1
september thirty
people still talk
people still ask
as if just a story
about horror and tragedy

what and what
who and who
why and why
in this not knowing
everyone talks, still fighting the truth

history and stories become one
washed away in foam
angels of death laugh and celebrate
amidst the moans of life being destroyed

2
in the midst of those who struggle
piles of dirt are dug up
piles of stories are opened up
in the name of history,
straightened
a victory over the weak
a victory over those who lost
all in the name of history

3
in the midst of horror and tragedy
i, your grandfather, want to return
back to myself
ash of history

as an ash of history
i follow the shadow of the sun
not just for the moon
but also to follow the mountains and forests
inevitable

i follow the flow of the wind
not just for the patter of its wings
but also with the seasons and storms
inevitable

my granddaughter,
this is the era of democracy
they say
this is the era of reform
they say
what is the meaning then
if it ends as a creed

reform, democracy
and what else
the rumbling thunder of fall
bash on the walls of power
dissolve in a daydream

these are not fables but
a sign that the heart of tyranny
is breathing
is on fire

4
on this september thirty, setia
the story is still the same
playing lies
playing humanity

the red and white flowers
still bloom
flowers of freedom
in the midst of struggle

white doves
still spread their wings
wings of peace
against a dry sky

blue heaven
heaven of hope
humanity
is still beating
even very softly

5
setia, my granddaughter
this month is the month of your birth
also the month when your opa
became ash

ash of history
forever

Hersri Setiawan
​Translated into English by Ken Setiawan, 30 September 2015
#living1965 #1965setiaphari