Never Giving Up

Yusuf Achmad

Criticism, curses, even vile insults.
They mock, jeer, and scorn,
flattery, temptations, even stale bribes clash against me,
but my heart remains steadfast, beating with certainty.

Often my soul protests, wrestling against reason.
They call me a little frog,
with vision confined to a narrow patch,
yet my spirit transcends the bounds of the universe.
Let the dogs bark, as long as they don’t bite.
Someday they will be shocked,
their mouths agape, eyes glaring with bitter regret.

All they know is to grumble,
their courage as frail as mist, unable to step forward.
Vile desires gnaw away like thieves in the dark,
howling like lost wolves in the pitch-black night.

But dogs and wolves are no adversaries.
The frog never intends to threaten,
only leaps slowly with a serene heart,
showing love through actions, not shouts.

Dogs and wolves, with sharp eyes,
yet cloudy minds,
inhale the stench of decay,
making rot their ultimate goal.
While the frog reflects,
crafting plans with a heart that continues to burn bright.

The frog will never give up, no matter how many wolves block its path,
a hundred, a thousand, a million won’t extinguish its hope.
Even if wolves in sheep’s clothing come with sweet bait,
the frog won’t be lured,
its dreams continue to shine, never fading.

Though the frog’s body may be weak, not as strong as steel,
its light of conviction will never dim.
Even as dogs and wolves sprint with cunning intent,
with ambitions to flay it for their feast,
the frog remains firm, gazing far ahead.
Filled with spirit, unyielding,
its dreams eternally guarded,
far beyond the reach of hollow howls.

Hey, stray dogs and wild wolves,
step aside, don’t block the way.
My silence is not a sign of surrender,
but the steadfastness of a soul unshaken.

If you offer a race as a challenge,
even if my ears are deafened by jeers,
I’ll take up your dare,
to prove my stride never falters.

Surabaya, 3 November 2023