Joko Pinurbo, Spiritual Excursions in Poetry

…my wallet is tweeting, dear God

So I forgot to pray

God I tweet you every night

But you said my prayers were still too long...

The poet Joko Pinurbo took the famous phrase "Cogito Ergo Sum" from the philosopher Rene Descartes to express his love for poetry and his existence as a poet. He said, "I write poetry, so I exist." This sentence is a play on Descartes' statement, "I think therefore I am".

Joko's pun looked like he was just playing around, but he was playing seriously. “I don't imagine who I would be if I didn't write poetry,” he said. This statement is a bit surprising. Joko was on the sidelines of the #Dialog3Accounts event organized by the sastra community on the Twitter social network, December 30 2011. A forum that might have been labeled pop >. For him, puns are a kind of existential statement, where every human being needs a medium to show who he is. Likewise literary activists on social networks. They are nothing in the world of literature. Maybe that's why it requires a medium like #Dialog3Accounts to express its existence.

The excerpt from the poem titled "Twit" gives a playful impression, even though it is accompanied by charming rhymes. However, that is how the Yogyakarta-born poet enters the world of poetry; a silent world that offers nothing but stubborn love.

"Poetry indeed requires daring individuals as it does not promise economic sufficiency. It requires people who are strong-willed, determined, and brave. Strangely enough, there are always individuals like this in every period," Joko said.

Clearly Jokpin, as he is usually called in the literary community, is one of those reckless people. He has been writing since 1979, but his first collection of poems entitled "Pants" was only published in 1999. This means that he spent 20 years before finally having an anthology. Even so, he still feels embarrassed because the "President of Malioboro" poet Umbu Landu Paranggi has so far chosen not to publish a poetry anthology. In fact, Umbu, who now lives in Bali, continues to produce poets and poetry.

In the world of poetry in the homeland, Joko Pinurbo is like a dew drop rolling on a leaf. Since the 1970s, the Indonesian poetry school seems unable to break away from the influence of four major forces: Rendra, Sutardji Calzoum Bachri, Gunawan Mohammad, and Sapardi Djoko Damono. More recently, the grip of Gunawan and Sapardi (both still actively writing) on the next poets has become increasingly difficult to release.

Jokpin has a unique way of freeing himself. He learned from the dew on leaves, which rolls and slowly drips, providing nourishment. Before giving birth to a collection of "Pants", he mapped out the realm of poetry from style, idiom, metaphor, diction, to various techniques of renowned poets since the era of Amir Hamzah, Chairil Anwar, and Sapardi.

This mapping made him return to the reality of the daily life of the people of Yogyakarta. "Jogja people are always a mixture of playing around and being real," said Jokpin. Starting from there, he created a style of poetry that is narrative, light, crisp, but does not lose its symbolism and touching power. Jokpin often plays surprising logic that seems absurd, but then he makes us smile. Just look at this series of sentences: //He trembled when he got into bed/because stepping on the bed felt like he was stepping on/the frame of his mother who was praying/And every now and then the bed creaked or creaked/it felt like he could hear bones rattling/his mother was lying sick/ / (Mother's Bed).

Finally, you decided to stop working and fully live your life as a poet. What does poetry offer?

My idealism, poetry offers a refreshing proposal for language. It is unimaginable for a nation to exist without poets. Surely, its language will stagnate. Likewise, a nation without language will die. It is where the role of poets is needed. Our current dictionary is also dead. Therefore, the task of poets is primarily to provide refreshment to our language, and it must continue...

When it's just language, it seems too small a task for poetry?

Well yes no. Poetry contains reflections on life. How do we practice a sense of peace in facing situations. Apart from that, it certainly makes us more contemplative. Life is hard now. So, once in a while we go on a spiritual excursion through poetry, it will be refreshing, like drinking green coconut water... ha-ha-ha...

What do you mean by spiritual excursion?

Poetry is indeed not the same as religion. It provides a transcendental universality. Its readers can wander and delve into high levels of contemplation in life experiences that are truly fascinating.

If there is, what is the task of poets and poetry in today's national life?

Wow, that's a heavy question. Poetry is not a solid object that can be held. It moves along the path of feelings. However, at least poetry can offer empathy and that seems to be lacking in our society now.

Okay then. Our language is currently co-opted by politicians and lawyers who are skilled at arguing and using their tongues. In your opinion, where do poets work?

This is even heavier. The language of lawyers and politicians does not have nuances and empathy. Even if they empathize, I can assure you it is fake. That is where the poet's realm lies, including of course the writers on Twitter, using language that not only opens people's perspectives through reasoning, but also contains empathetic values and suggestions. One cool metaphor can make people pensive. Currently, tolerance in our country is still a problem. Not in the narrow context of interfaith, but in the tolerance of peace and the culture of love that is greatly lacking. Poetry doesn't promise that, but it gives, if we keep getting closer...

In your opinion, what are the benefits of poetry?

Aside from the benefits of poetry that I mentioned earlier, poetry provides emotional balance and trains the imagination. I can't imagine a nation without imagination, it would surely lack creativity. And imagination is not something that is given, but something that must be fought for. Poetry is the medium for this. Additionally, the most important thing is that poetry trains intellectuality. An intellectual who understands poetry will naturally appear more intelligent than someone who only understands scientific matters.

The role of the critic

Joko Pinurbo became acquainted with poetry from a young age. He wrote poetry while studying at the Mertoyudan Seminary in Magelang, Central Java. This habit was further honed when he received a scholarship to study at IKIP (University) Sanata Dharma Yogyakarta, Department of Indonesian Language and Literature. His greatness as a poet was only recognized when his poetry anthology, Pants, was published in 1999 after 20 years of his writing. Since then, collections of his poetry have been born which have attracted the attention of many critics. He then published the anthologies Under the Flapping Sarong (2001), My Little Girlfriend (2002), Cell Phone (2003), My Lover i> (2004), Twilight Boyfriend (2005), To Kiss (2007), My Little Girlfriend's Pants Under the Flapping Sarong (2007).

His existence as a poet then earned him awards, such as the Lontar Literary Award (2001), Sih Award (2001), Tempo's Choice Literary Figure (2001), Central Language Institute Literary Award (2002), and Khatulistiwa Award (2005). "These are all just bonuses," said Jokpin regarding the awards he received.

Also read: Joko Pinurbo's poems

Do you agree if it is said that our literature is currently stagnant?

After the debate on Contextual Literature and Folk Literature in the 1980s and 1990s, there has been no literary movement that grabs the attention of many people. Recently, movements like #Koinsastra can actually be noted. However, this movement only briefly attracts public attention. It is different from previous debates that tried to formulate our literary aesthetics.

Recently, according to Jokpin, he feels that the industry does not fully accept poetry. There are many poetry enthusiasts, as evidenced by various literary events that are always filled with visitors. Even on social media, such as Twitter and Facebook, there are several accounts that specifically showcase literary works. "Strangely, literary books, especially poetry, are difficult to sell...." This tendency shows, according to Jokpin, that the industry is less willing to invest in the literary world. "How is it possible that poets have to come down to promote their work. My task is to write...," Jokpin said.

Regarding literary stagnation, where do you think the problem is?

Our literary criticism has long been stagnant, which means our academic world must be questioned. The situation is always reversed, our critics waiting for a new great work to analyze. It should be the critics who analyze and verify whether a work is great or not. This is what was previously done well by Mr. HB Jassin.

Currently, according to Jokpin, works are continually being written, but they are never discussed by critics. Instead, poets are busy not only publishing their own books but also promoting them at various events. "Something is not right. It's not merely a literary issue, but it concerns our blunt humanity sensitivity," says Jokpin.

Also read: Joko Pinurbo dies, Indonesia loses its best poet

According to Jokpin, the duty and mission of literature is to restore human sensitivity in the face of the relentless industrialization of modern society. The phenomenon of literature on Twitter and Facebook should be used to bridge fragile relationships between humans.

This perspective is one of the reasons why Jokpin opened a Twitter account (a)jokopinurbo on January 4th, 2012, a few days after he recited a poem at the #Dialog3Akun event held at Bentara Budaya Jakarta (BBJ).

Finally, what keeps you optimistic about living your life as a writer in this country?

I hope everything becomes meaningful in due time. Poets can only give words, so let these words be our guide. Nothing more...

How come it seems pessimistic?

Specifically, it is time for the government to provide health guarantees for writers, ha-ha-ha. There is already plenty of evidence that our writers live in poverty in their old age. They cannot even afford healthcare... It is pitiful, truly pitiful...

Joko Pinurbo

• Born: Sukabumi, 11 May 1962

• Wife: Nurnaeni A Firmina (45)

• Children: Paskasius Wahyu Wibisono (20) and Maria Azalea Anggraeni (18).

• Education: - Mertoyudan Seminary Magelang, Central Java - Department of Indonesian Literature and Language, IKIP (University) Sanata Darma Yogyakarta

• Achievements: Lontar Literary Award (2001), Sih Award (2001), Tempo Literary Figure Award (2001), Central Language Literary Award (2002), Khatulistiwa Award (2005)