by Leni Marlina
I plant longing in my heart,
like seeds in foreign land,
waiting to bloom when the season is right.
In my village, longing is like a tree's roots,
digging deep, nourishing memories
with each drop of rain.
This city is unfamiliar land,
unable to absorb my deep-rooted longing.
But within me, I tend the love for my homeland,
letting it grow like a mighty tree
that one day will shelter every step I take.
Canberra, Australia, 2013
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Embraces Held Only in Memory
by Leni Marlina
In my village, embraces are real,
warm hands reaching to greet and hold me close.
Here, in the city, embraces are shadows,
fading in memories that begin to blur.
I long for the ground I once stood upon,
where love and warmth grow naturally,
where this yearning could always return.
Here, my longing feels like morning dew,
too tender,
lasting only a moment,
before it slips away under the harsh light.
Melbourne, Australia, 2013
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Short Biography:
