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Teachers, You are the Lush Forest
Poem by Leni Marlina
My teachers, my mentors, among the branches and roots you spread wide,
we grow like tiny blades of grass,
reaching for light beneath your shade.
You are a vast, leafy forest, guiding us to live with grace,
teaching us the language of the winds,
whispering to us the secrets of the earth,
until we understand the world you lay before us,
a paradise of knowledge, endless and serene.
Thank you, Teachers, Mentors,
for letting us explore,
breathe the scent of adventure through the leaves,
leap from branch to branch,
listening to the songs of birds that guide us.
In your quiet patience, in the calm of your gaze,
there's an unseen symphony,
a melody you compose for our souls,
so we may find our own voice.
Jakarta, 2004
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Dew that Teaches the Sun's Wisdom
Poem by Leni Marlina
My teachers, my mentors, at dawn's cold light, we tremble,
yet there you are, like morning dew,
softly slipping behind our doubts,
leading us toward the brightening day.
Teachers, you are the window to the sun,
pouring courage, washing away fears,
etching your light in our hearts.
Thank you, Teachers,
we are tiny droplets on your leaves,
reflecting the early sun's first glimmers,
absorbing warmth from the sincerity you give.
You are the simple dew, powerful and pure,
teaching us to be small lights in the night,
to shine alone in darkness, dreaming boldly of becoming the sun.
Jakarta, 2004
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Becoming Waves in the Sea of Your Wisdom
Poem by Leni Marlina
Teachers, Mentors, you are like the ocean, tireless and deep,
casting waves of vast knowledge,
carrying us to new islands.
We, small boats adrift in your greatness,
learn to weather storms,
to dive into the ocean's depths,
to endure, to honor differences, and to grasp the meaning of freedom.
Thank you, Teachers,
your waves invite us,
to dive deeper, to understand more, to grow stronger.
You are the vast sea, bound with strength,
guiding us to unseen harbors.
We know, though you let us drift away,
your currents remain within us,
always showing us the way home.
Jakarta, 2004
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Traces of Light in the Night Sky
Poem by Leni Marlina
Teachers, Mentors, you are like stars that brighten the night sky,
adorning our path with brilliant constellations.
In the deepest darkness, there you are,
guiding our steps,
helping us find our way through mystery's call.
Thank you, Teachers,
you are silent, but your glow
reaches far, forever in our view.
In the spark of your light, a story leads us,
guiding our hearts toward the path you have drawn.
You, the true compass in the night sky,
letting us wander, never lost, wherever we may roam.
Jakarta, 2004
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An Echo Resounding in Silence
Poem by Leni Marlina
Teachers, you are like an echo in the quiet valley,
filling empty spaces within our souls.
When we are silent, your voice still lingers,
teaching us to hear what goes unspoken.
In the slow ticking of moments, you are the beat,
filling our emptiness with meaning, whole and true.
Thank you, Teachers, Mentors,
we learn that your silence is not mere stillness,
but whispers that seep deeply, settling within.
You teach us to read the quiet,
to translate stillness into wisdom.
We are echoes of the voice you gave,
flowing like rivers without end,
you are forever in our hearts, wherever fate takes us.
Jakarta, 2004
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Brief Biographical Note
This collection of poems was originally written by Leni Marlina as a hobby and personal collection in 2004. Some of the poems were inspired by the author's experiences with 50 national award-winning students after participating in the flag-raising ceremony on August 17, 2004, at the Indonesian presidential palace. Other poems were penned after the author received the First Prize in the National Achievement Student Selection (MAWAPRES) from the Ministry of Education and Culture in the same year. The poems were revised and published for the first time in digital media in 2024.
Currently, Leni Marlina is an active member of the Indonesian Writers Association, SATU PENA branch in West Sumatra. She is also a member of the International Poetry & Literary Writers Community in Shanghai and has been entrusted as the Poetry Ambassador of Indonesia for the ACC Shanghai Huifeng International Literary Association. Additionally, Leni is involved with the Victoria's Writers Association in Australia. Since 2006, she has dedicated herself as a lecturer in the English Language and Literature Study Program at the Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Padang.
Leni is also the founder and leader of several digital communities focused on literature, education, and social issues, including: (1) World Children's Literature Community (WCLC): https://rb.gy/5c1b02, (2) International POETRY-PEN Community, (3) PPIPM Community (Pondok Puisi Inspirasi Masyarakat): https://tinyurl.com/zxpadkr, (4) Starcom Indonesia (Starmoonsun Edupreneur Community Indonesia): https://rb.gy/5c1b02.
