/1/
If You Want to Live
Poem by Anna Keiko
If you want to live
it’s better to forget the vain rewards of the world
Forget the nightmare, open the window
Light up the lamp, shine into yourself
The soul is like a thermos
The square wall is like a fortress and the temperature rises
No fear any more that the weird wind
Defeat my flesh and blood
I wrap my skin, layer by layer, with a gift of my parents
Then, my eyes and my ears
Wind of springalong the river avenue
I’m looking for a harbor in my dreams
Shanghai, China, August 2nd, 2021
———
Note:
The poem by Anna Keiko (China) above is taken (poem no. 12) from her solo poetry collection book entitled “SUNRISE OF HOPE” (2021). It was originally translated from Chinese into German and English by Andreas Weiland
…….
Indonesian Version:
Jika Engkau Ingin Hidup
Puisi: Anna Keiko
Penerjemah (Inggris-Indonesia): Leni Marlina
Jika engkau ingin hidup,
benarlah: lupakan saja ganjaran dunia yang sia-sia.
Lupakan mimpi buruk itu, bukalah jendela,
nyalakan pelita, biarkan cahayanya menembus ke relung dirimu.
Jiwa adalah termos yang menyimpan hangat,
sedang dinding-dinding persegi, kokoh seperti benteng,
menahan suhu agar terus naik.
Tak ada lagi takut
pada angin aneh yang mencoba
mengalahkan daging dan darahku.
Kulilitkan kulitku—warisan mulia
dari ayah dan ibuku—lapis demi lapis,
lalu mataku, telingaku,
terbuka oleh angin semi
yang melintas di jalan sungai.
Di sana, di balik mimpiku,
aku mencari sebuah pelabuhan
tempat hatiku berlabuh.
Shanghai, China, 2021
——-
Catatan:
Puisi Anna Keiko (China) di atas merupakan salah satu puisi (puisi no. 12) dari kumpulan puisi tunggalnya yang berjudul “SUNRISE OF HOPE” (2021). Puisi tersebut sebelumnya diterjemahkan dari bahasa Cina ke bahasa Jerman dan Inggris oleh Andreas Weiland
/2/
Everything is Going Down
Poem by Anna Keiko
Winter is coming and everything is falling
Only the night is getting fuller and fuller
The pupils of the luminous sky are clear
They are apparently unharmed by fear
But humans are knocked back to their origin by the virus
Which looks for any weak body it can attack
Furious lips and teeth add to the confusion
Desire bends the path of light
The image of a world wrapped in roses
Covers its vast ugliness of reality,
A deception called prosperity.
Shanghai, China, 2021
——
Note:
The poem by Anna Keiko (China) above is taken (poem no. 13) from her solo poetry collection book entitled “SUNRISE OF HOPE” (2021). It was originally translated from Chinese into English by Germain Droogenbroodt.
———-
Indonesian version:
Segalanya Menurun
Puisi: Anna Keiko
Penerjemah (Inggris-Indonesia): Leni Marlina
Segalanya menurun.
Musim dingin menjelang,
dan segala yang ada pun terjatuh perlahan.
Hanya malam yang kian mengembang,
pupil-pupil langit bercahaya, begitu tenang,
seolah takut tak pernah menyentuhnya.
Manusia, bagai akar yang dicabut dari tanahnya,
dipaksa kembali ke asal oleh virus yang lihai,
mencari tubuh lemah untuk digerusnya.
Bibir dan gigi yang marah
beraksi dalam kekacauan,
keinginan membelokkan cahaya,
membawa gelap di jalan yang seharusnya terang.
Dunia yang dibungkus mawar
menutupi cacat dan luka kenyataan,
tipu daya yang lembut tapi mematikan—
mereka menyebutnya kemakmuran.
Shanghai, China, 2021
———–
Catatan:
Puisi Anna Keiko (China) di atas merupakan salah satu puisi (puisi no. 13) dari kumpulan puisi tunggalnya yang berjudul “SUNRISE OF HOPE” (2021). Puisi tersebut sebelumnya diterjemahkan dari bahasa Cina ke bahasa Inggris oleh Germain Droogenbroodt.
/3/
Waking up in the Dark
Poem by Anna Keiko
Time distinctly lays down a creepy abyss
At dusk in and out sneaking a cunning fox without stopping
Fears are illuminated in the dark
The body finding back the soul from exhausting directions
The bed is like a Pandora’s box with all its desires bursting out
The light passes through the desolated wall to escape
The outer form falling on the court-like pillow
Ready for departure the moment it wakes up
Shanghai, China, 2021
——
Note:
The poem by Anna Keiko (China) above is taken (poem no. 16) from her solo poetry collection book entitled “SUNRISE OF HOPE” (2021). It was originally translated from Chinese into English by Germain Droogenbroodt.
…….
Indonesan Version:
Bangun dalam Gelap
Puisi: Anna Keiko
Penerjemah (Inggris-Indonesia): Leni Marlina
Waktu merebah, menebarkan jurang hampa di senja,
seekor rubah licik menyelinap masuk dan keluar,
tak henti, dalam sunyi yang mengintai.
Ketakutan menyala, diterangi di sudut-sudut bayangan,
tubuh menelusuri,
mencari kembali jiwa yang tersesat di labirin kelelahan.
Tempat tidur—kotak Pandora—menumpahkan rahasia hasratnya,
meledak perlahan ke dalam kegelapan.
Cahaya merembes melalui dinding sepi,
seperti pelarian yang mencari jalan bebas.
Bentuk luar tubuh jatuh di atas bantal,
agung namun rapuh,
siap meninggalkan dunia
seketika kesadaran terbangun.
Shanghai, China, 2021
——-
Catatan:
Puisi Anna Keiko (China) di atas merupakan salah satu puisi (puisi no.16) dari kumpulan puisi tunggalnya yang berjudul “SUNRISE OF HOPE” (2021). Puisi tersebut sebelumnya diterjemahkan dari bahasa Cina ke bahasa Inggris oleh Germain Droogenbroodt.
/4/
Morning Light
Poem by Anna Keiko
Like clean water flows
Words of love fly
Peace glides in my mind
Humid sky
A ray of sunlight penetrates the banks
Through time and space
In the good days, birds were flying over the river
But now,
Where did they fly?
Shanghai, China, 2021
—–
Note:
The poem by Anna Keiko (China) above is taken (poem no. 19) from her solo poetry collection book entitled “SUNRISE OF HOPE” (2021). It was originally translated from Chinese into English by Luliana Pasca.
——–
Indonesian Version
Cahaya Pagi
Puisi: Anna Keiko
Penerjemah (Inggris-Indonesia): Leni Marlina
Cahaya pagi
mengalir seperti air yang jernih.
Kata-kata cinta terbang,
damai meluncur di dalam pikiranku.
Langit lembap,
seberkas sinar menembus tepian sungai,
menyusuri waktu dan ruang.
Di hari-hari yang indah,
burung-burung terbang di atas sungai.
Namun kini,
ke mana mereka pergi?
Shanghai, China, 2021
——-
Catatan:
Puisi Anna Keiko (China) di atas merupakan salah satu puisi (puisi No.19) dari kumpulan puisi tunggalnya yang berjudul “SUNRISE OF HOPE” (2021). Puisi tersebut sebelumnya diterjemahkan dari bahasa Cina ke bahasa Inggris oleh Luliana Pasca.
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About the Poet & Translator
The Poet: Anna Keiko
Anna Keiko is a distinguished poet and essayist from Shanghai, China, whose voice has become one of the most vibrant threads in contemporary world literature. A graduate of East China University of Political Science and Law, she later devoted herself fully to poetry—a path that led her to remarkable international recognition. Her works have been translated into more than 30 languages and published in over 500 journals, magazines, and global media outlets across 40 countries.
As the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the ACC Shanghai Huifeng Literature Association, Anna also serves as the China Representative and Director of the International Cultural Foundation Ithaca. Her literary affiliations span Imagine & Poesia in Italy, the Canadian–Cuban Literary Union, and numerous other cross-cultural networks, reflecting her commitment to building global bridges through poetry.
Her poetic oeuvre includes six acclaimed volumes, among them Lonely in the Blood and Absurd Language, a profound exploration of human emotion, ecological anxiety, and existential reflection. Her innovative style—rich in imagery, resonance, and philosophical depth—has earned her prestigious accolades such as the 30th International Poetry Award in Italy and the World Peace Ambassador Certificate (2024).
In 2023, Anna became the first Chinese poet to receive the Cross-Cultural Exchange Medal for Significant Contribution to World Poetry in the United States, marking a significant milestone in international literary diplomacy.
Her celebrated works, including the widely praised Octopus Bones, have taken her to major international poetry festivals, symposia, and literary conferences around the world. Beyond poetry, she writes prose, essays, lyrics, and drama, showcasing her versatility as a creator of language.
Anna has published more than 11 books and received five national poetry awards in China. Altogether, she has been honored with 35 international poetry awards and certificates. In 2020, she was even nominated by Yale University for the Nobel Prize in Literature, affirming her place as one of the most influential Chinese literary voices on the global stage.
With a tireless spirit that continues to transcend borders, Anna Keiko carries Chinese literature to the world—speaking to the shared humanity that lives within every language.
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The Translator: Leni Marlina
Leni Marlina is an Indonesian poet, writer, and lecturer in the English Literature Study Program, Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Padang, where she has taught since 2006.
Her poems have been published both as single-author collections and in anthologies, and they are also widely available on digital platforms, including Suara Anak Negeri News: https://suaraanaknegerinews.com/category/puisi-leni-marlina-bagi-anak-bangsa/.
In 2025, she was appointed Indonesian Poetry Ambassador for the ACC Shanghai Huifeng International Literary Association (ACC SHILA) and ASEAN Director for ACC SHILA Poets. In the same year, she was entrusted by the Capital Writers International Foundation as National Director (Indonesia) for the International Panorama Literary Festival (IPLF) 2026. For more information or to participate in the festival, please visit www.panoramafestival.org.
