Poets take to a makeshift stage in Senen

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Fri, 05/16/2008 12:48 PM  |  City

The usually dark and deserted front yard of Planet Senen Youth Center was bedecked with bright lights, a small stage and plastic carpets on this particular Monday night.

A poetry reading was underway at the location on Jl. Stasiun Senen 1, Central Jakarta. Dubbed Kongkow Sastra (literature hangout), it was hosted by the Community of Planet Senen (KoPS), and featured poets such as Viddy AD Daery, Budhi Setyawan and Anya Rompas.

Imam Maarif, the group's coordinator, said this was the second time the reading was being held, and it would continue to be a regular event.

"We'll have the readings on the last Monday of the month to fit in with the theme of Senen (Monday), the area's name," Imam said.

He said the event would also encourage area residents to take part and would help nurture local talents.

"A real poet reciting poems is a common thing. But a common person reciting poems is an interesting attraction," he said.

Performers and audience members alike were full of praise for the event.

Carmini Nuryati, a Senen resident, watched the reading with her five-year-old daughter Windya asleep in her lap.

"I've never seen a poetry reading held here before. It's very good. I hope they do it regularly," the 45-year-old said.

Fellow resident and food vendor Toipah, sitting further away, expressed similar sentiments.

"We usually watch sinetron (TV soap operas) at this time in the evening. But it was refreshing to watch this poetry recital," said the 35-year-old.

Septriana, a college student, came to the reading after hearing about it from a friend at the Taman Ismail Marzuki cultural center in Central Jakarta.

"I like literature and poetry. I usually come with my friends for this kind of thing," she said.

One of the highlights of the reading was the recital by nine teenagers from Sanggar Kapas (Cotton Workshop) of the works of renowned poets Chairil Anwar and Sutardji Calzoum Bachri. Deni, the workshop's coach, said he supported all attempts to spice up poetry readings, wherever they took place.

Cici was the only local who took to the stage. The 45-year-old said Imam had persuaded her to take part. She read Doa (Prayer) and sang. Both the poem and the song were chosen for her by Imam.

"I prefer singing to reading poems. I was so nervous because I only had a few minutes to prepare," she said. - Tifa Asrianti

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