Monday, October 31, 2011

I Am Here Again

Image: mittencandleco.com

By: Yohanes Manhitu 

The wind is playing now
with the leaves of the trees
growing in this little place,
where people come to pray.

Today I am here again.
And just like when I was here
in the years that have passed,
peace and silence I can find.

This is peace, not loneliness.
Even when you seem to be alone,
the universe is praying with you
before the grotto of the Madonna.

The wind is playing again now
and the leaves are all dancing.
Since the city is far away,
it’s time to say goodbye.

Sendangsono, 12 October 2011

A WOMAN CALLED LASMI a novel by Nusya Kuswantin, translated by John Manhitu (Yohanes Manhitu)


A Woman Called Lasmi, originally written in Bahasa Indonesia under the title Lasmi (Kakilangit Kencana Jakarta, 2009), has its setting in the year of 1965, two decades after the independence of the Republic of Indonesia, in a sub-district of Malang District, East Java. Probably people would say this is a novel with historical setting or even a political one, but it actually is a story regarding a passionate love of a man towards his wife who was cadre of Gerwani (Indonesian Woman Movement), an organization which was banned under the regime of General Suharto, for its alleged role in the failed coup blamed on the PKI (Indonesian Communist Party). (Source: http://ja-jp.facebook.com/notes/monkey-business/uwrf-2011-events-hosted-by-three-monkeys-and-il-giardino/249416641768488). It was launched at Three Monkeys Cafe Bali on Friday, October 7, 2011.

A Woman Called Lasmi was translated by John Manhitu (originally called Yohanes Manhitu)