Inside Indonesia 51 - Poem from prison

no. 51 July- September 1997		Poem from prison From Sajak-sajak cinta dari balik terali (Love poems from behind bars) by Bambang Isti Nugroho, published by Penerbit Widya Mandala, Yogyakarta, 1994. Born in 1960, Bambang Isti Nugroho is a Yogyakarta-based writer active in journalism, theatre and literature. In 1985 he was one of the founders of Palagan, a study group concerned with issues of social justice and literature. In 1989 he was arrested, along with two other student activists from Yogyakarta, and tried under Indonesia's infamous 1963 Subversion Law. (See Inside Indonesia 19, July 1989). Sentenced to eight years, he served a term of six years in Yogyakarta's Wirogunan Prison. Keith Foulcher was the translator.
		*Dreaming I was a bridegroom* The white bread you sent I've already eaten and the letter you slipped in I've already read I was so moved by the dignity of your feelings and the strength of your spirit In my narrow cell under military detention with its cold and smelly floor my sleep was decorated with dreams dreams of being a bridegroom But there was something that made me nervous for all who were there at the wedding were wearing uniforms and carrying guns We were handcuffed and I could hear someone pounding a judge's gavel Yes, it was a strange and frightening dream but still I enjoyed dreaming I was a bridegroom Even with my hands bound sleeping in my narrow cell that was cold and full of mosquitoes Something made me sad when I was awoken from the dream it all disappeared And I felt again what it was like to be under investigation and feel fear District Military Command, August '88 Bermimpi jadi pengantin Roti tawar yang kau kirimkan sudah aku makan surat yang kau selipkan juga sudah aku baca Aku begitu terharu betapa mulia hatimu betapa tegar jiwamu Dalam sel sempit tahanan militer yang lantainya dingin dan bau tidurku berhias mimpi mimpi jadi pengantin Ada yang membuat aku gelisah yang hadir dalam pernikahan semua berseragam semua membawa senjata Tangan kita diborgol telingaku mendengar orang mengetok-ngetokkan palu Mimpiku memang aneh dan menakutkan tapi tetap saja aku suka bermimpi jadi pengantin Biarpun tangan diborgol tidur dalam sel sempit yang dingin dan banyak nyamuk Ada yang membuat aku sedih bila aku terjaga dari mimpi mimpiku jadi buyar Aku merasakan kembali sedang dalam penyidikan merasakan ketakutan. Kodim, Agustus '88