Dongeng Sebelum Tidur

“Cicak itu, cintaku, berbicara tentang kita.

Yaitu nonsens.”

Itulah yang dikatakan baginda kepada permaisurinya, pada malam itu. Nafsu di ranjang

telah jadi teduh dan senyap merayap antara sendi dan sprei.

“Mengapakah tak percaya? Mimpi akan meyakinkan seperti matahari pagi.”

Perempuan itu terisak, ketika Anglingdarma menutupkan kembali

kain ke dadanya dengan nafas yang dingin, meskipun ia mengecup rambutnya.

Esok harinya permaisuri membunuh diri dalam api.

Dan baginda pun mendapatkan akal bagaimana ia harus melarikan diri –dengan

pertolongan dewa-dewa entah dari mana– untuk tidak setia

“Batik Madrim, Batik Madrim, mengapa harus, patihku? Mengapa harus seorang

mencintai kesetiaan lebih dari kehidupan dan sebagainya dan sebagainya?"

English Version :

Bedtime Story

“The lizards, my love, are talking about us.

Nonsense, in other words.”

So said the king to his queen that night.

The passion of bed sated,

silence slipped between bones and sheets.

“Why not believe me? Your dreams shall convince you

as surely as the morning sun.”

The woman broke into tears when Anglingdarma drew up

the seets to cover again her naked breasts; his breath cold

while he kissed her hair.

At morning’s light she tjrew herself upon the burning pyre.

And His Majesty did discern a way to force him to

take flight –with the help of gods

no one knew from whence they came– a way to be untrue.

“Batik Madrim, Batik Madrim, why, then, O Vizier?

Why should one hold constancy more dear than

life and so on and so forth?”

By :

Goenawan Mohammad