Your Voice

Yusuf Achmad

Your voice I obey,
Though it’s merely the voice of the heart.
Then I pick everything from the tree,
Where the roots of history, names, signs,
Or everything with an Arabic scent, foreign,
Or all that’s important, strange yet meaningful.

Though confused, bewildered even trapped,
By words, not the true essence,
I dig again and again, even with meditation.

I meet Jin Kartubi, greet Jin Aladin, then,
I close my eyes and see Abu Nawas talking,
About tactics and tricks against the king,
Or cruelty, injustice, even,
True love knowing God.

Your voice, even via WA, is a command,
Not a king’s order, but energetic,
Not a command, but I fulfill,
Not anything, though nothing more than that,
Your voice drives words, hands create works,

Surabaya, 13-2-2025