Daniel, The Parties Are Over
By Ferdinand Siregar
Translated by James Penha
In the moonlight, Daniel, in shadows
dark as the blood throbbing through his body,
dark as the footsteps he hears in the sand,
smiles at stolen memories, frowns
at forgotten promises.
Once his golden years glittered on
his stand beneath the beach trees.
Many came for refreshment
and thirsty paid to savor
Daniel's fruit, the flesh so fresh
they found it bitter sweet.
Daniel sold his nights to buy his days:
money in pockets, chains around neck,
friends abounding to share the riches
of his harvests. He glided along
the shore evading only arms of justice.
But how many politicos and artists
shared Daniel's goblets, dribbling
talk of grand favors and fame
before they found fresher crops?
And now Daniel hawks durian
among the apples and grapes
for the price of a package
of fried rice for his dinner.
Oh, the apples and grapes still attract
some but the rankness of the durian
puts them off for fear
of tears that wound white skins.
Home alone, Daniel mourns
for his stolen trade,
the parties and the hands
from one knob to another.
"My grip is steady now," he says,
sucking his thumb for comfort.
__________
Daniel stares at the mirror,
counts wrinkles in time:
more to face; fewer to end,
and he whispers to the glassman,
"Daniel, the parties are over."
Daniel, Pesta Sudah Berahir
oleh Ferdinand Siregar
Daniel melihat bayangannya di bawah terang bulan
gelap, seperti darah yang mengalir di tubuhnya,
kalam, seperti jejak kaki yang ia lewati,
tersenyum pada kejahatan
geram akan impian yang tak terwujud.
Ketika tahun-tahun keemasan menymari
dipasar, di gelapnya panti.
Oraang-orang datang mencari kepuasan,
yang mabuk siap membayar
akan nikmatnya buah segar
pahit mereka rasakan.
Ia lewati malam-malam dikesunyian hari:
uang di saku permata ia kenakan,
semua teman berkumpul merayakan
hasi panen berbuah pahit.
Ia beli sayap untuk terbang
jauh dari hukum dan keadilan.
Dirjen dan seniman
datang untuk nikmati, manisnya buah
dan janjikan masadepan dan ketenaran.
Tapi itu, sebelum, mereka
memetik buah yang lebih segar.
Sekarang Daniel menjajakan durian
dianatar manisnya buah apel dan anggur
Sekedar membeli nasi bungkus jalanan
Untuk makan malam katanya . . .
Oh, orang cuma datang membeli apel dan anggur
benci akan bau durian.
Itu membuat mereka sakit,
takut akan duri akan melukai kulit mereka yang putih.
Daniel menjerit
menangisi lahannya yang tergusur,
rindu akan pesta dan kerabat
dari satu pintu, kepintu yang lain.
"Saya punya tulisan tangan yang rapi," katanya,
tapi ia pulang sambil menggigit jari.
__________
Daniel berdiri di depan cermin,
menghitung kerut, takut akan waktu:
semakin banyak di wajahnya, berkurang di pantatnya,
perlahan ia berbisik kepada orang di dalam kaca,
"Daniel, pesta itu sudah berahir."
Ferdinand Siregar is an Indonesian writer whose recent works include the poem "The Border Man" (forthcoming in The Polyglot) and the short story "The Cinnamon Forest" (Big Pulp).
A native New Yorker, James Penha lives in Indonesia. Nominated for Pushcart Prizes in fiction and poetry, his LGBT speculative story “Leaves,” also set in Indonesia, was a finalist for the Saints and Sinners Short Fiction Contest. Penha edits TheNewVerse.News, an online journal of current-events poetry. @JamesPenha