A Random Encounter

A few years ago, I had 'the talk' with my ex in my favourite coffee shop, talking about where to go from then, from that point in our lives. In short, we decided to break up after a long and serious deliberation, an unfortunate but firm decision from both of us. He left right after …

A Letter by Richard Feynman for His Wife Arline

D’Arline, I adore you, sweetheart. I know how much you like to hear that — but I don’t only write it because you like it — I write it because it makes me warm all over inside to write it to you. It is such a terribly long time since I last wrote to you …

(On Being) Ordinary People

Finally, new writing in this category in a very long time. I have missed writing opinion and my insights on this blog. This time, I am writing about something I have been thinking of for a long time but lately driven to think about it a bit more in-depth, and that something is how I …

tentang dia dan hujan tengah malam (about him and late night drizzle)

The melody of nature and late night drizzle brings me to the memory of him; Those times he used to recite 'Leaning Into The Afternoons' to me The way he would tilt his head A playful smirk graced the corner of his lips A bit amused as well Like he's about to tell me a …

this place

note: I actually made this poem of two conjoined writings I previously wrote for Instagram caption, with some alteration here and there. I made this poem two months ago, and only able to finish the complete version to post on my blog a few weeks later. I finished this while actually away from home, and …

syair senja usai sendu hujan (poem of post-afternoon-rain)

27 February 2020 Tanah masih bau asam Bangku di bawah pohon rambutan depan rumahku belum sempat kering Helai-helai daun masih betah ditinggali tetes yang urung turun Pak Siomay baru saja lewat, sepiring siomay hangat kini di depanku Selly, kucingku, betah meringkuk di pangkuan, diam-diam menghirup wangi siomay Di layar ponsel, sekelompok musisi jazz sedang membawakan …

my funny November

It rained last night. Heavily. First time in months. The trails of raindrops, pleasant air and wet soil welcomed me to November. It was sunny at noon. I could see the sunlight crept through the window from the room where air conditioning replaced the fresh air and I stood waiting to unfold the last chapter …

she

Sometimes, When it was quiet and she closed her eyes, She could hear the melodious sound coming from silence. She could see iridescence displayed over the blackness. She could smell the warm scent of crisp air blowing in stillness. She could touch the determined resistance taking her away from the edge. She could taste the …

inner-voice check

This one day, I was at the airport, waiting for my flight to get back home for Ied Fitri, the longest and the most festive national holiday in Indonesia, it’s a holy day for Muslims, the celebration after a 30 day of fasting. I was reading in the book corner when suddenly my eyes caught …

Tanya dan Jawabnya (A Question and The Answer)

Note: I initially wrote this poem for a four-lined WhatsApp status but then I add a few more lines and turned it into a poem. I wrote this when I was in a literary festival with a swollen knee and a scrape wound on my chin, I had planned to go there before that "eventful" …

A Piece of Sunset For My Sweetheart

A short story by Seno Gumira Ajidarma. Note: This is the English translation of a short story called Sepotong Senja Untuk Pacarku which is one of my favorites stories, and it is by an Indonesian author Seno Gumira Ajidarma. I translated this myself, and I hope, even though there must be lots of shortcomings in …

Sepotong Senja Untuk Pacarku

Sebuah cerita pendek dari Seno Gumira Ajidarma. Note: I don't do anything this time, I am simply sharing one of my favorites short stories ever, and it is by an Indonesian author Seno Gumira Ajidarma. Through this post, I will share the story in its original Bahasa Indonesia version, and you can find the English …

Dearest Papa,

Note: I previously made a poem about My Mom and while I didn't post this at the same time as I posted that one, I actually made both in around the same time. I also had sent both to My Mom and Dad. It takes longer to post this one, because I'm struggling with translating …

My 3rd Year at WordPress

Hi everyone, I actually didn't mean to write this post, but I thought, it would be nice if I acknowledge the third anniversary I've been here with a simple post, so here I am writing this down. I started this blog basically as a platform to learn about life and about myself. I didn't give …

Satu Malam di Jogja

The Bahasa Indonesia version Di bawah langit malam yang temaram Berkawan lampu yang berkilau silau Kau goreskan lara lewat kata Kau gambarkan pilu dalam warna Berharap bunyi mengusir sunyi Lalu kosong berhenti sombong As usual, I try to put two versions of the poems I wrote, one in Bahasa, and another in English. I'm really …

opening statement and full address (sort of)

So, as I am writing this, I will be adding a sub-category and I feel the need to address my plan in a rather detailed form. I initially wanted to name this sub-category ‘random inspiration’. But I then realized that I have the tendency to listen to interesting people with uncomfortable ideas, and as I …

irony

Sometimes ago in the period of 2018 Russia World Cup, I was watching the match between France and Uruguay. I was rooting for France but Edinson Cavani is one of the people (strangers) I adore the most in my life. I wanted France to win the world cup which meant they had to win against …

melawan gravitasi (defying gravity)

Note: Hi guys, so I'm thinking to always write poetry in English and Bahasa Indonesia. When writing short story or essay, I was way more comfortable using English. Contrary to that, I was definitely a lot more comfortable using Bahasa, my mother language, when writing poetry. I guess it has something to do with vocabulary …

one strange night (satu malam yang aneh)

Finally, I feel ready to share this story. I have no problem with sharing my story, even those that are quite personal, but this particular story is different for so many reasons. I imagine my Mom and Dad would freak out if they ever read this story, I only wish they wouldn’t kill me LOL. …

ahhhhh, kamu…….

Note: yeah, finally another post (2nd post today actually), after such a long time. This will be in Bahasa Indonesia guys, since I already put this on my Whatsapp status, I just feel like putting it here too without making any slight change. Just a bit of background story, so this man who used to …