Hope Under the Sky

Yusuf Achmad

I see the sun’s rays greeting warmly,
A spark of stars falls to earth, reminding me of Joseph the illuminator.
Who always gives me light, I shepherd the sheep together.
Traversing vast meadows, sometimes lush, sometimes a tuft.

Seeking food and drink, though still not enough,
I once felt the sting of the sun, piercing my skin in the midday.
Dogs, frogs, and cattle call out, a lioness inviting to stride,
I care for the sheep carefully, sharp claws inevitable.

They are my friends and family, without them I am nothing.
I once gazed at the sky, seeing the twinkling stars,
A spark of stars flies in the blink of an eye, in uncertain awareness,
I once heard the sheep running, chasing the lost spark of stars.

The sun wonders, will the sheep keep running?
Will the spark of stars shine again? Or will the sheep lose their coat?
Running without shame? Have you ever understood?
That within every spark of stars, there is hope that never fades.

Surabaya, 10-1-2024