“Time Ages Upon My Mother’s 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)
Illustration of "Time Aging in Mother's Body" – A Poetry Collection by Leni Marlina (PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen IC, Satu Pena Sumbar, Kreator Era AI, FSM, ACC SHILA). Image Source: Starcom Indonesia's Artworks No. 925 - 107 (Assisted by AI).
/1/
Time Ages Upon My Mother’s Body
A Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen IC, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era, FSM, ACC SHILA]
Mother,
you have never grown old—
only time has settled its weight upon you.
It etches itself into your skin,
burdens your back,
yet within you,
you remain untouched—
younger than sorrow.
Bukittinggi, West Sumatra
Indonesia, 2004
/2/
A Mother’s Love Needs No Voice
A Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen IC, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era, FSM, ACC SHILA]
Your hands utter more
than lips heavy with prayers.
In your grasp,
I have learned
that love does not beg for words.
In your touch,
I have come to understand—
home is not a place,
but a presence
that lingers,
even from miles away.
Bukittinggi, West Sumatra
Indonesia, 2004
/3/
Searching for Mother
A Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen IC, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era, FSM, ACC SHILA]
If the world dims,
I will search for you in the hush of the dark.
I know,
even in the absence of light,
you remain the lantern
leading me home.
And if you are no longer here,
then I will find you
in the memory
that refuses to fade.
Bukittinggi, West Sumatra
Indonesia, 2004
/4/
Cradling My Longing for Mother
A Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen IC, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era, FSM, ACC SHILA]
I hold my longing for you,
but this river knows no shore.
If I send it skyward,
will it fall as rain
and touch your hands?
Or must I let it swell,
becoming a sea
that drifts, endless,
never finding land?
Bukittinggi, West Sumatra
Indonesia, 2004
/5/
Calling My Mother’s Name Across Time
A Poem by Leni Marlina
[PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen IC, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena, Indonesian Creator of AI Era, FSM, ACC SHILA]
I still call your name
between the folds of time,
my prayers slipping like wind
against heaven’s silent door.
I do not know
if your voice lingers still,
but I know—
your name trembles
deep within my soul.
For love, Mother,
does not die—
it only changes shape,
becoming a prayer
that will never end.
Bukittinggi, West Sumatra
Indonesia, 2004
——————
A Brief Information about the Poet
The poems (no. 1 – 5) in this collection were never meant for an audience. When Leni Marlina first wrote them in 2004, they were simply a way to capture thoughts, emotions, and fleeting moments—private reflections tucked away in personal notebooks. Writing was a quiet retreat, a space where words found their own rhythm, untouched by the world’s gaze.
The first ten poems in this collection were written just a month after her return from Jakarta, where she had received the First Prize in the National Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award (MAWAPRES) from the Ministry of Education and Culture in 2004. At the time, she had no plans to share them. But as the years passed, she revisited those verses, refining them, seeing them in a new light. Finally, in 2025, they were published for the first time in digital form, stepping beyond the pages they once called home.
You can explore more of Leni Marlina’s poetry, featured in Suara Anak Negeri, by visiting this link:
https://suaraanaknegerinews.com/category/puisi-leni-marlina-bagi-anak-bangsa/.
Outside of poetry, Leni has remained deeply engaged in the literary and academic world. Since 2022, she has been an active member of the Indonesian Writers Association (SATU PENA), West Sumatra Chapter, as well as the Indonesian AI Creators Community. She is also part of the International Poets and Literary Writers Community (ACC) in Shanghai, where she has been entrusted as the Indonesian Poetry Ambassador for ACC Shanghai Huifeng International Literary Association. Her journey has also led her to Victoria’s Writers Association in Australia.
Her passion for language and literature extends into education, where she has been a lecturer at the Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Padang since 2006.
More than anything, Leni believes in the power of community—of creating spaces where writers, poets, and thinkers can connect, share, and grow. Over the years, she has founded and led several communities that bring together literature, language, and digital platforms, including:
1. World Children’s Literature Community (WCLC): https://shorturl.at/acFv1
2. Poetry-Pen International Community
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
6. Literature Talk Community
7. Translation Practice Community
8. English Languange Learning, Literacy, Literary Community (EL4C)
For Leni, poetry is not just about words—it is about connection, about the quiet moments that turn into something greater when shared. And this collection? It is a small part of a much larger journey, one that continues to unfold.
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