entire night did not close its eyes, a clear expanse ready to
receive the first light, a curve of silence in wait of sound
as the sun drifted above my head, you became in my prayers the tips of
pines, eternally green and forever presenting abstruse questions
to the wind that hisses from directions unknown
in my prayers at dusk you became sparrow that fluffed its feathers
in the mist, alighted on the branch and felled the tassel of the
guava flowers and then in sudden excitement flew away to
alight on the mango branch
in my prayers this evening you became the distant wind that descended
ever so slowly, tiptoed down the path and slipped through the
cracks of the panes and door to press its cheeks and lips against
my hair, chin and eyelashes
in my prayers tonight you became the beating of my heart that has so
patiently endured what seems to be limitless pain and faithfully
revealed one secret after another, the unending song of my life
I love you, and for that reason, will never stop praying for your well-being.
Sapardi Djoko Damono
Before Dawn
