Tracing the Footsteps of British Literature

Tracing the Footsteps of British Literature

A Poem by Leni Marlina

Here, soft light greets the eager soul,  
Tempting those thirsting for profound meaning,  
Winding through corridors of time,  
Each word, a key unlocking boundless realms of imagination.

Let us embark on this grand voyage,  
From Beowulf, an epic roaring through the dark,  
Seeking courage amid shadows,  
A hero battling, weaving timeless myth.

We step into the Renaissance's embrace, where Shakespeare shines,  
His words dance, crafting depths of emotion,  
Love and loss entwined in tender embrace,  
Clutching hearts, stitching souls in their lament.

We encounter the Metaphysical poets,  
Where Donne and Marvell conjure exquisite lyricism,  
Delving into love's intricate meanings,  
Challenging us to ponder at horizons' edge.

The Age of Enlightenment unveils biting satire,  
Swift and Pope wielding sharp critiques,  
Portraying society in painful jest,  
Provoking reflection on a world in whirl.

Romanticism flows, suffused with nature's grace,  
Wordsworth and Coleridge painting emotion's hue,  
Revering life's pulse in lyrical breath,  
Urging us to feel wonder in each heartbeat.

In the Victorian age, Dickens and Bront speak,
Illuminating social woes through piercing narratives,  
Unraveling the complexities of humanity,  
Opening eyes to realities diverse and stark.

Modernism dawns, Woolf and Joyce innovate,
Narrative techniques transcending tradition's bounds,  
Creating new realms where time and existence collide,  
Awakening us to meanings in every fleeting second.

As postmodernism approaches, Pynchon and Rushdie weave,  
Intertextuality entwining in intricate strands,
Stirring thoughts on flowing identities,  
Where boundaries blur, meanings intertwine.

Finally, at the gates of the contemporary,  
Modern works reflect the pulse of our times,  
Let us converse, unearthing present relevance,  
Exploring how literature etches its mark on the mortal sphere.

Embrace this journey with a fervent heart,  
With curiosity that never dims,  
Here lies a celebration of the soul in literary beauty,  
A quest where every word finds its rightful home,  
For all are entitled to learn and revel in its grace.

Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia, 2024

---

Since 2006, Leni Marlina has served as a lecturer at the Faculty of Language and Arts at Universitas Negeri Padang. She is also the founder and head of the World Children's Literature Community (WCLC) and the POETRY-PEN International Community. Additionally, she has been an active member of the Indonesian Writers Association SATU PENA West Sumatra and is involved with the Victoria Writers Association in Australia, as well as being a member of the Hong Kong ACC International Writers Community.