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Indonesia-Australia Poetry Exchange

Indonesian poet Fatin Hamamah has been visiting Sydney during August and participating in poetry readings and cultural exchange activities with Australian poets, students, and the wider community. During her stay Fatin has been supported by Sydney Indonesian poet Herman Kamra, Indonesian musician Vivatt Yahya and translator Robyn Fallick from the University of NSW.

Fatin Hamamah was born in Padang Panjang, West Sumatra in 1967 and has been actively writing and reading poetry from the age of 8. She has been active in the literature organisation KSI (Komunitas Sastra Indonesia) Jakarta and participating in poetry readings and events in Indonesia and ASEAN for some years. She is presently living in Cairo, Egypt.

Fatin Hamamah lahir di Padang Panjang, Sumatera Barat pada 1967. Aktif menulis dan membaca puisi sejak usia 8 tahun. Kini aktif di organisasi sastra KSI (Komunitas Sastra Indonesia ) Jakarta. Namun sejak Juni 2001 ikut suaminya bertugas menjadi atase kebudayaan Republik Indonesia di Kairo, Mesir.

The involvement of Sydney poet Herman Kamra, has been absolutely essentail to the success of this project. Herman is well known in Sydney as the editor of Reformasi Magazine, committee member of the Indonesian Community Council and for being an extremely active, enthusiastic and dedicated participant in the Sydney Indonesian cultural scene.

Herman has also been writing and presenting readings of his poetry at major Indonesian cultural events in Sydney and previously in Germany and Indonesia.

Besides supporting Fatin by reading his poetry during this project, Herman has taken meticulous care of Fatin as visiting poet, inviting her to attend many interesting and important events, in particular giving her the opportunity to read her poetry at the Independence Day event held by the Indonesian Community Council at Parliament House, Sydney.

Daery Viddy, the initiator of this project, was unfortunately unable to participate in the project due to visa difficulties. Viddy is an Indonesian poet who has previously visited Brisbane on a similar poets' exchange project and is actively participating in poetry exchange activities throughout ASEAN. Viddy published his solo anthology "South Bank and Air Mata" - "South Bank and Tears" in 1996 which includes wonderful impressions of his visit to Australia.

A relationship with AIAA was established through AIAA participation in penyair@egroups.com - a very active mailing list of Indonesian poets, which resulted in Viddy and other poets contributing to Inspirasi Magazine. The Australia-Indonesia Poetry Exchange 2001 included poetry readings at:

Indonesian Multicultural Festival and Independence Day Celebration
NSW Writers Centre- at Berkelouw's Bookshop
Parliament House Sydney
University of Sydney
Poets Union of NSW
University of NSW

AIAA would like to express sincere thanks and appreciation to the following people for making this project possible: Jeni Gonzales, Fatin Hamamah, Herman Kamra, Vivatt Yahya; Dr David Reaves, Sue Piper and Robyn Fallick from University of NSW, Keith Foulcher - University of Sydney, Irina Dunn - NSW Writers Centre, Berkelouw's Bookshop, NSW Poets' Union, Bpk Jon Soemaryono, Ani, Viddy Daery and other friends who gave help and support.

For Further info please contact Judy- 02 66 857 789 indoarts@dingoblue.net.au

Al Hadid

by Fatin Hamamah

Ketika sepotong besi jadi tombak
besi tak pernah tahu
untuk apa dia dijadikan tombak

ketika sepotong besi jadi pisau
pisau tak pernah tahu
untuk apa dia jadi pisau

ketika sepotong besi jadi peniti
peniti tak pernah tahu
untuk apa dia jadi peniti

kecuali suatu hari tombak
di jadikan alat pembunuh
dan bersarang di jantung kini
tombak mengeluh
aku tak ingin jadi seperti ini

demikian pisau
ketika menemukan dirinya
di leher sebagai penebas
pisau mengaduh
aku tak bercita-cita begini

Ketika besi-besi yang menjadi senjata
berubah fungsi
diam-diam peniti mensyukuri
aku menjadi penyen\mat baju
seorang sufi setiap hari aku dibawa
rukuk sujug dan mensyukuri
nikmat Tuhan yang diberi
aku tak ingin patah
biar berkarat aku kini

Jakarta Des 2000.
Fatin Hamamah

Arti Sebuah Kemerdekaan

oleh Herman Kamra

Merdeka.............
Suatu untaian kata kebebasan,
Dari kemauan seluruh rakyat Indonesia
Yang ingin terlepas dari bellenggu kaum penjajah

Merdeka.............
Tiga ratus lima puluh tahun bangsa ku tertindas,
tersiksa, terhempas oleh gelombang
penghisapan sipenjajah.
Tiada tara, dan tiada daya yang dapat dirasakan.

Merdeka..............
Kini, 56 tahun setelah kemerdekaan itu berlalu
Aku bertanya pada bangsaku;
Apa yang telah engkau capai di alam kemerdekaan itu?
Apakah itu kebebasan, keadilan, kesejahteraan ataupun kemakmuran

Merdeka.............
Suatu untaian kata kebebasan
Yang tak berujung dan berantara.
Merdeka..............
Kita bangsa Indonesia, harus berupaya,
berjuang untuk mengisi kemerdekaan itu.
Tiada pilihan lain, kita harus berjalan terus.
Berhenti atau mundur berarti kita hancur.

Oleh Herman Kamra
Ashfield, Sydney - Agustus di musim dingin di tahun 2001, ketika ku memikirkan Arti sebuah kemerdekaan bagi bangsa Indonesia, dalam menyambut hari jadinya Ke56 tahun. Puisi ini dibacakan di theater Parliament House Sydney NSW.

The Meaning of Independence

Freedom.............
The word of Freedom
The wish of all Indonesians
Who want to be free of the shackle of colonialism

Freedom............
For three hubdred and fifty years my people
were oppressed, tortures and dashed by the waves of exploitation
Unequal, powerless, that's how we felt

Freedom.............
Fifty six years passed by
I am asking my nation
What have you achieved in the nature of Independence
Is that freedom? justice, safety or prosperity?

Freedom............
The word of freedom
No end, no distance

Freedom.............
We Indonesians must make an effort
Struggle to maintain that freedom
No other choice, we have to keep going forward
To stop or retreat means we will be ruined

by Herman Kamra
Ashfield, Sydney, August winter time, 2001. When I think about the meaning of Independence for the nation of Indonesia, on the 56th Anniversary Day. This poem is to be read at the Theatre in Parliament House Sydney NSW.