Akbar AP’s Bilingual Poem Translated by Leni Marlina: “A Sentence in the Southwest Lake”

Poem by Akbar AP

Translated (Indonesian – English) by Leni Marlina

—

“Who would ever care for me?”
Time loosened its grip and slipped away.
Your smile frayed
I never heard it tear.

That question
a quiet ruin.
Hope collapsed
before my answers learned to arrive.

Cherry blossoms fall
without farewell.
Swans rehearse their elegy
on the southwest lake.
Lanterns drift
colored breaths of light.

Mist erases their shine.
Winter steps closer.
Rain thickens,
settling deep
in the lowlands of the heart.

Steel speaks.
Spears argue.
Knives cry through the air.
Chaos closes its circle.

Is this the cost
of a question left unanswered?
Is this the echo
of a feeling that never reached shore?

The world numbs the body,
but your sentence
it burns the mind to ash.
Tired feet are driven
into a borrowed speed.

Weapons bloom everywhere.
Violence becomes scenery.
Blood stains the snow,
teaching white
the language of red.
Hearts freeze
fear sharpens at the edge of tenderness.

Why has the sun of peace not risen?
Why does truth still hide
behind riot-dark clouds?
Why can no leaf thaw
from the frost your sentence cast?

The southwest lake
has not recovered its name.
Its affection wanders,
homeless.
Its feelings grow heavy,
dark with enduring sorrow.

What a pity
a sentence has exiled everything:
from the crowd,
from autumn’s warmth among cherry trees,
from joy,
from the fluent dance of swans.

–

Bantul, Java, Indonesia, January 30th, 2026

About the Poet – Akbar Ariantono Putra

–

Akbar Ariantono Putra, widely known as Akbar AP, was born in 2003 on the eastern outskirts of Bantul, Yogyakarta. Born with visual impairment, he has never allowed disability to define limitation. For him, every constraint carries its own potential, and every shortcoming conceals strength.

Akbar is currently completing his undergraduate studies in Social Welfare at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta. A man of few words, he finds refuge in literature particularly fictional works such as adventure and fantasy, as well as non-fiction including history, biography, and contemporary social issues. He actively participates in literary events whenever time permits.

Beyond writing and reading, Akbar is involved in several communities, including Teater Braille, Tukar Akar, and most recently Sastra Bulan Purnama. His engagement with social issues is further reflected in his role as a Basic Cadre of the Muhammadiyah Student Association (IMM) at the Faculty of Da’wah and Communication. In the 2024–2025 administration under Hanif Maulana’s leadership, he was officially appointed as a member of the Research and Scientific Development Division.

About the Translator– Leni Marlina

–

Leni Marlina was born in Baso, Agam Regency, West Sumatra, Indonesia, and is currently based in Padang, West Sumatra. She is a poet, writer, and lecturer in the English Literature Program, Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Padang, where she has been teaching since 2006. Her recent publications include the single-author poetry collections The Beloved Teachers (2025) and L-BEAUMANITY: Love, Beauty, and Humanity (2025), as well as the English Stories for Literacy trilogy (2024–2025).

In addition to poetry, Leni writes short stories, essays, literary criticism, and reviews, and translates a wide range of literary and journalistic texts for national and international digital platforms. Her work consistently engages language as a space for reflection, empathy, and the affirmation of human dignity.

Alongside her academic career, Leni is actively involved in literary and cultural journalism. She works as a freelance writer and contributor for various digital media platforms and has also been entrusted with editorial and redaction roles for several outlets. Among these are Suara Anak Negeri News (https://suaraanaknegerinews.com) and Negeri News (https://negerinews.com), where she focuses on issues related to education, literacy, literature, culture, and humanitarian concerns. Both platforms share a commitment to “voicing the voiceless.”

Leni’s contributions to literature have received national and international recognition. She was awarded Best Writer 2025 by SATU PENA West Sumatra at the 3rd International Minangkabau Literary Festival (IMLF-3), chaired by Sastri Bakry. She also received the ACC International Literary Prize 2005 from the ACC Shanghai Huiyu International Literary Creative Media Centre and was honored by the international literary community The Rhythm of Vietnam (2025).

Since 2025, Leni has served as the Indonesian Poetry Ambassador for the ACC Shanghai Huifeng International Literary Association (ACC SHILA), while also holding the position of ASEAN Director for ACC SHILA Poets. In the same year, she was appointed by the Capital Writers International Foundation as National Director (Indonesia) for the Panorama International Literary Festival (PILF), held in India in January–February 2026.
For further information, please visit the official Panorama Festival website.

—
Indonesian Version

Sebuah Kalimat di Telaga Barat Daya

Puisi: Akbar AP

–

“Memangnya, siapa yang peduli denganku?”
Waktu-waktu tanpa terasa berlalu.
Senyumanmu mengusang tanpa setahuku.

Kalimat tanyamu yang begitu,
Telah meruntuhkan harapan-harapanku.
Kalimat jawabanku tidak pernah sekalipun sedia kau tunggu.

Guguran bunga sakura.
Tarian angsa di telaga barat daya.
Lampion cahaya berwarna-warni.

Hilang serinya disaput kabut.
Dingin salju musim melanda.
Hujan seakan mengental menggenangi tanah-tanah hati.

Pedang berdenting.
Tombak beradu.
Desing pisau terbang.
Raung ruyung mengepung.

Inikah akibat dari tanyamu yang tak terjawab?
Inikah dampak gejolak perasaanmu yang tak sampai?

Dunia mendinginkan badan.
Namun kalimatmu membakar hanguskan isi kepala-kepala.
Lelah kaki melangkah dipaksa cepat berlari.

Sebab senjata dimana-mana.
Perkelahian menjadi pemandangan biassa.
Tumpahan darah menodai salju.
Mengubah putih menjadi merah.
Membekukan hati, menakutkan sampai pada titik kerentanan.

Matahari kedamaian mengapa belum tiba?
Awan kebenaran mengapa masih tersaput mendung huru-hara?
Dedaunan mengapa belum bisa cair dari kebekuan kalimatmu yang tercipta?

Marwah telaga barat daya belum memulih.
Mawadahnya masih berkelana.
Perasaannya pekat penuh maharana.

Kasihan, kalimat telah mengusirnya.
Dari keramaian, dari hangat musim gugur para sakura.
Dari keceriaan, tarian lihai para angsa.

–

Bantul, 30 Januari 2026

—-

Tentang Penyair: Akbar Ariantono Putra

Akbar Ariantono Putra, lebih akrab dengan Akbar AP, lahir di pinggiran sebelah timur Kota Bantul pada 2003. Terlahir sebagai Disabilitas Netra, tidak membuatnya surut dan gagal dalam menjalani hidup. Baginya, ada kelebihan di balik kekurangan. Ada potensi meski dalam keterbatasan.

Saat ini, Akbar sedang menyelesaikan pendidikan S1 Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial di UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta. Pria yang hemat bicara ini menyenangi bacaan bertema fiksi seperti petualangan dan fantasi serta non-fiksi semisal sejarah, biografi, dan isu sosial. Dia cukup aktif di sastra dengan mengikuti sejumlah event apabila luang. Tidak cukup itu, Akbar juga menjadi anggota sejumlah komunitas seperti Teater Braille, Tukar Akar, dan belum lama ini Sastra Bulan Purnama.

Selain itu, untuk memuaskan minatnya terhadap isu-isu sosial yang sedang berkembang saat ini, Akbar juga menjadi Kader Dasar Ikatan Mahasiswa Muhammadiyah setingkat di Fakultas Dakwah dan Komunikasi dan baru-baru ini dia dilantik menjadi anggota Bidang Riset dan Pengembangan Keilmuan dalam periode kepengurusan Hanif Maulana 2024-2025.