Below are four of the best poems by Poet Pulo Lasman Simanjuntak.
Poem
Pulo Lasman Simanjuntak
INDONESIA CORRUPTION EMERGENCY
Indonesia corruption emergency
robbed from crude oil
earth’s belly
enjoyed by the family
of oil and gas mafia elements
without ever stopping
Indonesia corruption emergency
with eyes of fire
like a rat pest
burning of currency
worth one hundred and ninety-four trillion rupiah
looted from coffins
owned by climbers
oil import trade
results of corruption
giving birth
Indonesia corruption emergency
just counting the sunlight-
investigators’ investigations so far
only sleeping
on a rolled up red carpet
licked by cruel regimes
doesn’t like poetry recitation
always eating raw meat
rotten and stale
Indonesia corruption emergency
I’m still alone
still imagining
sung a million times in my heart
on the soles of this country’s feet
trampled on by energy oligarchs
controlled by hedonists
until today
who still has eternal machines
running backwards to share
but not
the result of corruption
mixing truth
and falsehood
gentlemen
have no self-esteem
poor people are getting worse
oh, poor Indonesia
Jakarta, Thursday, February 27, 2025
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