The Power of Poetry in Remembering, Resisting, and Reflecting
Essay by Muhammad Adhar
[PPIPM-Indonesia & Poetry-Pen International Community, Poetry_BLaD & IOSoP 2025]
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In a world driven by speed and instant gratification, many might wonder: why does poetry still matter? Is it merely an old-fashioned form of expression, clinging to the edges of modern society? I, too, once thought poetry belonged to the past — until I encountered the works of Leni Marlina. Through her profound poems such as “Our Ancestral Land” (2013), “When They Nailed the Sky” (2018) and “Time Ages Upon My Mother’s Body” (2004). These poems were digitally published on suaraanaknegerinewplus@gmail.com in 2024
Firstly, in “Our Ancestral Land” (2013), Marlina gracefully captures the severed bond between humanity and nature. With striking images like “scratching fate in rain ink” and “rivers covering the mirrors that once reflected our faces,” she reminds us of a time when nature mirrored our souls. Now, the silence of the land is haunting. This poem is not just art; it is an invitation to remember — to reconnect with a world we risk forgetting.
Secondly, Marlina’s poem “When They Nailed the Sky” (2018) powerfully personifies the sky as a symbol of uncontainable freedom. Through simple but vivid language, Marlina portrays how oppressive forces may attempt to control even the vastness of the sky — yet freedom always finds a way to endure. Lines like “the sky slips beneath their walls” and “they must still breathe” show that resistance is woven into the fabric of existence. In this way, poetry becomes a quiet but relentless form of rebellion.
Finally, Marlina’s poem “Time Ages Upon My Mother’s Body” (2024) offers an intimate meditation on love, time, and resilience. The tender line, “You have never grown old — only time has settled its weight upon you,” reveals a timeless truth: that love and memory outlast the physical marks of aging. This poem is a testament to poetry’s unique power to preserve emotional truths that statistics and logic alone cannot capture.
In conclusion, Leni Marlina’s poetry shows us that poetry is much more than beautiful words. It is voice, memory, resistance, and reflection — a quiet revolution of the soul. Whether speaking of the earth, the sky, or a beloved mother, her poems invite us to stop, to listen, and to remember what truly matters in the rush of modern life. In this age of noise, poetry is the soft but enduring voice that reminds us: we are human, and we must not forget.
Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia, 2025
References:
Poem 1:
Marlina, Leni (2013). “Our Ancestral Land.” Suara Anak Negeri News.
First digital publication: March 26, 2025. Accessed April 2025.
Access link: https://suaraanaknegerinews.com/our-ancestral-land-poems-collection-by-leni-marlina-ppipm-indonesia-poetry-pen-ic-indonesian-writer-of-satu-pena-indonesian-creator-of-ai-era-fsm-acc-shila/
Poem 2:
Marlina, Leni (2018). “When They Nailed the Sky.” Suara Anak Negeri News.
First digital publication: March 28, 2025. Accessed April 2025.
Access link: https://suaraanaknegerinews.com/the-letter-of-humanity-the-poems-collection-by-leni-marlina-ppipm-indonesia-poetry-pen-international-community-indonesian-writer-of-satu-pena-indonesian-creator-of-ai-era-fsm-acc-shila/
Poem 3:
Marlina, Leni (2004). “Time Ages Upon My Mother’s Body.” Suara Anak Negeri News.
First digital publication: February 15, 2025. Accessed April 2025.
Access link: https://suaraanaknegerinews.com/time-ages-upon-my-mothers-body-a-poetry-collection-by-leni-marlina-ppipm-indonesia-poetry-pen-ic-indonesian-writer-of-satu-pena-sumbar-indonesian-creator-of-ai-era-fsm-acc-shila/
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About Muhammad Adhar:
Muhammad Adhar is an undergraduate student at English Languange and Literature Department, Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Padang. He was born in Jakarta, 2006, and he is currently living in Padang, West Sumatra. Adhar is an alumna of SMAN 1 SOLOK, West Sumatra.
In addition, Adhar is an active member of several communities, including PPIPM-Indonesia (Poetry Community of Indonesian Society’s Inspiration), Poetry-Pen International Community (PPIC), Littalk-C (Literary Talk Community), and EL4C (English Language Learning, Literary, and Literacy Community).
The essay by Adhar above was presented virtually at the Poetry Book Launching and Discussion (Poetry-BLaD) and the International Online Seminar on Poetry (IOSoP) held on May 31st, 2025 at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Padang, held by Media Suaraanaknegerinews.com in collaboration with English Languange and Literature Department, Faculty of Languanges and Arts with, Universitas Negeri Padang.
Adhar’s presentation video from the Poetry-BLaD & IOSoP event is publicly accessible via the following official link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDMKe3jzt68
