Come on Warsini!

Come on Warsini!

warsini! warsini!
are you home from work yet warsini
worn out after a day standing in factory
it's night now
were your pants and bra searched again
because your boss suspected you of stealing a packet of moto
or did you stop off again at the hairdresser
how much are you in debt this week
is your budgeting in a mess

come on warsini
our friends have arrived
we're gathered here
we're going to have a play practice again
come on warsini
you'll be mbok bodong
joko can be the money-lender
don't be ashamed warsini
don't worry about being thought out of line
you don't have to be ashamed of your work
even though you're just a labourer
and haven't even finished primary school
come on warsini
yanto's not at school either
he's just a polisher
mami's not at school either
she embroiders handkerchiefs at home
wahyuni's not at school either
her father couldn't afford the high school entry fee
partini is machinist
at aunty lili's factory
none of us are at school warsini
come on then warsini
it's late warsini
this is saturday night warsini
we're waiting for you

Surakarta, September 1986


(Translation of Ayolah Warsini)
English Translations from Bahasa Indonesia by
Rossi von der Borch


Source:
Rossi Von Der Borch, Poets Against Silent,
Inside Indonesia, No.12 (October, 1987), p.29-31