perching up high...

looking out of the window
from the fifth floor of the building without elevator

I caught a whiff of the now familiar aroma of this city

diesel fume of the perpetually honking taxis
gasoline fume of the zooming Land Cruisers
fragrant aroma of the various kebab corners….
and the familiar throat choking dust carried by the desert wind
whistling through the windows of my classroom

and I cannot be grateful enough
for the fact that the wind was blowing the ‘right’ way
instead of filling my mouth with the taste of the light brown city dust

Oh how sometimes I wish I had brought my pashmina along…



Yemen College of Middle Eastern Studies & Yemen Language Center

Sana’a, June 21, 2009

can't dance without you...

So many steps taken,
Many arms held,
Music turned up,
Rhythm counted,
But in my heart…
You will always be….

No salsa will feel the same without you, S…
For all the months we trained together,
All the rhythm miscalculated,
All the steps miscounted,
All the trials and errors made,
All the fun we shared.

No lead will match up to you, J…
For all the graceful moves,
The gentle but defined leads,
The unmistaken guide through impossible moves.

No bachata will feel the same without you, M…
The other side of you I’ve seen through the songs,
And the moves,
And the leads,
How it made you a completely different lead than in salsa,
How gentle you could be,
And how an amazing bachata you made.

No learning on the spot will be the same without you, N…
And how we learnt to bachata right there on the dance floor,
And having fun was much more than just looking cool,
And making the right moves.

And there will be no moment that I hear reggaeton when I don’t miss you, T…
For finally…
In my crazy little world,
Somebody actually jumped at the chance to share a reggaeton with me,
And it had been purely fun and energizing.

And for all you,
A million of thank you’s and love,
For making such a magical journey
Through music and dance.

And forever you will be,
In my heart,
Whenever I dance to our songs.

just one soul

If dancing can change the world,
I would wear out a million pairs of shoes.
If crying could wash out all the hatred,
I would cry my heart out.
If singing could pacify the restless mankind,
I would hum lovely lullabies.

I wish I could bring you lovely melodies,
I wish I could dance away your pain for you,
I wish I could tuck you in at night with soothing lullabies,
I wish I could wipe away your tears,
And fears.

I wish I could change the world.

If smiling could bring another smile on the way,
I would smile forever.

And that is exactly what I intend to do.

If I could touch one soul,
Just one soul,
The way you touched mine,
With that beautiful smile,
I would smile….
And smile….
And smile…
And smile….

For I cannot change the world,
But I can smile,
And wish that the smile makes a difference,
Even if it is for one soul,
Only for one soul.

Yours.


Salatiga, May 18, 2009

....panjenengan....

Ing weninging ati,
Sepining wengi,
Aku kelingan sliramu,
Sing wis suwe takantu-antu.

Keprungu swaramu,
Kelingan esemmu,
Kepara kabeh rinasa semu,
Amarga atiku dudu duwekmu.

Kangmas,
Ing jroning atiku,
Tansah ana sliramu,
Ora-oraa kewates wektu.

Lan asmamu,
Tansah keprungu ing kupingku.

Nanging uripku,
Dudu duwekmu.


Salatiga, 18 Mei 2009

embun

rapuh,
seperti embun yang mengembang di pagi hari.

lembut,
seperti kabut yang melayang di pekat pagi.

segar,
seperti embun yang menggelinjang di dedaunan sunyi.

misteri,
seperti kabut yang menutup segalanya.

dan cintamu,
kan kujaga...selama kubisa.

kerapuhannya,
kelembutannya,
kesegaran yang dibawanya,
misteri keberadaannya,
....... bagaikan embun bagi pagi-pagi jiwaku.....

untukmu,
selamanya,
takkan pernah kulupa.