Keeping the Ember in the Land of Freedom

------

This poem was originally written in Indonesian by Leni Marlina as part of a personal poetry collection in 2023. It was subsequently edited, translated, and published for the first time in digital media in 2024. The original Indonesian title is "Menjaga Bara di Bumi Merdeka" and can be found at the following links: 

• https://forumsumbar.com/sastra/45603/puisi-leni-marlina-menjaga-bara-di-bumi-merdeka/ 
• https://www.kompasiana.com/lenimarlina_fbsunppadang6936/66dd2aa334777c48f25c2ff2/menjaga-bara-di-bumi-merdeka?utm_source=Whatsapp&utm_medium=Refferal&utm_campaign=Sharing_Mobile

The author is honored to be an active member of the Indonesian writers' association SATU PENA in West Sumatra and to serve as a lecturer at FBS Universitas Negeri Padang. She has the joy of founding and guiding several social communities, including the World Children's Literature Community (WCLC), the POETRY-PEN International Community, the Starmoonsun Eduprenuer Communities, and PPIPM (Indonesian Poetry Reading & Writing Community). She is also grateful to be part of the Victorian Writers and the Hong Kong ACC International Writers Community. Additionally, she offers two English private courses: ECSC (English Children's Literature Course) and MEC (Marvelous English Course), striving to share her passion for literature and learning with others.