EWITH BAHAR

 

Myself And God

 

I follow my mind to travel far

Crossing valleys of imagination

Giving profound meaning

to every step I make

Inherit the shining footprints

 

Life is so short, but the dream is so long

When musing this life

before the magnificent nature

My heart melts

I see myself and God in every element

 

Time

 

Morning:

the balmy fragrant breeze and a new delight

that’s the miracle God gives through the light

brought by the the sunbeams moving across the ceiling

senses heightening

 

Day:

sheets, sheets, sheets, on a table, in mind, everywhere

sometimes distressing sometimes comforting

but I have sufficient strength to persevere

with astute mechanism

 

Night:

It was ordained the perfect part of the day

we discover Eden for resting and rebuilding

in a deep slumber we surrender the life

dismiss the goals we strive

 

Life:

We own a chance, each and every second

to make this temporary stay worthwhile.

 

The Day You’re Gone

 

From a half-opened window

my eyes touched the wide horizon

pondering the flying days, missing moments,

and all memories about you, which stretches out

a treasure…lives on forever

 

On the epitaph, elegy I wrote

will never decay

but the bitterness and pain of losing you

will always stay

 

The day I left the pale you and the pale hospital room

your eyes followed as I went out and waved

and two hours later, my phone howled

from the hospital…..

my tears wetting the receiver.

 

EWITH BAHAR

 

EWITH BAHAR is a published author, poetess, novelist, translator and essayist from Indonesia. She had a long-time career in a mass communication field (radio and television industry). Prior to joining RCTI (The biggest private TV station in Indonesia) in 2004, she was a host for several musical and cultural programs for TVRI (Indonesian government TV station). This complements her passion who loves music, culture, psychology, philosophy and history greatly. She has published eleven books, in all genres: poetry, novel, short stories, and essays. Another three books are still in on-going process. Hundreds of her poems were published in many national newspapers, journals and online medias, home and abroad. Her works also can be found in approximately more than 60 poetry anthologies in Indonesia and in many international anthologies. She herself once organized Indonesian poets to publish their works into  ten poetry anthologies since 2014. And starting 2022, she plans to manage another poetry anthology project that will be joined by many world poets from five continents about Borobudur Temple, one of UNESCO world heritage sites in Indonesia that was built in the 8th and 9th centuries AD. Two years ago, in 2019, one of her poetry books, Sonata Borobudur, got a prestigious prize from Indonesian National Library as The Best Five Indonesian Poetry Books 2019. In November 2021, her single poem, “Imigran Digital” won the third place in a poetry writing competition, related to outstanding yearly Indonesian Poetry Day celebration, organized by Yayasan Hari Puisi (Poetry Day Foundation). In July 2022, she won two writing competitions, each the third place for Essay on Chairil Anwar (The most influential Indonesian poet) and essay on Insurance. Ewith Bahar’s poetical works have been translated into several foreign languages, such as English, Spanish, Indian, Serbian, Armenian, Uzbek, Nepali, French, Italian, Arabian, and Korean. Besides writing career, Ewith was also a teacher at communication institutions, Interstudy and LEPPKINDO. And several years ago, she also run a public speaking course for children and teens, coordinated by her own event organizer. She is now active in KaBi (Kanal Buku Indonesia – Indonesian Book Channel) and as a public speaker for creative writing, communication matters and bibliotherapy.