birds
nest together.
We are both like birds
fly without a nest.
Already One
Your anxiety is my anxiety.
Let’s walk hand in hand
in real life,
and we love.
We stared into each other’s eyes for a long time
and understand more
can no longer be separated.
You are a pin
that has been pinned.
I am a ship
which has been anchored and moored.
We are both lava
which can no longer be described.
Optimism
Love us both
is a palace of porcelain.
The wind has brought peace
wrapped us in a hug.
The earth has given strength,
because we have stepped
with firmness.
Don’t be far away
Don’t be far away
like the moon
can only be seen.
Be the wind
caress my hair.
And we will
will always be together.
Beloved
My beloved is like a magpie.
Her voice is melodious.
His eyes are glass.
His heart is blue.
My beloved is like a magpie.
Nestled beautifully in the heart.
my magpie,
our hearts are a rainbow of dozen colors.
Autumn Flowers
Fall flowers
over the dead
all who were with him fell
My darling.
Fall flowers
above where you are buried
fall all matters of affairs between us.
Alright, let’s just let it go
no promises will see you in heaven
because in heaven we don’t need romance.
Asmara was only born on earth
(where everything ends in dead land)
it follows human life
and if life alone has fallen
he also fell together.
There are some memories left
but nothing more than fraud
or some sort of suicide deterrent.
There may also be sadness
it was to him a kind of price or honor
which will soon fall apart.
My darling.
Fall, yes, fall
all fall
life, romance, dew on flowers –
what we take is only useful.
Second puberty (1968-1977)
Unlike the First Puberty which contains short love poems. In the Second Puberty the poems presented are longer and more complex about life. The second puberty contains 3 poems entitled Letters from a Wife (Steacher, April 30, 1968), Behind You Back (1972), and Not in Madrid (1977).
The poem Not in Madrid tells about a dialogue. An epic romance through dialogue between a man and a woman. There are also several symbols that are always visible, one of which is the plus symbol (+).
Meanwhile, in the poem Surat a Wife, it tells about Rendra’s experience, who at that time was affectionately called Willy. When he was in junior high school, a male friend of his asked Rendra for help, so he could write a heartfelt poem for his girlfriend. The next day the woman came to Rendra, so that he could also write a reply letter for her male friend. Rendra was amused because the woman did not know that the woman had asked Rendra to answer her own writing.
It ‘s so funny . Sinaumed’s , did you also experience periods of sending love letters at school?
Furthermore, the third poem on the Second Puberty tells about the aging life of someone named Rusman. The series of words are arranged so simple and romantic.
Actually, the three poems were first published in newspapers and magazines when Rendra was still in junior high and high school. The publication of his poems in the newspaper started as a fad from his good friend, DS Mulyanto, who sent his poems to newspapers and magazines.
Third puberty (1992-2003)
Third puberty , namely love poems that Rendra wrote in 1992-2003. Especially during the 1998 reform era, this was because Rendra was also increasingly open to the face of the state and state administration. Therefore, the last three poems on the Third Puberty contain critical awareness of the state administration and anthropology of the Indonesian nation.
The three love poems are titled Love Poems Written at the Age of 57, Hai Ma!, and Maybe Because of the Moon .
Love Rhymes Written at Age 57
Any closed space will crack
because it contains time that always offsets
And finally it will explode
if the energy of time continues to be blocked
My love for you my Juwit
Genuine and real
It happens by itself, I don’t know why
I just realized that it actually exists
My love for you my Juwit
Then space and time
in my human life
Space love I empower
but time is out of reach
Now I realized
the age of love is longer than the age of romance
The treasure of love culture…
dating, separation, marriage
can not formulate time energy of love
And now my verse
Is it possible to formulate my love for you
The poem begins with the words,
and the words in poetry also space and time
away from the dictionary, away from history,
free from human corruption
Thus my verse
dare to represent my love for you
My Juwit
I’ve never been satisfied kissing you
You are like a book I never finish reading
You are the moss inside my skull
You’re not perfect, easy stomachache,
get headaches easily and your temperament is often high
You find it hard to face yourself
And behind your grace and flexibility
you are afraid of the world
My Juwit
Apart from analysis boxes
my love for you is real
You are not beautiful, but beautiful and juwita
Definitely not immaculata, but a myth
in my heart
Until here I end the reflections of my love for you
If you obey, there will be no end
I sincerely present to you:
My love for you has time
This verse will also take time
What is clear is that it will last longer
of my age and yours
Hi, Mom!
Ma, it’s not death that shakes my heart
but life that does not live
because it loses power and loses its nature
there are nights I walk the long hall
aimlessly anywhere
Cold air entered my empty body
even though there is no wind
the stars became fireflies
which further emphasizes the presence of darkness
no thoughts, no feelings, no nothing.
Life is mortal, Ma
but helplessness renders me absent
sometimes I feel cast out into the wilderness
shunned by Mother and Father and rejected by neighbors
or I was stranded in the market
I talk but people don’t listen
they tore up books and laughed at ideals
I’m angry, I’m scared, I’m shaking
but failed to compose language.
Life is mortal, Ma
that’s easy for me to accept
but sitting hugging knees alone in the savanna
make my life worthless
sometimes I feel like people are pulling me here and there
foaming at the mouth just from laughing
live polluted by pleasantries
and people pass the time with crazy fights
which is without a problem
or love without romance
and unfinished intercourse
Life is mortal of course, Ma
but a managed acrobatics of thought and falsehood
messed up my stomach then
pushed me screaming
while not knowing why
it feels like after dying over and over again.
There is nothing more surprising in this life.
But Ma, every time I realize that you are in my life
I feel the course of blood flow throughout my body.
My glands are working
my soul sings, the world is present
the gecko on the wall rang
the gardener was heard talking to his son
life becomes real, my nature returns.
Remembering you Ma, is remembering daily obligations
the simplicity of the prose language, the beauty of the poetry
We’re always having fun exchanging ideas, right Ma?
each side has goals
Each party has real obligations
Hi Mom!
Do you remember
I hug you on the boat
when your stomach hurts and I calm you down
with kisses on your neck?
Masyaallah… I’ve always been fascinated by the smell of your skin
Do you remember that time I said
doomsday may come, my life is full of meaning
Hehehe waahh.. I really have nothing to lose when I meet you in this life
and when I write poetry
I also feel that yesterday and tomorrow
is today.
Disaster and luck are the same.
The sky outside, the sky in the body is united in the soul.
Yes, Ma…
Maybe because of the Moon
The moon spreads the scent of lust
from his body.
Which then sticks to the leaves of the cape tree
who trembles.
A tomcat groaned
with a magic sound.
Saying poetry that he could not write.
And, Ma, I took your soul
which is far from my reach.
I wrote my love poem
Because I can’t whisper to you.
Missing wading Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
And all Sunday.
Hatch like the saliva of the sky
Who became the stars.
Crystals of hope and desire
flashing in the water
hit the sleeping stones.
Passion for work during the day
at night into a passionate romance.
Because of the stars, the cape tree,
wind, and nocturnal insects.
Ma, your sleeping body
lying on a sailboat
drifting in the sky
sail the sky.
So, those are the famous poems by WS Rendra. Even though times have become more modern, the existence of romantic poetry by senior writers will always be remembered. As the younger generation, of course we can’t forget this literary work …
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