Poem by Sitor Situmorang

The Lost Child/Si Anak Yang Hilang

by Sitor Situmorang

In the midday heat a speck appears on the lake. The anxious mother runs down to the beach to welcome her long-awaited child. The boat takes shape. As she stares her tears flow - the child has come back from his journeying. The moment he sets foot, mother embraces him. Father sits at the centre of the house as if he couldn't care less. The child is crestfallen at his mother's side - but men know to restrain their feelings. The child sits down, is told to talk, a chicken is slaughtered, rice cooks. The whole village is asking, 'Are you married, any children?' The lost child has come back but now he knows no-one. How many harvests have been and gone? What has happened? The whole village is asking, 'Any children, how many?' The lost child is silent - He has questions of his own. At dusk after the meal his mother moves closer, she wants him to speak. The child stares, the mother asks if it is cold in Europe. The child is silent, remembering forgotten things - the cold of Europe, the seasons of its cities. His mother is quiet, has ceased talking - no resentment, only joy. Night has come, mother is asleep, father has been snoring some time. The waves swish on the beach. They know the child has not returned.

Pada terik tengah hari Titik perahu timbul di danau Ibu cemas ke pantai berlari Menyambut anak lama ditunggu Perahu titik menjadi nyata Pandang berlinang air mata Anak tiba dari rantau Sebaik turun dipeluk ibu Bapak duduk di pusat rumah Seakan tak acuh menanti Anak di sisi ibu gundah - laki-laki layak menahan hati - Anak disuruh duduk bercerita Ayam disembelih nasi dimasak Seluruh desa bertanya-tanya Sudah beristri sudah beranak? Si anak hilang kini kembali Tak seorang dikenalnya lagi Berapa kali panen sudah Apa saja telah terjadi? Seluruh desa bertanya-tanya Sudah beranak sudah berapa? Si anak hilang berdiam saja Ia lebih hendak bertanya Selesai makan ketika senja Ibu menghampiri ingin disapa Anak memandang ibu bertanya Ingin tahu dingin Eropa Anak diam mengenang lupa Dingin Eropa musim kotanya Ibu diam berhenti berkata Tiada sesal hanya gembira Malam tiba ibu tertidur Bapak lama sudah mendengkur Di pantai pasir berdesir gelombang Tahu si anak tiada pulang The literal translation of this poem was made by Ulrich Kratz The final translated version of the poem is by The Poetry Translation Workshop