Ruby - Astari Boedikoentjara
I met a monster
who said all the right words
sweet and convincing
making me believe
we had something
No break for you now,
‘though it seems unfair somehow
You have to keep on working,
no matter how exhausting
Others with less or zero effort
Oh, Casanova-wannabe
Who are you, really?
So you still haven’t given up on me
How to make you see?
Stop acting like you’re oh-so-desirable
Welcome to the country
of mixed messages
As all you can see,
we've been this way for ages
Nothing's really free
Put your tongues in cages
It’s that rare ability
to push aside your emotions
Lock them all within
so you’re left to feel nothing
Voices of the worried
You’ll probably see me
an offbeat character at this party
a plain, simple girl-next-door
wondering what she could possibly offer
What? Who??
I’ve been blinded by biased simplicity,
seeing things in black and white, so literally.
The shame’s still within me,
‘though I know I’m not the one and only.
Have your minds also been corrupted,
It’s the environment
I’d rather not be in
full of such impossible demands
and scolding remarks
for my lack of perfection
Your ignorance is not my bliss
but what do you care, right?
Not so much you miss
yet alone I must fight
I’ve stopped expecting you
I first knew you
before there was him
Then there were two,
until the truth got really grim
I had to take two flights
He bares his straight, white teeth for a smile
as he greets me with his shy “Hello”,
while I politely nod as I go.
His dark complexion slightly glistens
under the Jakarta morning sun.
The crowd has never looked so treacherous.
Nobody’s being serious
when it comes to dealing with the virus.
They simply group,
like hopeful fans for some photoshoots,
