Ah, Are You Digging on My Grave?

by Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)


"Ah, are you digging on my grave,
My loved one? -- planting rue?"
-- "No: yesterday he went to wed
One of the brightest wealth has bred.
'It cannot hurt her now,' he said,
'That I should not be true.'"

"Then who is digging on my grave,
My nearest dearest kin?"
-- "Ah, no: they sit and think, 'What use!
What good will planting flowers produce?
No tendance of her mound can loose
Her spirit from Death's gin.'"

"But someone digs upon my grave?
My enemy? -- prodding sly?"
-- "Nay: when she heard you had passed the Gate
That shuts on all flesh soon or late,
She thought you no more worth her hate,
And cares not where you lie.

"Then, who is digging on my grave?
Say -- since I have not guessed!"
-- "O it is I, my mistress dear,
Your little dog , who still lives near,
And much I hope my movements here
Have not disturbed your rest?"

"Ah yes! You dig upon my grave...
Why flashed it not to me
That one true heart was left behind!
What feeling do we ever find
To equal among human kind
A dog's fidelity!"

"Mistress, I dug upon your grave
To bury a bone, in case
I should be hungry near this spot
When passing on my daily trot.
I am sorry, but I quite forgot
It was your resting place."

Entah Sejak Kapan

Oleh Sapardi Djoko Damono


Entah sejak kapan kita suka gugup

Di antara frasa-frasa pongah

Di kain rentang yang berlubang-lubang

Sepanjang jalan raya itu; kita berhimpitan

Di antara kata-kata kasar yang desak-mendesak

Di kain rentang yang ditiup angin,

Yang diikat di antara batang pohon

Dan tiang listrik itu; kita tergencet di sela-sela

Huruf-huruf kaku yang tindih-menindih

Di kain rentang yang berjuntai di perempatan jalan

Yang tanpa lampu lalu-lintas itu. Telah sejak lama

Rupanya kita suka membayangkan diri kita

Menjelma kain rentang koyak-moyak itu, sebisanya

Bertahan terhadap hujan, angin, panas, dan dingin