Your Name and Your True Reflection

Your Name and Your True Reflection

By Leni Marlina

Your name is as soft as silken thread,
Woven from prayers that once were said,
But in the morning's mirror, a shadow you see,
What gazes back is a false decree.

You, the captain with silver sails unfurled,
Guiding your ship through a fragile world,
Yet the sea, it whispers of your deceit,
As waves rise up, the truth to meet.

Wisdom blooms not from a name well-spoken,
Like flowers that fade when sunlight's broken,
And honesty cannot be crafted by lies,
Like morning dew on a rose that dies.

Courage is not in titles you wear,
But in flames of truth that few can bear,
Yet all you show are shadows that sway,
Dancing in twilight that fades away.

You may change your name, adorn it anew,
But the heart's true colors will always show through,
For if your soul is cloaked in night,
Your name, though sweet, brings no light.

Honor is more than a name can bestow,
It's born from truths that bravely glow,
No matter how lovely the sound of your name,
It's your deeds, not your title, that earn you fame.

Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia, 2024

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This poem was originally written in Indonesian languange as a personal poetry collection by Leni Marlina in 2015. It was  edited, translated, and published for the first time on digital media in 2024. Its Indonesian original title  is
*Nama dan Dirimu Sebenarnya* https://www.kompasiana.com/lenimarlina_fbsunppadang6936/66e2f18eed641573ef34d0f2/nama-dan-dirimu-sebenarnya?utm_source=Whatsapp&utm_medium=Refferal&utm_campaign=Sharing_Mobile

The author is the active member of the Indonesia  writers association SATU PENA West Sumatra; the lecturer at FBS Universitas Negeri Padang;  the Founder and Head of the World Children's Literature Community (WCLC); the member of Victorian Writers; and the member of Hongkong ACC international writers community.