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

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.”