On the Brink of Silence and Sound

yusuf achmad

Whether the sound exists or not,
Silence roars without pause.
Night seduces, thoughts drift away—
A hush rustling—at my ear, or deep within the soul?

Ear, feeling, thought entwine,
Converse in the dusky blur.
Heart beats whisper, the belly rumbles,
Mouths moan, plead, surrender—
Swept away by what fate may say… opo jare…

This room, tiled and touched by feet,
A soft breeze wanders through silence.
The roar of the heart still speaks,
While lips chant endless zikir.

Suddenly, the self becomes ulama,
No sin, only blessings abide—
Interpreting hearts of humans and damned devils,
Judging peers, ruling like kings,
Oppressing souls, trapping minds in suspicion.

Thankfully, there’s a little mosquito by my ear,
Its wings tremble, whispering awakening.
If the self is fragile, defeated by its buzz,
It knows no shame for being small.
It flies, with no hint of pride.
Its wings may be frail, yet its sound is eternal,
Echoing like the hum of angels.

Surabaya, 15 April 2025