Four poems in Today's Anxious Pages dissect the inner dynamics of humanity from different angles. 'Mining Theory' highlights the pursuit of knowledge, 'The Restless Ear' questions how to comprehend reality, 'Paradox of Self-Reliance' explores resilience and independence, while 'Keeping Your Smile' records the traces of memories that provide strength in navigating life.
Mining Theory
Panning for grains of knowledge amidst the rocky strata of theory.
Those rough grains cling to the knees of self-reason.
While mouths are too full, netting dewdrop after dewdrop of references.
Feet don't always align with hands to reach the maturity of academic
excavation.
Time seems to extinguish life when it sides with the continuity of discipline.
Days freeze over with relentless news of sessions.
The moon stares sharply, demanding graduation.
Is enduring without pause our culture?
Yet, when research focus is sharpened,
Clever quotes are herded,
Methodology surfs through the steep terrain of dialogue,
Surely, the universe of logic faithfully accompanies every diction.
Bantul, June 9, 2026
The Restless Ear
My ear navigates oral pages imbued with knowledge.
A sequence of letters that builds civilization.
A sequence of sentences that awakens humanity.
A sequence of paragraphs that preserves values amidst the roar of factory
machines speaking standard language.
My ear hears facts grounded in reality.
Through the beat of every second.
One by one, news reports, a ballad unfolds in orderly words.
Bringing forth a living understanding that warms the roots of thought.
My ear perceives the bitter phrases of reality.
Statistics are more convincing than beautifully shaped lines of script.
Receipts are easier to understand than the darkness of poetic verses.
What will its epilogue be?
The sun still rises and sets.
The stars still ripple, shining and hiding.
Planets orbit the Earth.
Yet, why are humans reluctant to emerge from their ego's shell?
Karanglo, June 8, 2026
Paradox of Self-Reliance
I Am the Roar Amidst the Silence of the Night.
While day makes me silent amidst a deceptive crowd.
I am a mere splash of patience amidst the fiery embers of rage.
Yet the fire of anger cannot even slightly grasp the nimble water filling the crevices of life's river stones.
I am the harsh cry of struggle amidst the silence of betrayal.
Even if that silence surely kills, my cries will be echoed by the mouths of mushrooms growing when the rainy season fails to refresh the earth.
Though after darkness, light emerges,
Without the ignited courage of self-reliance, surely the pillar will be larger than the peg.
This step is no different from searching for a needle of hope in the ocean.
Every clasp of a hand might wither before blooming.
Even likened to milk repaid with poison.
Yet, so real are those clasped hands and swinging steps.
Hundred percent freedom, wholeheartedly and willingly pursued with sacrifice.
The eternity of inspiration is the best reward for service.
God's love always envelops.
So that they may be freer upon returning from the fleeting fervor of struggle.
Bantul, June 6, 2026
Keeping Your Smile
At a glance, I found your laughter with the streetlights.
Amidst the traffic, your smile still vividly lingers.
Even though the rain seemed to try to sweep it away.
Even though the dollar arbitrarily weakened the hope of the rupiah.
Your laughter and smile back then never ceased.
It turns out my footsteps carried it.
My bag and wallet kept it.
Even my valuable shares recorded it.
Sometimes it makes me cry because of my helplessness to protect it.
Other times it makes me laugh for a moment, pausing the weariness of facing the waves of long days' goals.
Your smile is not as beautiful as a blooming flower.
Far from being as clear as a lake.
In fact, it's colder than the warmth of a full moon.
Yet, a path of my understanding touches your smile,
As a sanctuary for those who flee from the harsh streets of life.
Bantul, May 25, 2026