“When My Friend Left”: A Poetry Collection by Leni Marlina (PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen IC, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena Sumbar, Indonesian Creator of AI Era)
Illustration of "When My Friend Left": A Poetry Collection by Leni Marlina (PPIPM-Indonesia, Poetry-Pen IC, Indonesian Writer of Satu Pena Sumbar, Indonesian Creator of AI Era). Image Source: Starcom Indonesia's Artworks No. 925-99 (Assisted by AI).
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When My Friend Left
Poem by Leni Marlina
My friend,
The wind comes, gnawing at dawn,
dragging your name to the edge of the drizzle.
I hear your footsteps
turning into whispers—
breaking,
whole,
breaking again.
In the sky, birds carve the final letter of your name,
then let it fall
onto the streets of the city you abandoned.
I let you go with tears that refuse to fall.
Padang, West Sumatra
Indonesia, 2017
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The Sea That Lost Its Waves
Poem by Leni Marlina
That morning, the sea forgot how to summon waves.
It watched you leave,
and suddenly,
its currents came to a halt.
Salt stiffened on the lips of the shore,
coral froze in silence.
The seagulls flew slower,
waiting for your name to return
on the breath of the hesitant tide.
But you were gone.
And the waves never came back.
Still, I wait for the scent of this sea
to bring you home one day.
Padang, West Sumatra
Indonesia, 2017
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The Rain That Never Fell
Poem by Leni Marlina
The rain had already left the clouds,
one drop had fallen—
then turned back.
It was ready to descend,
but something held it still.
It had fallen halfway,
but your name ignited the sun.
And so the rain never became rain.
Only mist.
Only longing that never touched the earth.
Padang, West Sumatra
Indonesia, 2017
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The Tree That Shed a Name
Poem by Leni Marlina
One leaf fell too soon
that morning, just as you walked away.
It swirled in the air,
measuring the distance
between farewell and prayer.
The branches held back their tears,
but the roots knew:
every season will return
what once was lost.
Padang, West Sumatra
Indonesia, 2017
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When We Stood on the Bridge
Poem by Leni Marlina
The bridge suddenly stopped midway.
Your footsteps lingered there, unable to cross.
“Go,” I said.
“Stay,” the bridge whispered.
Your feet hovered over hesitation.
And I stood there,
half-hoping you’d stay on the other side,
half-waiting for the bridge to collapse
so we’d never have to choose.
Padang, West Sumatra
Indonesia, 2017
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The City That Lost Its Shadows
Poem by Leni Marlina
Since you left, my friend,
the streets have lost their shape.
Your shadow once stretched along this pavement,
but now,
even the sun seems unsure
where to fall.
Night arrives too soon.
The streetlights flicker only halfway.
And I stand at the crossroads,
waiting for something that no longer knows its direction.
Padang, West Sumatra
Indonesia, 2017
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The Bird That Flies in My Dream
Poem by Leni Marlina
I see you flying,
but only in my sleep.
Every time I wake,
you are back here—
an empty chair.
I want to sleep longer.
Maybe by the fourth dream,
you haven’t left yet.
Padang, West Sumatra
Indonesia, 2017
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The River That Stopped Flowing
Poem by Leni Marlina
The river lost its way.
Its waters spun in place,
uncertain whether to move forward
or wait for something missing.
Once, a boat passed through here.
Once, two hands dipped their longing
into currents that never returned.
Now, only silence remains.
And the river asks itself
about a loss too deep to explain.
Padang, West Sumatra
Indonesia, 2017
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The Shadow That Forgot to Go Home
Poem by Leni Marlina
I saw it yesterday,
your shadow still on that pavement.
It stood there, bewildered.
“I should have followed,” it murmured.
“But he walked too fast.”
Since then, I have always seen it there,
pressed against the streetlamp,
waiting for its owner to return.
Padang, West Sumatra
Indonesia, 2017
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The Sunset That Arrived Too Late
Poem by Leni Marlina
That day, the sun refused to set,
the dusk arrived too late,
as if waiting for something.
The sky burned orange for too long,
and the birds returned to their nests—twice.
Perhaps, it was waiting for you
to take one step closer
before surrendering the day.
But you left anyway.
And that sunset finally faded,
letting you go in peace,
wishing you safe travels to where you must be.
Padang, West Sumatra
Indonesia, 2017
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The poetry collection of “When My Friend Left” was originally written by Leni Marlina bilingually (English-Indonesia) in 2017, later revised, and first published digitally in 2025.
Leni Marlina is a celebrated Indonesian poet, writer, and educator whose works explore themes of resilience, healing, and cultural identity, etc. A distinguished member of the literary world, she is affiliated with Indonesian Writers of SATU PENA, Indonesian Creators of AI Era, and the Forum Siti Manggopoh (FSM). Internationally, she is an active member of the ACC Shanghai Huifeng International Literary Association (ACC SHILA), serving as Indonesia’s Poetry Ambassador, and has contributed to the Victoria Writers Association in Australia.
Since 2006, Leni has been a dedicated lecturer in the Department of English Language and Literature at the Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Padang (UNP), Indonesia. In addition to her academic career, she has also contributed as a columnist and journalist, enriching public discourse with her insights.
Leni’s passion for literature extends beyond her own writing. She has founded and leads several impactful communities and initiatives that focus on language, literature, literacy, and social empowerment. These include:
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)
