Light in the Sky of Pagaruyuang
(For the Heir of the Pagaruyuang Kingdom, Bundo Raudha Thaib)
By: Leni Marlina
1)
In that moment beneath the tireless embrace of twilight,
a radiant beam was born from Puti Reno,
flowing through the veins of Minangkabau,
where knowledge and artistry entwine,
like dew resting on the edges of leaves,
piercing the mists of time, slicing through the silence of ages.
Bundo Raudha, we speak your name,
not merely an echo in the chronicles of history,
but a voice that penetrates the earth,
delving deep into the roots of the enau palm,
nurturing sprouts of hope in parched soil,
transforming forests into the pulse of life,
weaving dreams in the fertile fields of knowledge,
interlacing culture’s narrative with threads of wisdom,
where learning transcends mere logic,
becoming the very spirit that breathes behind your letters.
2)
You stand upon the summit of hope,
arms wide open,
embracing the currents of time
like a river that flows faithfully
through the woods you nurture,
making the forest sing
with melodies of wisdom and art.
Your words, spoken without applause,
still echo through hilltops,
vibrating the stillness of leaves.
In your creations, you are the unseen rain,
nourishing the dry roots of thought,
giving birth to a forest of knowledge,
where we find shelter from life’s tempests.
3)
Upita Agustine,
your pen name does not merely sketch
but pierces the heavens with vibrant hues.
On an invisible stage,
you glide and dance with the shadows of the sea,
sailing waves of stories across tranquil shores,
dyeing the Sumatra twilight
with shades of words that shall never fade.
From rainbows to azure seas,
between these two realms, you paint dreams
upon an untouched canvas,
where hope blossoms wild,
creating a new world
where dreams find their sanctuary.
In the swirling vortex of time that spins ever onward,
you become an eternal flame,
kindling the spirit within our hearts,
reviving passions hidden in the seeds of thought,
teaching us that dreams does not linger in mere imagination,
but transform into light that guides our paths and actions.
4)
Bundo Raudha,
beloved of culture, explorer of visions,
transcending unseen barriers,
serving Mother Earth as scholar and poet,
Bundo Kanduang, guardian of essence,
steadfastly holding fast to identity and faith,
lifting Minangkabau to heights unseen,
where diversity serves as a bridge,
and strength is rooted in unity,
you stand firm,
like a mountain unyielding to the storms that rage.
In every thread of your work,
you breathe life into the hidden enau,
offering farmers not just tools,
but dreams that rise from the earth.
Breathing life into the land,
a light of hope that never dims,
traversing silent valleys,
penetrating forgotten hearts,
granting wings to weary souls
5)
We, the millennials of the digital age,
stand in hushed reverence,
hearing your name reverberate through the leaves,
kissing the footprints you’ve left upon our ancestral soil, the Minangkabau realm.
Each step you take draws us closer
to the horizon where dreams and reality entwine,
where hope finds solid ground
beneath skies that are never truly dark.
Bundo Raudha,
words of gratitude will never suffice
to convey the lessons and wisdom you’ve imparted,
for every spark of motivation and kindness you’ve sown,
for every dream and inspiration you ignite.
You are the August moonlight that never wanes throughout the year,
a guiding lighthouse and luminary
on our long, winding journey strewn with stones.
Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia, 2020
Note
This poem was crafted by the author for the youth and all ages, with the hope that one day students and young people will recite it live or through video in schools, campuses, and communities, sharing their activities with WCLC. Warm greetings from WCLC (World Children’s Literature Community): WCLC Link
Originally penned as part of Leni Marlina’s personal poetry collection in 2020, this poem was edited and published for the first time in digital media in 2024.
Leni Marlina has served as a permanent lecturer at the Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Padang, since 2006. The author is also the founder and head of several literary and educational communities, including the World Children’s Literature Community (WCLC), the POETRY-PEN International Community, and the Indonesian Poetry Reading and Writing Community (PPIPM: Pondok Puisi Inspirasi Masyarakat).
Additionally, the author founded and leads two English courses: ECSC (English Children’s Literature Smart Course) and MEC (Marvelous English Course), as well as a digital-based social community, Starcom Indonesia (Starmoonsun Eduprenuer Community Indonesia). As an active member of the SATU PENA Writers Association in West Sumatra, the author is also involved in international collaborations, such as the Victoria Writers Association in Australia and the ACC International Writers Community in Hong Kong.
