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Ayi Jufridar:

The Spice Kayat

The King and stairs to the sky
silence on the altar of eternity
sipping spices from Malay soil
whole lives are organized
to connect dreams
until centuries after graduation

Caretakers are carved into stone walls
swallow a spoonful of spices
buried the ancestral oath
stay upright in the booth of eternity

But spices are not just friends of dreams
the dining table has been drumming for a long time
invites tongue dancing
and send heaven-scented sighs
which smoldered in the bed of nobles

Ramses does not stand alone
as is the aroma of Malay
he composed a lot of stories
and the travelers erect the tops of their noses:
Ibn Sina
Marcopolo
Columbus
until Vasco da Gama
traces the path in the silk path

Then the battleships came
long-nosed soldiers
exchange spices for blood
behind the gold and silver plates
they rasped gunpowder

Lorong Asa, July 2019

The above poem was published in the Segara Sakti Rantau Bertuah: Antologi Puisi Jazirah 2

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Ayi Jufridar:

Kayat Rempah

Raja dan anak tangga menuju langit
diam di altar keabadian
menghirup rempah dari tanah Melayu
nyawa yang utuh tertata
untuk menyambung mimpi
sampai berabad-abad setelah kayat tamat

Pemuja bangkai yang terpahat di dinding batu
menelan berkarung rempah
menyubur sumpah leluhur
tetap tegak di bilik keabadian

Tapi rempah tak hanya jadi teman mimpi
meja makan telah lama menabuh dendang
mengajak lidah menari
dan mengirim desah beraroma surga
yang membara di ranjang bangsawan

Ramses tak berdiri sendiri
sebagaimana aroma dari Melayu
ia merangkai banyak cerita
dan para pengelana tegak puncak hidungnya:
Ibnu Sina
Marcopolo
Columbus
sampai Vasco da Gama
memacak jejak di jalur sutra

Lalu kapal perang bertandang
para tentara berhidung panjang
menukar rempah dengan darah
di balik lempeng emas dan perak
mereka serak bubuk mesiu
Lorong Asa, Juli 2019

Puisi di atas dimuat di Segara Sakti Rantau Bertuah: Antologi Puisi Jazirah 2

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