ROCKET STURDILY PIERCES SKY

yusuf achmad

To Abah
(A poem for my grandchildren)

When my rocket soars
And lands upon the boundless sky,
I devour rainbows, taste the clouds—
Bubbles of soap,
Clear as crystal, untouched by dew—
A sign for you, Abah.

I ascend the winding path of clouds,
Grasping the falling rain,
Diving back to the earth below,
Where Abah sits, pensive, waiting.
The bubbles I swallow,
Like balloons gleaming,
Bear my love, unyielding, high above.

Awaken, Abah, from wistful dreams!
Your grandson rises beyond the horizon—
No longer simply dazzling,
But carving paths unwavering.
My sturdy rocket never falters,
Reaching hope,
Generation to generation.