Basket

She weaves a basket
from threads of rain
then hangs it at the porch.

Inside the basket
he lays her baby, born
from the womb of dusk.

When nights thirst for light
the baby in the basket glows:
That basket at the porch
then swarms with loneliness.

By Joko Pinurbo
translated, from the Bahasa, by Wawan Eko Yulianto

 
Wawan Eko Yulianto is a graduate student in the Program in Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. His main interests include literary translation, American literature by Muslim authors and ethnic American literature.

Joko Pinurbo is an award-winning Indonesian poet who won the Best Poetry Collection Award from Jakarta Arts Council (2001), Khatulistiwa Literary Award (2005). Some of his best poems have been translated into English by the well-respected Australian professor and translator Dr. Harry Aveling.