Conversation 

By Sapardi Djoko Damono

Where else will our conversation lead (the sigh of the trembling clock fills the room,

words already emptied. The trees outside grow greener

after a night of rain; grow ever redder

 

Roses beneath the window; and mist, 

and mist that always makes us forget) 

after the rain, as each of us tries to recall the names, 

the clock’s ticking hands grow whiter

Dialogue

By Sapardi Djoko Damono

Whence doth our discourse now find its course (the clock’s faint sigh doth shiver the chamber,

words already voided. The verdant trees beyond

after the night’s rain grow greener still; grow ever more crimson

 

Roses ‘neath the casement’s edge; and mist, 

and mist that ever doth our minds benight) 

after the rain, as each of us doth strive to call to mind those names, 

the clock’s hands whiten with each tick-tock.

Conversation

By Sapardi Djoko Damono

Where does our talk now lead (the clock’s quivering sigh shakes the room, 

words already emptied. Trees beyond, verdant they grow,

after the night’s rain; redder and red

 

Roses beneath the window; and mist,

and mist that always makes us forget)

after the rain, as each seeks to recall the names, 

the clock’s hands whiten with every tick-tock

Conversation

By Sapardi Djoko Damono

Whither then wends our discourse now (the clock’s shiver, a quaking chamber’s lament,

words erstwhile hollowed. The trees without their verdure deepened

from a night of rain, redder grows the sun’s crest

 

Roses ‘neath the casement’s edge; and fog, 

and fog that ever shrouds our memory’s quest) 

after the rain, as each strives to remember names, 

the clock’s tick tock grows ever whiter still

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Percakapan, from Damono Sapardi Djoko. Melipat Jarak : Sepilihan Sajak 1995-2015. Cetakan kedua ed. PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama 2016.