Poetry
Work:
Pulo Lasman Simanjuntak
CORRUPTION IN THE COUNTRY OF FOOTPRINTS
Corruption in the land of our feet has been packaged
into an economic crime
extraordinary
the loss to this nation
infesting poverty
stabbing-
stomachs of hunger
exploding the voices of the people
in parliament buildings
and security guards
without uniforms
without weapons
fueled by anger
with tear gas
looting is always
accompanied by choruses
clashed on social media
one hundred trillion rupiah throughout the year
one thousand trillion rupiah throughout ten years
can feed
street children
we, on behalf of the oppressed people
still faithfully give alms
under the blazing sun
our bodies crushed
until we have no thumbs
sucking our own blood
for a plate of rice
and a piece of salted fish
that’s all
we have
Jakarta, Friday, September 5, 2025**.
Contributor: Lasman Simanjuntak
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