Poem from Darul Arqam group

In addition to singing "Prau Layar", Darul Arqam group will also recite a poem. We had a small-scale poem writing competition among the Indonesian domestic workers and got a surprisingly good response from the ladies. We picked one poem which best describes emotional side of most Indonesian domestic workers to be put in the CD.

Here is the poem in Indonesian language:

Ada Harapan dalam Kemalangan
Karya Siti Muyasaroh

Asing dan kesepian
Menapakkan kaki diatas negri orang
Kesendirianpun menggelitik angan
Rindukan mereka yang disayang

Adakah ini satu kenyataan?
Atau hanya mimpi dalam angan
Seolah tak percaya inilah tujuan
Namun terbuka mata, kenyataan nampak terang

Hai, halo, apa kabar
Sapaan ramah tuk sesama kawan
Mengusir secuil rasa getir nan hambar
Hati menghangat walaupun tak nyaman

Tapi bila itupun dilarang hingga bisa terucap hanya dalam angan
Kata kejam pun tak lagi mempan
Tuk di lontarkan pada mereka yang melarang
Oh... adakah rasa kemanusiaan tlah hilang?

Kemarahan, cacian dan makian
Bebas meluncur tanpa tali layang
Hanya karena sedikit kesalahan tak disengaja
Kesabaran pun teruji sedemikian rupa

Tapi... kata terima kasih tak pernah terucapkan
Atas kerja di luar kewajiban yang tertulis di atas layang
Tiada penghargaan dari mereka
Berdiam saja, seribu bahasa

Lalu...
Kepada siapa isi hati ini harus dicurahkan?
Bila mengadu pada Tuhanpun tak diperbolehkan
Apa.. hak mereka, melarang kami bersujud pada-Nya?
Sedang kehidupan dan kekuatan ada hanya dari Dia

Mengapa mereka tak mengerti juga?
Bila memang rasa saling menghargai itu ada
Tuhan... buka dan getarkanlah hati mereka
Agar pintu kasih diantara kami senantiasa terbuka

And here is the English translation:

There is Hope in Adversity
By Siti Muyasaroh

Alien and all alone
I take my steps on these unfamiliar shores
Loneliness tickles the mind
Missing those I left behind

Could this be real?
Or is this just a bad dream?
Could this be what I aim for?
Yet, opening my eyes, reality is so blindingly clear

Hi, hello. How are you?
These small words for my fellow friends
Take away bits of pain and bitterness
Return some warmth to this wounded heart

However, if even those words are forbidden and can only be said in my dreams
The word cruel is no longer of use
To be thrown at those who forbid
Oh... where has sense of humanity gone?

Anger and angry words
Flow so freely with no restriction
Only because of a small mistake
Testing and straining my patience so much

Yet not a single thankful word is ever said
For works done beyond duties written on agreement letter
They are devoid of appreciation
Just staying silent, as if nothing happens

Then...
To whom could I relieve my heart?
If even praying to my Lord is not allowed
What rights do they have to stop me from kneeling in front of Him?
After all, life and strength come only from Him

Why can’t they understand?
If there is such a thing as mutual respect
Oh Lord... please open their hearts
Let the door between our hearts be open always

We'd like to thank Ms Gloria Arlini who helped with the translation.