Village

Kampoong/Village

as morning breaks
the rubbish piles up
children scolded by mothers
husband and wife shouting

 as morning breaks the rubbish piles up
left and right arguments
children crying
husband wife fighting
in turn with the radio
people push and shove
to get to the public well
 
then teenage girls
leave the kampung for the factories
returning in the aftternoon
eyes wrinkled with exhaustion
living lives of no choices
 
and children are born one after the other
not knowing their house stands on the edge of drains
playing in front a heap of rubbish
behind walls
in and around narrow lanes
around and around in shadows
looking for some open space

 
Solo - Sorogenen, July 1988

(Translation of Kampung)
 

Source:
Asia Pacific Solidarity Network (APSN)
Url: http://www.asia-pacific-solidarity.net/southeastasia/indonesia/publications/prdbook/wijipoem.htm