Beloved
I would spin the sea-spray
into a belt that binds youI would braid the rolling waves
to spread a sleeping mat for youI would weave of the clouds
a shawl to cover the hair of youI would stitch the mountain breeze
into an evening-gown for youI would pluck from the eastern star
a brooch to adorn the breast of youI would shake down the eclipsed moon
to shine upon my longing for youI would fell the sun
into a sea of night for you
breathing the honeyed sweetness of youBeloved,
with dreams uncounted
the truth was butchered
a paradise of falsehood
Kekasih
Akan kupintal buih-buih
menjadi tali mengikatmu
Akan kuanyam gelombang-gelombang
menjadi hamparan ranjang tidurmu
Akan kutenun awan-gemawan
menjadi selendang menudungi rambutmu
Akan kujahit bayu gunung
menjadi baju pakaian malammu
Akan kupetik bintang timur
menjadi kerongsang menyinari dadamu
Akan kujolok bulan gerhana
menjadi lampu menyuluhi rindu
Akan kurebahkan matari
menjadi laut malammu
menghirup sakar madumu
Kekasih,
hitunglah mimpi
yang membunuh realiti
dengan syurga ilusi.
A poem by Usman Awang
Translation by Bin Gregory Productions, upon request of NI
[update: small correction to 6th stanza, 10th Oct 2013]
[update: added video with changes to first, sixth and final stanzas, 24th Aug 2017.
Original first stanza:
“I would spin the sea-spray
fashioning a belt for you”
Original sixth stanza:
“I would shake down the eclipsed moon
for a lamp to light my longing”
Original final stanza:
“Beloved,
Count the dreams
That slew the truth
With their false paradise” ]
This is very nice 😀 The translation is nice also. almost there. wow. this would be awesome if it was performed as spoken word. with translations for each verse 🙂
Thanks a lot!
this poem touches the hearts 🙂
Yeah I just realized Usman Awang is one of the members of Kopratasa whose song Masihkah Kau Ingat I also enjoy.
Usman Awang was not a member of Kopratasa. He was a poet. Kopratasa consists of 3 members who sing poetic songs, and this poem is one of the songs they sing. There are many songs that use this poem as the lyrics but I personally like the version by Kopratasa.
Aha! Thanks for the correction.
Can you please translate ‘Masihkah Kau Ingat”?
Way ahead of you 🙂 Masihkah Kau Ingat
What’s some other good stuff?
Masihkah kau ingat?
Do you still remember?
You’re welcome?
Baju malam should not be translated as evening gown, which is a long, formal dress worn for balls, parties and other grand occasions. Isn;t baju malam what you wear to sleep?
ok but it doesn’t say baju malam though