“MEASURING THE WORLD”: The Poems Collection by Leni Marlina (PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen IC, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era, FSM, ACC SHILA)
Illustration of "MEASURING THE WORLD": The Poems Collection by Leni Marlina (PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen IC, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era, FSM, ACC SHILA). Image Source: Starcom Indonesia's No. 925-335 Artworks (Assisted by AI).
/1/
MEASURING THE WORLD
Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen IC, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era, FSM, ACC SHILA]
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
In gilded halls, they feast,
maps spread like banquet cloths,
measuring the world
in ounces and gold,
plucking empires
like ripened fruit.
Beyond the glass,
a child breathes upon the dark,
a candle flickers—
no cake, no song.
He lifts his gaze—
are the stars but trembling flames,
lit by hands unseen,
on a table vast and high?
Victoria, AUSTRALIA, 2011
/2/
THE NAME THAT VANISHED
Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen IC, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era, FSM, ACC SHILA]
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
This earth,
scattered with names
erased by time,
yet within a mother’s chest,
they bloom,
they burn.
No headstone guards
her aching heart,
only whispers
louder than the past.
Victoria, AUSTRALIA, 2011
.
/3/
ECHOES OF THE LOST
Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen IC, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era, FSM, ACC SHILA]
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
The city is a monument.
The monument is silence.
Silence is us.
In the hush of forgotten streets,
a name is called,
but no voice replies.
Perhaps this is no city,
only its fading shadow.
Perhaps this is no voice,
only the echo
of something long undone.
Someone once stood here,
and now, only footprints
hold their name.
Victoria, AUSTRALIA, 2011
/4/
WALKING BEYOND BORDERS
Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen IC, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era, FSM, ACC SHILA]
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Lines on a map are ink,
but on the earth,
they rise as walls,
as oceans,
as chasms where faces
forget their own.
Yet we, the wanderers,
keep walking.
Our steps are not mere motion
but rebellion
against the tyranny of lines.
One day,
the lines will vanish.
One day,
so shall we.
Only the journey
will remain.
Victoria, AUSTRALIA, 2011
/5/
FINDING HOME
Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen IC, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era, FSM, ACC SHILA]
★★★★★★★★★★★★★
We walk,
yet no road appears.
We speak,
but words unravel
before they reach.
We seek a home,
but home is a wall
without a door.
We knock,
yet our hands pass
through air.
We wait,
but time has long since turned.
We meet each other’s eyes—
and there,
within that fleeting light,
we find home.
Victoria, AUSTRALIA, 2011
—————————————–‘
The poems collection above in Indonesian languange is entitled “Menakar Dunia”.
This collection of poems (No. 1-5) was originally written bilingually (English-Indonesian) by Leni Marlina in 2011 as a personal endeavor—an intimate reflection of her literary journey while completing the beginning phase of her Master of Writing and Literature (Literary Studies, Creative Writing & Children’s Literature) in Australia. Supported by an Indonesian government scholarship, these poems remained a private archive for years, revisited and refined over time. In 2025, for the first time, they began to emerge into the world, finding their way to readers through digital platforms.
Leni is an active member of the Indonesian Writers Association (SATU PENA), particularly its West Sumatra chapter since its inception in 2022. She is also community member of the Indonesian Creator of AI Era and member of the International Writers and Poets Community (ACC) in Shanghai. In 2024, she was honored with the title of Indonesian Poetry Ambassador for the ACC Shanghai Huifeng International Literary Association. Her engagement in literary circles extends back to her time with Victoria’s Writers Association in Australia. Since 2006, she has devoted herself to academia, teaching in the English Language and Literature Department at the Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Padang, Indonesia.
Beyond academia, Leni has founded and led multiple digital communities dedicated to literature, language, education, and social empowerment. Her initiatives serve as bridges between cultures, fostering literary dialogue and creative expression on both national and international scale. Among them are:
1. World Children’s Literature Community (WCLC): https://shorturl.at/acFv1
2. Poetry-Pen International Community – A global platform for poets and writers.
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 – A forum for linguistic discussions and exploration.
6. Literature Talk Community – A space for literary conversations and critique.
7. Translation Practice Community – A hub for translation enthusiasts and professionals.
8. English Language Learning, Literacy, and Literary Community (EL4C) – Supporting English literacy and creative writing development.
[11.35, 16/3/2025] SatupenaLeni Marlina Jateng:
