Studying taxonomy-haiku

studying taxonomy--
i identify you among those kinds
of water lilies

belajar taksonomi--
aku mencandramu dari
rupa-rupa teratai

Among those water lilies-haiku

still pond--
among those water lilies
can i find you?

belumbang tenang
di hamparan teratai
adakah kau?

I got a bite!-a haibun

Sunday is the day i like most these days. And today is the day. My boy in rubber boots leads me to a spring under a cluster of trees. His fishing rod, much taller than him, leaning on his shoulder, with the thin end pointing straight at my face. "I won't fail this time," he says, keeps on staggering along muddy causeway.

repeated pattern--
my footprints
next to his

It takes no time to get there before we throw the bait, an earthworm at the hook. "I'll catch the big ones," he says. Keeping his eyes down, breathing slowly, sensing any movement underwater with patience and eagerness, he pulls the line and something is struggling for a loose at the other end of the fishing line. I know, he's not happy with it but still there's a smile on his face. "Was your catch this small when you're at my age?"


Akhir-akhir ini aku sangat menyukai hari Minggu. Dan hari ini, anak lelakiku, dengan sepatu bot dari karet, berjalan di depanku menuju mata air di bawah pepohonan yang rimbun. Joran pancingnya, lebih tinggi daripada badannya sendiri, merunduk di atas pundaknya. Ujungnya menuding tepat ke wajahku. "Hari ini aku tidak boleh gagal," katanya sambil berjalan, sesekali terhuyung nyaris tergelincir, di pematang yang licin.

pola yang berulang--
jejak kami
beriringan

Tak perlu waktu lama untuk mencapai mata air sebelum kami melempar kail dengan umpan cacing di ujungnya. "Mudah-mudahan dapat yang besar," ia menggumam. Matanya tertuju ke air, nafasnya lambat, syaraf di telapak tangannya mengindera setiap gerak di bawah air. Sesuatu tampak meronta di ujung senar pancing saat ia mengangkat jorannya. Aku tahu, ia tidak begitu puas melihat hasil pancingannya, tapi senyum tetap saja mengembang di wajahnya. "Waktu ayah seumurku, dapatnya juga sekecil ini?"

Drifting apple-a haibun

He, some said, is an-almost-perfect resemblance of me in smaller size. And it's been almost 9 years I watch over him, be his company and friend, and a mentor anytime he needs me to be. We have so many in common, but he's not a bamboo shoot that grows fast without leaving the cluster. He never walks in my shadow.

old trunk
an apple falls
and drifts along the stream


Banyak orang bilang, dia kembaranku yang nyaris sempurna, dalam ukuran yang lebih kecil. Dan hampir 9 tahun sudah aku menjaga, menjadi pendamping dan teman di perjalanan, dan pembimbing kapanpun ia inginkan. Kami memang mirip satu sama lain, tapi dia bukan rebung yang tumbuh cepat tanpa meninggalkan rumpunnya. Dia tak pernah berlindung di bayanganku.

batang tua
sebiji apel jatuh
dan mengembara bersama arus

Fleurdelis haiku

a crack on my window
crops out thru the fence
a fleurdelis

jendela retak
kembang bakung
menembus pagar

Just another rain haiku -again

just another rain
mystical chant across the street
she keeps clearing her throat

hujan seperti biasa
lantunan barzanji dari seberang jalan
dia terus mendehem

Just another rain haiku

just another rain
flashing back the old days
where are those wild mushrooms?

hujan seperti biasa
hari-hari lalu melintas balik
ke mana jamur-jamur liar itu?

Smoldering dream haiku

a dream smoldering
by the fireplace
you stand and stare

mimpi melapuk
di dekat perapian
kau memandang terpaku

Sing-along haiku

morning breeze
playing the windchime
are you singing along?

angin pagi
menabuh giring-giring
kaukah yang bernyanyi?

Tuberose haiku

halfmoon--
your hair covers the pillow
tuberose blooms

bulan setengah
rambutmu memeluk bantal
mekar sedap malam

Taste the moon haiku

the last sip
of my black coffee
i taste the moon

cecap terakhir
kopi hitamku
berasa bulan

April nights haiku

(1)
in dusty mat
silence rolled up
april nights

sunyi bergelung
malam-malam bulan april
tilam berdebu

(2)
bus station, she plays crosswords

di terminal, dia mengisi teka teki silang

Cucumber pickles tanka/kyoka

wanting
to kiss your lips
gosh!
your mom serves
cucumber pickles

ingin aku
melahap bibirmu
aih!
ibumu hidangkan
acar mentimun

Mahogany haiku

a plane roars
mahogany seeds
ride the wind

pesawat meraung
biji-biji mahoni
diterbangkan angin

Table for two haiku

a table for two
raindrops fill the cup

meja untuk berdua
rintik hujan secangkir penuh

Dahlia buds haiku

empty sky
three dahlia buds
and a dragonfly

langit luas
tiga kuntum dahlia
dan seekor capung


Pakembinangun, April 3, 2010

Bubble haiku

rain don't fall
my boy blows bubbles

semoga tidak hujan
anak lelakiku main gelembung

Pauper tanka

juggling
options and possibilities
every pauper knows
the nature and logic
of economics

meniti
pilihan dan kemungkinan
si miskin tahu
logika dan hakikat
ilmu ekonomi

Wedomartani, April 1, 2010

Sleepy eyes haiku

sleepy eyes
every words
a lullaby

mengantuk
setiap kata tereja
ninabobo

Wedomartani, April 1, 2010

Embracing milky way haiku

sleeping with you
my arm embraces
across milky way

semalam denganmu
lenganku memeluk
galaksi

Pakembinangun, April 2, 2010

Changing seasons haiku

sleeping with you
changing seasons
in between us

semalam denganmu
musim-musim berganti
antara kita

Pakembinangun, April 2, 2010

Malioboro tanka sequence

(1)
malioboro--
rash spreads over the sidewalk
from the tower clock
poets rush
to the funeral

malioboro--
ruam sepanjang trotoar
dari tugu jam
para darwis bergegas
menuju pemakaman

(2)
in the neon box
nesting mouse and cockroach
:dawn's approaching
a bat, baffled and confused
searching it's way home

tikus dan lipas
bersarang di neon box
:menjelang fajar
kelelawar tersesat
mencari jalan pulang


Wedomartani, April 1, 2010