/1/
UNTIL THE FURTHEST EDGE
Poem by Joko Pranoto
Tranlated (Indonesia – English) by Leni Marlina
–
at the furthest edge
I have come to understand
that
farewell
is
inevitable
Baca juga: MAMAD
what is spoken is swallowed whole
what is offered is scattered
what is read slips into forgetting
what is lifted takes root in the earth
dissolving
back into its first beginning
I also have understood
when darkness tightens around the throat
the rose once planted
releases its fragrance
tartil
the patient cadence of recitation
kindles
light
tafakur
a humbled soul turning inward,
slowly grinding
the shackles to dust
at the furthest edge
I
am
and
am no more
–
Palembang, Indonesia
August 9th, 2026
—
/2/
DIVINE ENCHANTMENT
Poem by Joko Pranoto
Translated (Indonesia – English) by Leni Marlina
–
I had almost laid my weariness down at the edge of the fire,
had your fleeting face not come to rest upon my eyelids.
“How could you have fallen this far into despair?”
Was it not already written in the lines of your hand
the steps, the encounters, the farewells,
and that small mouthful of hope?
The pebbles I once cast into the depths of the sea
now pile themselves inside my mind.
“Then will you try to enchant the ocean into dryness?”
Every incantation will evaporate
when the soul within you begins to wither.
For so long I have bowed my head,
gathering, strand by strand, the threads of prayer.
Yet desire remained unanswered.
“The heavens are testing
how steadfastly you will fulfill your devotion.”
The harder the blows descend,
the more your silence must stand like stone beneath the sea.
The waves will not rage forever;
the shore, in time, is destined to turn them into foam.
My patience is not as boundless as the ocean.
“At the very least,
do not let the colour of your faith fade.”
Ask gently,
so that a narrow passage into grace may open.
One day, the farthest edge of solitude
will fill with white wings,
waiting for your steadfastness.
And then,
you will soar
straight through the clear light.
–
Palembang, Indonesia
August 15th, 2026
—
/3/
FALLIBILITY
Poem by Joko Pranoto
Translated (Indonesia – English) by Leni Marlina
–
the dusty traces I have left behind
slowly washed clean
by the rain of my tears
tomorrow’s journey
its colours
remain veiled
dusty
slipping
blue
ashen
I want
there to remain
tears
–
Palembang, Indonesia
September 1st, 2026
—
/4/
THE GIRL ON THE SILENT ROAD
(Part I)
Poem by Joko Pranoto
Translated (Indonesia – English) by Leni Marlina
–
Are you the girl
whose lip-line I once admired?
It has been so long
since we last exchanged a word.
I have learned to savour silence
alone,
while you remain caught
in a trap
of your own avoidance of light.
Could we ever
become one?
I would be free
to trace
the contour of your lips;
you could linger
inside my silence.
I have yet to find a way out of the trap
Nor have I found the courage
to give you
my silence.
But I have begun
to dare
invite you
to read
a verse
of the God’s Words
though you still
stumble
over its letters.
Are you
still
my girl?
–
Palembang, Indonesia
September 2nd, 2026
—
/5/
THE GIRL ON THE SILENT ROAD
(Part II)
Poem by Joko Pranoto
Translated (Indonesia – English) by Leni Marlina
–
I do not want you
to hurry into loving me.
Let it come by degrees,
like the drawing of breath
and the beating of a heart.
I have begun to understand your poem,
as you, little by little,
sink deeper into my silence.
Suddenly,
a crimson moon
the birds of Ababil
break the snare.
Your poem becomes tartil,
which I recite
with reverence.
My silence becomes longing,
which you hold
close against yourself.
When the sun rises higher,
it is written
in your eyes:
you do not truly
love me yet.
I will set time free
to offer up its patience,
to arrive
with love
unfolding.
–
Palembang, Indonesia
September 3rd, 2026
—
/6/
THE GIRL ON THE SILENT ROAD
(Part III)
Poem by Joko Pranoto
Translated (Indonesia – English) by Leni Marlina
–
at the edge of dusk when the sky pales into blue
in the sparse drizzle,
I accompany her as she buries beauty
the proud green peacock lies dead
I see her lips more unadorned
the line of her lips more simple
I like it
she scatters roses over the grave, then reads a poem, her face more serene
now I let you go, fate has brought our meeting to its end
the eternal painting upon your wings has faded
all colour is gone
your beauty is transient
as are you, my beloved, the pine, the cactus, the tulsi, the banyan, the lotus will all return to earth
to let go is not to erase
but to forget with patience
for a moment I stand still
I move toward you
gathering all my courage to take your fingers in mine
you nod
we walk side by side
leaving behind:
wet earth
drizzle
rose petals beginning to lift upon the wind
memories
the grave
the place where you and I return
carrying
your poem
framed in white
–
Palembang, Indonesia
September 3rd, 2026
—
/7/
DAWN SPLIT OPEN
Poem by Joko Pranoto
Translated (Indonesia – English) by Leni Marlina
–
all through the night
I devoured Kabbalah
wanting to understand:
why they are called great
before dawn
I summoned the senses
to pierce every line
read every colour
searching for an answer:
could the birds’ council
truly be so perfect?
before I could grasp even a single line
of the inner universe of Sheikh Siti Jenar
I was already spent
sleep
offered me cotton
through the haze of drowsiness
I saw blessed feet
walking lightly
toward the call
ah, what a misfortune
that was the call
I should have worshipped
if I remain this way
I will have become a corpse
before I ever die!
–
Banyuasin, Indonesia
September 5th, 2026
—
/8/
A CRACKED FACE, WEEPING IN THE MIRROR
Poem by Joko Pranoto
Translated (Indonesia – English) by Leni Marlina
–
if I were allowed to choose
I would choose to run
leaving your desire
pierced by bidara thorns
hollow counsel
withered shoots
a troubled face
even the veil is soaked
during tadarus
thick with intrigue
the scripture turns black
faith torn asunder
are you still worthy
to claim yourself
a descendant of the saints?
now,
faith lies pierced
by wild grass
–
Palembang, Indonesia,
September, 2026
__
/9/
THE BLUE ENCOUNTER
Poem by Joko Pranoto
Translated (Indonesia – English) by Leni Marlina
–
O beautiful one,
since night descended,
I have been knocking at the door,
hoping my greeting will be answered
and my remorse dissolve.
I will not move away
until my heart finds its place
beside a small remnant of heedlessness,
washed clean.
Tomorrow will surely bring
a soft breath of longing
for the blue encounter
at the far edge of silence.
within silence
I feel my wounds begin to heal,
my soul grow still,
my heart learn to forgive.
I will keep knocking.
–
Jogja, Indonesia
September 15th, 2026
—
/10/
WHEN LOVE COMES TO AN END
Poem by Joko Pranoto
Translated (Indonesia – English) by Leni Marlina
–
severed
gone
ah,
every meeting
is only passing
you uproot
the soul of infatuation
before the flower
finds its colour
ending
ma’rifat
waiting
within
the dark
–
Jogja, Indonesia
September 17th, 2026
—-
Brief Information About the Poet – Joko Pranoto
Joko Pranoto is Indonesian poet, born in Binjai, North Sumatra (1965). He grew up shaped by a family of freedom fighters. An agricultural graduate from Medan, he built a distinguished corporate career, retiring in 2022 as Government Relations Director for the Cargill Group (Sumatra).
His lifelong passion for the arts spans decades of writing poetry and award-winning playwriting, including Subulan (1988) and founding the Teater Anak Negeri group. Following his retirement, he returned to literature, publishing some of his poetry anthologies, guided by his personal philosophy: “To rise without losing virtue, to bow without losing dignity.”
—-
Brief Information About the Translator — Leni Marlina
Leni Marlina is an Indonesian poet, writer, translator, and lecturer in the English Department, Faculty of Languages and Arts, at Universitas Negeri Padang, Indonesia since 2006. Her creative and scholarly work spans poetry, fiction, essays, literary criticism, review, translation, and literacy studies. In 2025, she was honoured with the Most Outstanding Writer Award by SatuPena West Sumatra. She currently serves as Editor of SAN Group Media included Negerinews.com & Suaraanaknegeri.com
——–
Indonesian Version
Kumpulan Puisi Dwibahasa Karya Joko Pranoto – Penerjemah Leni Marlina: “GADIS DI JALAN BISU”
/1/
PERTEMUAN BIRU
Puisi: Joko Pranoto
–
duhai jelita, sejak malam jatuh, aku sudah mengetuk pintu. berharap sapa berbalas dan sesalku jadi luruh.
aku tidak akan beranjak, sebelum hatiku bersanding pada sejumput lalai yang terbasuh.
esok pasti ada semilir kerinduan pada pertemuan biru di ujung sunyi.
di dalam sunyi – terasa lukaku sembuh, jiwa menjadi patuh, hati memaafkan
aku akan terus mengetuk
–
Jogja | Indonesia
15 September 2026
—
/2/
SAMPAI PADA BATAS
Puisi: Joko Pranoto
–
sampai batas ini
aku mengerti
bahwa
pamit
adalah
niscaya
yang terucap tertelan
terhidang terurai
terbaca lupa
terangkat tertanam
lebur
pada semula
aku pun mengerti
ketika gulita mengekang
mawar yang ditanam
memberi aroma
tartil
yang sabar
memberi
nur
tafakur
dari jiwa yang tunduk
melumat belenggu
sampai batas ini
aku
ada
dan
tiada
–
Palembang | Indonesia
9 Agustus 2026
—
/3/
KHILAF
Joko Pranoto
jejak-jejak berdebu yang kutinggalkan
perlahan terbasuh hujan air mataku
perjalanan esok
tak tersingkap
warnanya
berdebu
tergelincir
biru
abu-abu
aku ingin
tetap
ada air mata
–
Palembang | Indonesia
1 September 2026
—-
/4/
GADIS DI JALAN BISU
(Bagian: 1)
Puisi Joko Pranoto
–
kaukah gadis yang dulu kukagumi bentuk garis bibirmu?
begitu lama kita tidak saling menyapa
aku menikmati sunyi
sendiri
sedang kau terperangkap
menghindari cahaya
apakah kita dapat bersatu?
aku akan leluasa
mengeja garis bibirmu
kau bisa menikmati sunyiku
aku belum punya cara
melepaskan perangkap
aku pun belum berani
memberimu sunyi
tapi, aku sudah mulai
berani mengajakmu
membaca
se ayat firman
meski kau masih
terbata-bata mengeja
kau masih gadisku?
–
Palembang | Indonesia
2 September 2026
—-
/5/
GADIS DI JALAN BISU
(Bagian: 2)
Puisi: Joko Pranoto
–
aku tidak ingin kau buru-buru mencintaiku
biarlah datang berangsur
seperti tarikan napas dan denyut jantung
aku mulai memahami puisimu
seperti kau kian larut pada sunyiku
seketika bulan merah saga
burung ababil
memecahkan perangkap
puisimu menjadi tartil
yang kueja dengan hikmat
sunyiku menjadi rindu
yang kau dekap
sangat erat
ketika matahari meninggi
terlukis di matamu
kau belum benar-benar
mencintaiku
akan kubebaskan
waktu
menyuguhkan sabar
hadir
bersama cinta yang merekah
–
Palembang | Indonesia
3 September 2026
—
/6/
GADIS DI JALAN BISU
(Bagian: 3)
Puisi: Joko Pranoto
–
di ujung senja ketika langit memucat biru
dalam gerimis yang renggang, aku menemaninya mengubur pesona
burung merak hijau kebanggaan mati
kulihat bibirnya lebih bersahaja
garis bibirnya lebih sederhana – aku suka
ia taburi makam dengan mawar, lalu membaca puisi, rautnya lebih teduh
kini aku melepasmu, takdir menyudahi perjumpaan kita
lukisan abadi pada sayap-sayapmu pupus
segala warna lenyap
keindahanmu nisbi
seperti juga aku, kekasihku, pinus, kaktus, tulsi, beringin, teratai akan terurai
melepas bukan meniadakan
tetapi melupakan dengan sabar
sejenak aku tertegun
aku mendekatimu
segenap keberanian kukumpulkan untuk menggenggam jemarimu
kau mengangguk
berjalan beriring
meninggalkan:
tanah basah
gerimis
kelopak mawar yang mulai diterbangkan angin
kenangan
makam
tempat kau – aku
kembali
membawa
puisimu
berpigura putih
–
Palembang | Indonesia, 2026
—
/7/
SUBUH TERBELAH
Puisi: Joko Pranoto
–
sepanjang malam
kulahap kabbalah
ingin mengerti:
mengapa mereka disebut hebat
menjelang fajar
kuajak indra –
menembus setiap garis
membaca warna
mencari jawab:
begitu sempurnakah
musyawarah burung?
belum sempat kupahami sebaris pun tentang jagat batin syekh siti jenar – aku lunglai
kantuk memberi kapuk
dalam nanar
kulihat kaki-kaki diberkati
berjalan ringan
menuju seruan
ah, celaka
itu seruan yang seharusnya kupuja
bila aku terus begini
aku telah jadi bangkai
sebelum mati!
–
Banyuasin | Indonesia
5 September 2026
—
/8/
WAJAH RETAK TANGIS BERCERMIN
Puisi: Joko Pranoto
–
bila aku boleh memilih
kupilih berlari
membiarkan gairahmu
tertusuk duri bidara
petuah hampa
tunas-tunas layu
wajah risi
kelambu pun basah
ketika tadarus
penuh siasat
kitab menjadi hitam
keyakinan terkoyak
masih pantaskah
kau mengaku
titisan para wali?
kini,
iman tertikam ilalang
–
Palembang | Indonesia
Joko Pranoto
—-
/9/
PERTEMUAN BIRU
Puisi: Joko Pranoto
–
duhai jelita, sejak malam jatuh, aku sudah mengetuk pintu. berharap sapa berbalas dan sesalku jadi luruh.
aku tidak akan beranjak, sebelum hatiku bersanding pada sejumput lalai yang terbasuh.
esok pasti ada semilir kerinduan pada pertemuan biru di ujung sunyi.
di dalam sunyi – terasa lukaku sembuh, jiwa menjadi patuh, hati memaafkan
aku akan terus mengetuk
–
Jogja | Indonesia
15 September 2026
—–
/10/
KETIKA CINTA BERAKHIR
Puisi: Joko Pranoto
–
putus
pergi
ah,
perjumpaan adalah nisbi
kau cabut batin kasmaran sebelum bunga berwarna
berakhir
makrifat
menanti
dalam
gelap
–
Jogja | Indonesia
17 September 2026
—-
Info Singkat Mengenai Penyair – Joko Pranoto
Joko Pranoto merupalqn penyair yang juga mantan praktisi korporat.
Lahir di Binjai, Sumatera Utara (1965), Joko Pranoto dibesarkan dalam keluarga pejuang yang menanamkan nilai keberanian dan cinta tanah air sejak dini. Lulusan Fakultas Pertanian Medan ini meniti karier profesional di industri perkebunan kelapa sawit hingga pensiun pada 2022 sebagai Government Relations Director Cargill Group wilayah Sumatera.
Kecintaannya pada seni telah terpupuk sejak muda melalui penulisan puisi dan teater (1985–2000). Naskah dramanya, Subulan, memenangkan penghargaan Pekan Teater/Sayembara Penulisan Naskah Drama Dewan Kesenian Medan (1988), serta mendirikan Teater Anak Negeri. Usai purna tugas, ia kembali ke dunia sastra dengan menerbitkan sejumlah buku antologi puisi.
Bagi Joko Pranoto, hidup adalah keseimbangan antara pencapaian dan kerendahan hati: “Menjulang tanpa kehilangan nurani, merunduk tanpa kehilangan harga diri.”
