The Moonlight Slowly Fades
(With Rys Revolta)

By Toto ST Radik

the moonlight slowly fades
the wind hides in tranquil valleys
the insects too stop singing their poetry
as the darkness envelopes the eye
extinguishes every colors
leaves unease in eddies swirling
and pounces on a bloodless face.

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Some thoughts:

The poem “Sinar Bulan Menyuram lambat” (The Moonlight Slowly Fades) by Toto ST Radik is filled with symbols of darkness, silence, and inner anxiety. It describes the transition of the night light as it slowly fades into darkness, leaving a feeling of restlessness swirling within the human soul.

Theme

The main theme is the silence of the night and inner anxiety. The darkness of the night reflects feelings of endless anxiety.

The poem tells the story of a night journey as the moonlight fades, the wind hides, and the sounds of insects cease, leaving only the darkness that swallows all color. In this state, anxiety rises and takes over the soul, as if attacking a helpless face.

Implied Meaning

The implied meaning is human helplessness in the face of silence and darkness. The fading moonlight can be interpreted as a loss of hope, while the darkness symbolizes fear or suffering. The swirling anxiety symbolizes an inner being disturbed by circumstances that are difficult to control.

Atmosphere of the Poem

The atmosphere of the poem is silent, gloomy, and full of anxiety. There is no bustling life; everything has come to a standstill, giving way to a dominant feeling of anxiety.

Message of the Poem

The message conveyed is the importance of spiritual preparedness in facing the darkness or loneliness of life. Every human being will face dark phases in their life, and only inner strength can sustain.

Imagery

The poem presents strong imagery:

Visual: “The moonlight slowly fades” and “all colors become extinct” describe the increasingly dark night.

Auditory: “Even insects stop singing poetry” creates a sense of complete silence.

Kinesthetic: “Restlessly whirling around” creates a feeling of tension and unease.

Figures of Speech

Some figures of speech used include:

Personification – the moon seems to have a dim light, the wind can hide, and the insects stop singing.

Metaphor – the darkness that overwhelms the eyes symbolizes the darkness of life.

Hyperbole – “striking on a bloodless face” emphasizes the gripping feeling of anxiety and fear.

Toto ST Radik’s poem “Sinar Bulan Menyuram Perlahan” (The Moonlight Slowly Fades) is a brief yet touching portrait of the silence of night that transforms into a symbol of inner human restlessness. With themes of loneliness and darkness, the poem tells the story of the fading light of hope, leaving a darkness that envelops the soul. Strong visual and auditory imagery, along with the use of personification and metaphor, allows the poem, though short, to create a strong atmosphere that lingers in the reader’s mind.

This post is based on https://www.sepenuhnya.com/2025/09/puisi-sinar-bulan-menyuram-perlahan-karya-toto-st-radik.html.

See more at:

• https://kepadapuisi.blogspot.com/2016/10/indonesia-setengah-tiang.html