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THE WOUNDED LAND

Poem by Mustiar Ar

Translated (Indonesia – English) by Leni Marlina

–

This earth is not merely a stretch of land,
within it flows the blood of our forebears.
Greedy hands gnaw away at the earth’s belly,
forests lose their hair, rivers carry their wounds.
Upon the barren soil, the people count their rice,
while those in power count their profits.
O, those in power, listen to the voice of the earth—
it is silent, but it never forgets.

–

Meulaboh, Aceh, Indonesia, 1980

—

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I AM NOT YET FINISHED WITH LIFE

Poem by Mustiar Ar

Translated (Indonesia – English) by Leni Marlina

–

I have fallen before, between silence and wounds,
yet the earth taught me how to rise again.
The sky knows how many times I have held back my tears,
and the night keeps the cries I have never spoken aloud.
I keep walking, though my steps are not always steady,
carrying dreams almost broken inside my chest.
For life is not about who is the strongest,
but who keeps enduring when loneliness arrives.
If today I can still write my name,
it is because hope has not yet chosen to leave.
Let time test my body and my soul,
for I am not yet finished with this life.

–

Meulaboh, Aceh, Indonesia, June 24th, 2026

—

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SILENCE CALLS MY NAME

Poem by Mustiar Ar

Translated (Indonesia – English) by Leni Marlina

–

Night slowly closes its door,
leaving me alone with the shadows.
In the distance, the wind calls my name,
like longing that cannot find an address.
I gaze at the sky without asking
why the stars have chosen to stay apart.
Perhaps silence is teaching me
that loss does not always mean the end.
Amid the darkness, I find a ray of light,
growing from a wound I once hated.
Now I am no longer afraid of silence,
for there I have found myself.

–

Meulaboh, Aceh, Indonesia, September 5th, 2026

—-

About the Poet — Mustiar Ar

Mustiar Ar, affectionately known as Bang One, was born in Meulaboh, West Aceh. He is known as a writer and arts practitioner. Rooted in simplicity, he writes about humanity, honesty, and the struggles of life. His works emerge from the streets, remain grounded in reality, and speak with a courageous yet compassionate heart.

—

About — 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.

———-

Kumpulan Puisi Karya Mustiar Ar: “TANAH YANG TERLUKA”

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TANAH YANG TERLUKA

Puisi: Mustiar Ar

–

Tanah ini bukan sekadar hamparan,
di dalamnya darah para pendahulu.
Tangan serakah menggerogoti perut bumi,
hutan kehilangan rambut, sungai membawa luka.
Di tanah kerontang, rakyat menghitung beras,
sementara penguasa menghitung keuntungan.
Duh, penguasa, dengarkan suara tanah—
ia diam, tetapi tak pernah lupa.

–

Meulaboh, Aceh, 1980

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AKU BELUM SELESAI DENGAN HIDUP

Puisi: Mustiar Ar

–

Aku pernah jatuh di antara sunyi dan luka,
namun tanah mengajariku cara untuk bangkit.
Langit tahu berapa kali aku menahan air mata,
dan malam menyimpan jerit yang tak pernah terucap.
Aku berjalan meski langkah tak selalu sempurna,
membawa mimpi yang nyaris patah di dada.
Sebab hidup bukan tentang siapa paling kuat,
melainkan siapa yang tetap bertahan ketika sepi.
Jika hari ini aku masih menulis namaku,
itu karena harapan belum memilih pergi.
Biarlah waktu menguji tubuh dan jiwaku,
sebab aku belum selesai dengan hidup ini.

–

Meulaboh, Aceh, 24 Juni 2026

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SUNYI MEMANGGIL NAMAKU

Puisi: Mustiar Ar

–

Malam menutup pintunya perlahan,
meninggalkan aku bersama bayang-bayang.
Di kejauhan, angin menyebut namaku,
seperti rindu yang tak menemukan alamat.
Aku menatap langit tanpa bertanya,
mengapa bintang memilih berjauhan.
Barangkali sunyi sedang mengajarkanku,
bahwa kehilangan tak selalu berarti berakhir.
Di antara gelap, kutemukan seberkas cahaya,
tumbuh dari luka yang pernah kubenci.
Kini aku tak lagi takut pada kesunyian,
sebab di sanalah aku menemukan diriku sendiri.

–

Meulaboh, Aceh, 5 September 2026

——

Tentang Penyair – Mustiar Ar

Mustiar Ar, atau yang akrab dengan sebutan Bang One, lahir di Meulaboh, Aceh Barat. Ia dikenal sebagai penulis dan penggiat seni. Dari kesederhanaan, ia menulis tentang kemanusiaan, kejujuran, dan perjuangan hidup. Karyanya lahir dari jalanan, berpijak pada realitas, dan berbicara dengan hati yang berani serta santun.

—-

Tentang Penerjemah — Leni Marlina

Leni Marlina adalah penyair, penulis, penerjemah, dan dosen pada Departemen Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Bahasa dan Seni, Universitas Negeri Padang, Indonesia, sejak 2006. Karya kreatif dan akademiknya meliputi puisi, fiksi, esai, kritik sastra, penerjemahan, dan kajian literasi.