A Letter From Indonesia
Dear Home:
Please forgive my departure, silent and without warning, like the simmering
warmth of mountain springs that bubble, unexpected, in the pale tropic light of
morning. I am now straddling the equator, my toes naked against the earth,
tasting the sweetness of Indonesian soil, volcanic, fertile, undisturbed, and to my
soul delivering rebirth.
The air before dawn tastes of sweet-vanilla and dry nuts, at noon of ripe fruit with
caramelized sugar, and at dusk an exotic thickness of fresh leaves, moonlit
seas, and a richness of rare orchids all kiss in a soothing breeze.
By day I explore sculpted canyons and wet rice fields, secret Hindu temples, the
Mahayana Buddhist Borobudur, deserted for centuries; I discover a myriad of
mysteries the Island Mountains conceal.
At night Gamelan music is a spice that saturates the mind and your body exalts
the rhythm of double- headed lace drums, beating, beating, beating, beating
dramatic time. Gongs and bamboo flutes resonate, echo in the heart, the
passion of a culture preserving colour, tradition, sung poetry, and ancestral art.
My diet has been that of rice, fish, and lots of fresh fruit: berries, sprouts, sharp
tasting roots, similar to that of the Sun Sumatran Bear, stout, with sleek black fur,
resting in the trees eating the young tips of palm which he peels with care.
The sun is a golden disk that sits atop the Java mountains, painting light brown
skin, pearls of perspiration, with dirt and pollen burning in and out of yellow rays,
bringing dry heat to the excitement in the streets, where people infuse Life into
Life in extraordinary ways.
Finally in sleep, memories, spirits, emotion are lifted to the moon, cleansing the
temple of my soul with a delicate touch of porcelain white, beams like a melody
transforming the night, a surreal dream tangible to my skin, Indonesia swirls
around me – my desire strong to feel the strength of its pulse from within.
Copyright © Krystal Cochrane | Year Posted 2007
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment