THE I

Adapted from Chairil Anwar’s “AKU”

When my time has come

I want no body to persuade me

Not even you

No need this sob

I am just a wild beast

From my own herd, exiled

Even when bullets lodge my skin

I am still at rage and lunge

Wound and venom accompany my escape

Run

Until the agony vanished

And I’ll be more ignorant

I want to live a thousand years more

March 1943