“Without God, everything is permitted,”
Said Dostoyevsky in his masterwork
For Godless souls, unreined, unimpeded
Would freely give in to evils that lurk
Hold on to His tether, anchored and true
His Grace and Protection, He will imbue.
#675 Tentang Kesibukan dan Hati Yang Berpalu
Di tengah-tengah kesibukan
Bangsar dan segala kekejarannya
Aku bersimpuh memohon keampunan
Mengucap nama-Mu Tuhan ar-Rahman
Mengucup dahi pada lantai maidan
Dengan jiwa penuh dahaga
Aku berteguk pada wadi Yang Maha Esa
Di lidahku mengalir kalimat-kalimat kudus
Mengalun mengubat hati yang tertandus
Tuhanku,
Redakan hatiku yang sering gering berpalu
Hanya pada-Mu aku berpaling mengadu.
#614 On This Torrential Inundation
Torrential inundation: wrath of God?
Or merely climate change in rampant form?
If we are to be spared His righteous rod
Could we assuage this mighty, raging storm?
Or maybe Mankind’s fate is truly sealed
The planet’s payback cannot be repealed!
#594 Tentang Nafas Rindu
Dengan setiap rukun ruku’ dan sujud
Aku ampuhkan seluruh pancaindera
Menempuh alur waktu dan wujud
Membucu setiap sisa rasa sengketa
Pancungkanlah nafsu buasku, Tuhan
Agar dapat aku bernafas tanpa sedan.
#584 On Your Subtle Benediction
Benedictus,
Beneath the humdrum throb of daily life,
I can almost hear the silent bassline
Of your Music: the constant and active
Act of Creation that disarms the knife
Of Chaos and repels the saturnine
And the unjust and the invidious.
I close my eyes; I will away the intrusive
Glare of vile, idolatrous strife.
I surrender to Your Music: subtle and benign.
#560 Tentang Doa Yang Tak Terlafaz
Setiap hela nafas
Adalah doa yang tak terlafaz
Mensyukuri nikmat-Mu
Mengagumi agung-Mu
Mengharapkan ampun-Mu
Tuhan yang Maha Teratas
Tanpa Engkau, aku tiada asas.
#528 On This Deep Longing
Everyone has a deep longing within them
A wanting
A needing
Like a raging fire
That consumes our very being
We always always long for something
And in that burning, raging fire
We flail away
Trying to hang on to anything
To keep from drowning away
In the fire of longing
Never truly knowing
Never truly realising
That this deep longing
This unquenchable wanting
This unmet needing
Was always for You
For You, and You alone.
(inspired by Jon Fosse's Septology)
#483 On the Pain that Purifies
The pain: it purifies and clarifies
Draws into keen attention Life's travails
A sharp and rude reminder to the wise:
The tallest trees can fall amidst the gales
Hold fast to Him, and He shall grant you ease
His Mercy shall bring suffering now to cease.
#481 On the Afterlife that Awaits
Submit to Him who gives you Will to choose
Surrender to Your Lord and his dictates
This Life is an illusion to bemuse
For after Life, the Afterlife awaits
We shall be judged by how we played His cards:
Eternal bliss, or flames and poisoned shards.
#411 Tentang Menagih Belas
Kasih Tuhan melimpah luas
Membanjiri seluruh alam
Aku pasrah menagih belas
Moga Kasih tak pernah redam.