Aku (poem)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Aku" (meaning "Me") is a 1943 Indonesian-language poem by Chairil Anwar. It reflects his individualistic nature and vitality.
Kalau sampai waktuku |
If my time has come |
Release
Anwar first read "Aku" at the Jakarta Cultural Centre in July 1943.[1] It was then printed in Pemandangan under the title "Semangat" ("Spirit"); according to Indonesian literary documentarian HB Jassin, this was to avoid censorship and to better promote the nascent independence movement.[2] "Aku" has gone on to become Anwar's most celebrated poem.[3]
Indonesian writer Muhammad Balfas notes that one of Anwar's contemporaries, Bung Usman, wrote "Hendak Jadi Orang Besar???" ("So You Want to Be a Big Person???") in response to "Aku".[4] Balfas suggests that Usman was greatly irritated by the "vitality and new way of life" that Anwar showed in the poem.[4]
