Indonesian Youth's Pledge: Three Promises in One Breath
By Leni Marlina
Beneath an endless azure sky,
The Indonesian Youth's Pledge soars through time,
Not merely a whisper from the past,
But an echo of three promises living in every breath we take.
Three sacred words,
One homeland, one nation, one language---
Like three leaves growing from the same tree,
Rooted deep, reaching skyward.
The homeland is more than a mere foundation,
It is the pulse in every step we take,
Where Sabang and Merauke are not just endpoints,
But embraces that unite us in love.
Mount Rinjani cradles Jayawijaya in a blanket of clouds,
And Banda's seas gently greet Manado's shores,
The pledge flows through every river,
From the tireless Kapuas to the ever-singing Mahakam.
This nation is more than a mosaic of faces,
It is a heartbeat that harmonizes,
From city alleys to village corners,
Where Jong Java, Jong Sumatra, Jong Celebes, and the unity of youth once stood,
Now we continue their dance.
Kalimantan's rainforests cherish diversity,
While Bali's rice fields sway to the rhythm of the harvest,
The world may transform,
But the spirit of youth remains eternal,
It merges in our movements,
In hands that clasp together,
In hearts that never lose their way.
Language is a bridge,
Not just a sound from lips,
But a melody flowing from heart to heart,
Unifying us in a single chord,
Like a symphony that never ends.
Language is the soul whispering between mountains and seas,
It flourishes in unseen words,
On small screens, in digital realms,
The Youth Pledge lives in every phrase we choose,
In every story we share.
The Indonesian Youth's Pledge is not merely a relic of the past,
It is a spark that continually burns,
An ember that never fades from our hearts,
Lighting the path for those who follow.
These three promises still resonate within us,
Not as forgotten history,
But as a foundation, as a compass,
Guiding us towards a stronger, more united Indonesia.
Let us rekindle that pledge,
Not just in words,
But in our steps, in our dreams,
In a spirit that never wanes,
For one land,
For one nation,
For one language,
Indonesia,
Our Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.
Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia, 2024
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