A child’s thank-you poem

Violently the earth woke Karya Y. Giawa. In the dark hour before midnight, it seemed an earthquake was devouring her island. The next morning, she would discover many of her classmates and neighbors had died during the night’s frightening tremor, entire neighborhoods had disintegrated into dust and rubble.

Surrounded by her classmates and teachers, Karya Y. Giawa recites her poem of appreciation for Kiwanis, which rebuilt her school.

In the hour before midnight on March 28, 2005, an 8.7-magnitude earthquake terrified the sleeping young girl in Gunung Sitoli on Nias Island, Indonesia. Amid the chaos, one more frightening reality: Her school was gone.

But kind strangers, called Kiwanians, rebuilt the school and restored Karya’s confidence, inspiring her to write a poem, shown here in her original Indonesian composition and translated into English:

A thank-you Note for Kiwanis.

By Karya Y. Giawa

Dalam diam. …
(Silently. …)

Dalam keheningan malam. …
(In the stillness of the dark night. …)

Saat mata telah terlelap
(When the lids of all eyes are closely shut)

Terbuai dalam mimpi-mimpi indah
(and beautiful dreams color the sleep)

Menghiasi perginya malam. …
(to adorn the exit of the night. …)

Siapa sangka.
(No one can ever imagine.)

Malam indah menjadi malam penuh tangisan.
(Beautiful night distorted into a tearful one.)

Membuyarkan mimpi-mimpi.
(Gone are the dreams.)

Menghancurkan semua cita yang ada.
(Obliterated all hopes.)

Merobohkan semua yang tertata.
(Demolished all shapes.)

Bahkan!
(And!)

Merenggut ribuan nyawa.
(Stole thousand of lives.)

Gempa … gempa!!!
(Earthquake … earthquake!!!)

Gempa melanda Niasku!!!
(My Nias trembled and succumbed to the earthquake!!!)

Aku menjerit, memekik!
(I cried, bellowed!)

Dalam himpitan reruntuhan
(Under the ruins)

Tuhan … Tuhan!
(God … Dear God!)

Dimana engkau?
(Where art Thou?)

Tolong … Tolong!
(Help … Help!)

Suaraku nyaris tertelan bumi.
(My little voice is swallowed by the crash of the mother earth.)

Dimana Ibuku?
(Where are you, Mom?)

Dimana Ayahku?
(Where are you, Dad?)

Dimana???!
(Where???!)

Seketika menjadi gelap!
(Suddenly, dark again covers all!)

Esok hari, ku baru tahu
(It’s morning when I found)

Niasku hancur tak tersisa.
(My Nias is ruined to the ground.)

Gedung sekolah sudah tak ada lagi.
(My school no longer stands.)

Teman dan sahabatku entah dimana.
(My friends and classmates scattered unknown.)

Saat hati gundah,
(When my heart engulfed with sadness,)

Malaikat datang mengulurkan tangan
(an angel descends and holds out its hands,)

Memapah untuk berdiri 'ntuk bangkit lagi:
(Helps me to rise and stand:)

Kiwanis.

Terpanggil memberi kasih.
(Summoned to share their love.)

Tergugah melihat nasib kami.
(Awakened by our fate.)

Anak-anak belajar dalam tenda
(School made of tent)

Menahan hujan dan panas.
(Barely covers us when drenched by rain and struck by the heat of the sun.)

Kiwanis, membangun kembali sekolahku
(Kiwanis, rebuild my school)

Dengan kasih dan tanpa pamrih
(with love and without an eye for the reward)

Sungguh tiada balasan.
(Unrequited.)

Terima kasih
(Gratefully)

Ucap bibirku tak kedengaran:
(Silently my lips formed these three words:)

Terima kasih untukmu Kiwanis
(Thank you, Kiwanis)