An odd puzzle

An odd puzzle

that night we got together and talked
from our mouths no grand issues emerged;
we talked about our hopes,
things simple and understandable

one person had been hoping for a long time
to add on a kitchen to the place he rents
which reminded others
they didn't own a saucepan, kerosene stove,
drinking glasses, or frying pan,
which made them remember
they had once wanted to buy such things
only to see their wishes soon buried
beneath weariness
and wages that so quickly changed
into toothpaste, shampoo, rent
and unpaid bills at the food stall

after that many of us found it difficult
to enjoy the warm tea that had been served
because we were still busy thinking
about where to rest our heads and where to hang our clothes

another person mentioned that for ages he had wanted
a bathroom of his own
from which topic the discussion jumped to cement and wall paint,
prices for which never seem to fall

we also talked about the election campaign,
the one just passed
and of the three parties that competed,
we concluded had no connection with us: workers
whose only use for them is our votes,
to be exploited for their own interests

we laughed because we realised
that for many years we had been deceived
and treated like buffalo
but in the end we asked
why it's so difficult for a worker to buy a can of paint,
even after working no less that eight hours a day,
and why it's so difficult for them
to send their children to school
when each day they produce
tons and tons of goods

and then one among the group stood up,
looked around and asked:
"are there any things you use
that are not made by workers?"
a question that made us observe
the many things around us: neon lights, televisions, radios, clothes, books...

since that time I've always felt
we are faced with an odd puzzle, one that arises whenever we talk
about saucepans, kerosene stoves,
drinking glasses, or frying pans
and also at times we count our wages
which so quickly change
to tooth paste, shampoo, rent
and unpaid bills at the food stall

I'm always surprised and ask myself
what kind of power it is that can so easily absorb
our energy and the fruits of our labour.

(Translation of Teka Teki yang Ganjil )

English Translations from Bahasa Indonesia by
 Richard Curtis

Source:

Menagerie 5: Violence Towards Women, 2003

Lontar Foundation

Url: https://openlibrary.org/books/OL25442228M/Menagerie_5

 

 ----------------------------

 

An odd puzzle

  There were those who had for a long time wished to make a kitchen
  in their rented houses
  And this reminded others
  that they also didn't own a saucepan, kerosene stove,

  drinking glasses and fry pan
  This made them remember that they had once
  wished to buy those things
  But those wishes were quickly buried
  by our weariness
  And our wages so quickly changed
  to become toothpaste-shampoo-and house rent
  and bills at the stall which we had to pay back
 ...
  We laughed because we realised
  For many years we were deceived
  and treated like buffalo
  In the end we asked
  Why is it so difficult for a labourer to buy a can of paint
  even though (s)he works no less than eight hours a day
  Why is it so difficult for a labourer
  to send their children to school
  Even though each day (s)he produces
  tons of goods
...
  We were always surprised and asked ourselves
  What is this power that sucks up
  our energy and the fruits of our labour.


Wiji Thukul, 1993, (Teka-teki yang ganjil appears in F Rahardi (ed), Dari Negri Poci 2, Jakarta: Pustaka Sastra, 1994).