The Song of Chairul Harun’s Pen
(One of the Legends from Minangkabau, West Sumatra, Indonesia)
By Leni Marlina
Beneath the rainbow of Pariaman, where dewdrops greet the dawn,
Chairul Harun, you arrive with a peaceful light,
Like flowers blooming in a quiet valley,
You carve tales, stirring souls, weaving stories full of meaning.
In the grandeur of Minangkabau’s wealth,
You paint history with golden ink,
Word by word, you weave like silk threads,
Binding tradition in a melody timeless and enduring.
Your words, a stream of crystal clear water,
Breathing life into the trees of stories on hills and valleys,
Touching hearts, whispering softly in our ears,
Telling of love for an eternal homeland.
Each line of your poetry, branches dancing,
Swayed by a gentle breeze, recounting love for heritage,
Preserving cultural footprints, unaffected by the passing time,
You are the guardian, the keeper of bygone eras.
In classrooms, on artistic stages,
You are like the sun illuminating the morning,
Igniting passion in students’ hearts,
Planting love for the roots of tradition.
Honors come like a shower of stars,
Yet for you, they are but shadows,
You are sincere like a rainbow after rain,
Serving selflessly, with a generous heart.
Amidst the clamor of passing times,
Your stories unfold, oh cultural and literary sage, Chairul Harun,
Like silk threads weaving,
Depicting the beauty of literature and life.
In “Twenty Writers Speak,”
Your thoughts emerge, opening windows to the world,
A compelling anthology of essays, stirring emotions,
Revealing meanings, Chairul Harun, you are extraordinary.
“Warisan,” a novel as a legacy,
Narrates the disputes over inheritance in Minangkabau customs,
With a distinctive, meaningful style,
You unveil dark sides, challenging traditions.
Through the lens of Veven S.P. Wardhana,
We understand the implied meanings,
Your words touch lives,
Portraying deep conflicts.
Bill Watson speaks up too,
Appreciating your wise thoughts,
You do not just write stories,
But question the prevailing customs.
“Warisan” is more than your work,
It is a sharp reflection of social reality,
Uncovering the gray sides of society,
Inviting us to question rights and justice.
Now you are long gone, but your work is eternal,
Like a banyan tree firmly rooted in our hearts,
Chairul Harun, the true sculptor of culture,
Reignite our spirits, every time we read your pen’s creations.
Thank you, oh wise writer,
You are a peacock spreading its wings,
In the beauty of stories, the richness of culture,
Your work remains alive, your inspiration will never fade.
Padang, June 2024
****
This poem was initially published in Leni Marlina’s poetry collection in August 2016 and revised in August 2022 before being digitally published on
Since 2006, the author has been dedicated as a lecturer at the Faculty of Language and Arts, Universitas Negeri Padang. She is also the founder and head of the World Children’s Literature Community (WCLC). Additionally, she has been active as a member of the One Pen Writer’s Association of West Sumatra since 2022 and involved with the Victoria Writers’ Association – Australia since 2012.
Link YouTube ;
And,
(Putrie)
