Approcing Dawn and New Year: Special Poems Collections from Writers Community of PPIPM – Indonesia

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Approaching Dawn

Poem by: Leni Marlina

[Poetry Community of Indonesian Society’s Inspiration: PPIPM – Indonesia; Writers Community of Satu Pena West Sumatra]

At the edge of time,
we stand,
The fading dusk gathers on the horizon,
Leaving whispers upon the earth’s face—
Orange yields to the encroaching night.

This is not the end, only a quiet passage,
Where moments linger,
Like leaves reluctant to fall,
Clinging to a branch now bereft of loyalty.

O Lord, are we part of this unfolding?
Or simply silent witnesses,
Watching as the night unravels,
Chasing away the final embers of light?

In the rift of shadows,
Hope creeps,
Like embers concealed by the wind,
Neither kindled,
Nor fading,
Only waiting for dawn, knocking upon the eyes of the world.

Oh Time, the sculptor of lines upon the universe’s face,
Where are you leading us now?
We walk through your fog,
Our prayers clasped tightly in our hands.

Dawn, should you rise,
Do not merely offer light,
Bring with you the strength
To embrace the new day,
Though it is born from the wounds of the night.

We do not seek to remain mere spectators,
But yearn to play upon life’s stage,
Writing our destiny with a sharp quill,
Painting the heavens with vivid hues.

At the cusp of time,
we move forward,
Not to depart,
But to welcome,
The dawn that breathes life into the world.

Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia,
January 1st, 2025
……………………………….

*The original title of the poem in Indonesian languange is “Menjelang Fajar”.

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The Coming and the Going

Poem by: Saunir Saun

[Poetry Community of Indonesian Society’s Inspiration: PPIPM – Indonesia; Writers Community of Satu Pena West Sumatra]

Tonight marks the final night of the year,
And also the first night of the new.
The end of 2024 slips away,
While the dawn of 2025 unfurls its wings.

Though both arrive tonight,
They are far apart in their timing,
A divine design,
Woven by the hand of the Almighty,
Lord of the heavens and the earth.

So neatly they are tied,
No end folding into itself,
As if the new year greets the old
Without a whisper of awkwardness.
Whose design is this, if not the will of the Almighty?

When the new year enters,
The old year vanishes in an instant,
Where does it go?
Does it soar into the boundless sky?

What is clear is the time gone by,
Its departure a mystery,
Vanishing like mist,
Leaving no trace behind
For our hands to follow.

Perhaps the wise of old have said it best—
The past is but a distant shadow,
A realm never to be touched,
For it slips through our grasp like sand.

From the ebb and flow of arrival and departure,
A lesson is learned:
While time remains, let us fill it
With goodness for ourselves
And those who walk beside us.

If one lingers in thought,
Look at all creatures—humans and animals,
Both creations of God,
Which of them does not change?
Even through death.

My Home, Padang, Indonesia,
December 31, 2024

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*The original title of the poem in Indonesian languange is “Yang Datang dan Yang Pergi”.

**Saunir Saun is a retired lecturer of the Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Padang and Universitas Muhammad Yamin Solok. He was awarded the title of Prolific Poet of 2023 by Satu Pena Sumbar. Saunir has published seven poetry books and has hundreds more unpublished titles.

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“Tarhim”

Poem by:
Muslimin (Cak Mus)

[Poetry Community of Indonesian Society’s Inspiration: PPIPM – Indonesia; Writers Community of Satu Pena East Java]

The call of subuh’s tarhim, my tears descend,
For decades, I’ve lost the thread of time,
Always gathering fragments of hope,
Struggling with desires, unaware,
That someday, the heartbeat will cease.

The world, dust in the wind, yet undisturbed,
The frangipani and teak trees shed their leaves, watching me,
Their tears drift in silence,
I pretend to meditate,
But my eyes burn with ambition.

All this fleeting existence is plotted with intention,
As though the world is gripped by power,
Uncertain that there will come a wise moment ahead,
When rain falls, seeds sprout,
And when drought arrives, it rebuilds.

If prayers are granted,
Nothing can hinder their fulfillment.
And I murmur curses every day,
Can I leave?
Alone, my footprints erased by silence.

Lamongan, East Java, Indonesia,
December 30, 2024

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*The original title of the poem in Indonesian languange is “Tarhim”

**Muslimin, commonly known as Cak Mus, was born in Lamongan on May 20, 1969. After graduating from SMAN 2 Lamongan, he pursued higher education at IKIP Negeri Surabaya, majoring in Indonesian Language. Since 1991, he has been teaching at various institutions, including MTs A. Wahid Hasyim Tikung, SMP-SMA Tashwirul Afkar Sarirejo, SMP Islam Tikung, as well as PKBM Mahayana and PKBM Mizan Lamongan. He is actively involved in PERGUNU Lamongan and the Bahtsul Masail Institution of MWC NU Tikung Lamongan.

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Victory in the New Year

Poem by: Ramli Djafar

[Poetry Community of Indonesian Society’s Inspirations: PPIPM – Indonesia; Writers Community of Satu Pena West Sumatra]

Aligned,
Arranged,
Neatly,
A mosaic of accomplishments,
A jewel of pride,
Spanning the distance we’ve traveled.

There is a sense of fulfillment,
To reach the aspirations of life,
The gateway to success,
Rising high on the hills of achievement,
Crowned among the ever-shifting clouds.

However,
Behind it all,
Do not forget the struggles,
The fallen and risen through the ages,
Moaning in pain, battered by sorrow.

Do not,
Never forget this,
This is the true mark of victory.

No success,
Without defeat,
But always striving to overcome each fall,
Striving to conquer every weakness.

And we all,
Have,
Triumphed as victors in our lives.

Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia,
January 1, 2025
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*The original title of the poem in Indonesian languange is “Kemenangan di Tahun Baru”.

**Ramli Djafar is an active member of the PPIPM-Indonesia Community and an active poet and writer in Satu Pena Sumbar. He is also a member of the ACC Shanghai Huifeng International Literary Association and Poetry-Pen International Community.

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The Last Twilight

Poem by Zulkifli Abdy

[Poetry Community of Indonesian Society’s Inspirations: PPIPM – Indonesia; Writers Community of Satu Pena Aceh]

Indonesian-English Translator: Leni Marlina

This is the final twilight,
As the sun’s descent whispers farewell,
2024 dissolves,
A soft sigh in the embrace of dusk.
Let me stay here,
Surrendered to the fading hues,
Wrapped in the melancholy of the fading sky.

A ripple of sorrow stirs my soul,
Yet a subtle joy dances,
As the year wanes,
2025 rises on the horizon.
A fusion of grief and hope,
Tenderly unfolding into the quiet of the evening.

This is the last twilight,
Where past and future meet,
The sun sinks as the night beckons,
Silent witnesses to time’s unfolding.
Ah, the beauty of endings,
And the promise of beginnings.

Beranda, Aceh, Indonesia,
December 31th, 2024
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*The original title of the poem in Indonesian languange is “Senja Terakhir”.

**Zulkifli was born in Jambi and has resided in Aceh since 1970. A graduate in Communication Studies, he has pursued writing as a self-taught craft since his teenage years, producing articles and poetry infused with a strong literary spirit. For him, writing is not merely an activity but a means of expressing emotions and serving as an alternative to keeping a personal journal.

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Hope Leaves, the Year Turns

Poem by Zulkifli Abdy

[Poetry Community of Indonesian Society’s Inspirations: PPIPM – Indonesia, Writers Comunity of Satu Pena Aceh]

Indonesian-English Translator: Leni Marlina

The morning breeze stirs,
A longing within it,
As the year turns,
Hope drifts into the unknown.
I remain,
A humble servant,
Faded in the passage of time.

Nuansa Pagi, Aceh, Indonesia,
December 31th, 2024
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*The original title of the poem in Indonesian languange is “Asa Pergi Tahun Berganti”.

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The Passage of Time

Poem by Arsiya Oganara

[Poetry Community of Indonesian Society’s Inspirations: PPIPM – Indonesia]

Indonesian-English Translator: Leni Marlina

The river of time flows,
Relentless and unbroken,
Tugging us through its current,
A dance of fate and memory.
Success, sorrow, doubt, and hope,
All tethered together in the fabric of time.

The past leaves its fingerprints,
Guiding the present with quiet wisdom,
Drawing us into moments of reflection,
Where the answers are not given,
But felt within the marrow of our bones.

Time does not hesitate,
It is a silent conqueror,
Yet we continue—
Forward, through the unknown,
Like a deer racing through the wilds,
Wounded but undefeated.
Each step is a prayer,
Each breath a promise of survival.

In this ever-turning wheel,
Man rises,
Chasing the horizon,
Persevering amidst the fleeting fragments of time.
Stand firm, pray,
And be grateful for the moments that remain.

The day gives way to storms,
But night brings its soothing balm,
We whisper prayers,
Wrapped in the warmth of stillness.
May time, in its passage,
Reveal its beauty,
And guide us through its endless flow.

Bandung, Indonesia,
January 1st, 2024

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*The original title of the poem in Indonesian languange is “Pergantian Waktu”.

**Arsiya Heni Puspita, known by her pen name Arsiya Oganara, holds a degree in Communication Studies. Her love for reading and traveling has led her to become a professional journalist, having passed the Journalist Competency Test (UKW) and been certified as competent. She is also a Professional Tourist Guide and Tour Leader, licensed and certified by the Jakarta Tourism and Creative Economy Office (Disparekraf) and the National Professional Certification Board (BNSP).

Currently, Arsiya is exploring the world of literature, channeling her passion for writing through short stories, poetry, essay poems, and more. She enjoys meeting new people and fostering friendships, which can be initiated through her social media. Facebook: Arsiya Heny Puspita. Instagram: @arsiyahenyhdl. Email: hennyarsiya@gmail.com.

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The Heart of Time

Poem by Leni Marlina

[Poetry Community of Indonesian Society’s Inspirations: PPIPM – Indonesia; Writers Community of Satu Pena West Sumatra]

We are but dust,
Caught in the heartbeat of eternity,
Blown by winds beyond our knowing,
Unyielding, infinite,
Echoing through the chambers of the universe.

The sky no longer wears its fiery gown,
Instead, it cloaks itself in shadows,
The light dissolves,
And night falls with an aching grace,
Stars become silent words,
Imprinting the pages of fate—
A story we cannot read,
But only feel deep within our souls.

Oh, God, do You hear us?
Our prayers slip silently into the void,
Like rivers lost in a vast, unseen ocean.
The years pass,
Fleeting as winds that scatter the rainbow,
Leaving nothing but a faint trace,
A memory inscribed on the heart.

Yet the dawn,
A forgotten promise,
Shatters the night with fierce brilliance,
Tearing open the sky to make way for the morning light.
In the fleetingness of it all,
We are hunters of hope,
We weave dreams from the ashes of our failures,
Stitching them together with threads of courage,
Imperfect, yet enduring.

Oh, Time,
You are no longer measured by the tick of the clock,
But by the breath we take,
Each breath a silent poem,
A prayer wrapped in the essence of life.

The new year arrives,
A vessel for our hopes,
Carrying us across unknown seas,
Where the waves speak in ancient tongues,
And the wind whispers our dreams.

Padang, West Sumatera, Indonesia
January 1st, 2025
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*The original title of the poem in Indonesian languange is “Jantung Waktu”.

**Leni Marlina is an active member of the Indonesian Writers Association (SATU PENA) in West Sumatra. She is also a member of the International Poetry and Literary Writers Community (ACC) in Shanghai, where she serves as the Indonesian Poetry Ambassador for the ACC Shanghai Huifeng International Literary Association. Additionally, she has been involved with the Victoria Writers Association in Australia.

Since 2006, she has served as a lecturer and assistant professor in the English Language and Literature Program at the Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Padang.

Leni is also the founder and leader of several digital communities focused on literature, education, and social issues, including:

1. World Children’s Literature Community (WCLC): https://shorturl.at/acFv1
2. Poetry-Pen International Community
3. PPIPM (Pondok Puisi Inspirasi Masyarakat), the Poetry Community of Indonesian Society’s Inspirations: https://shorturl.at/2eTSB; https://shorturl.at/tHjRI
4. Starcom Indonesia Community (Starmoonsun Edupreneur Community Indonesia):
https://rb.gy/5c1b02
5. Linguistic Talk Community
6. Literature Talk Community