Achieving Aceh (part the second)

Hey all,

Here's my fifth draft of the poem for David Raphael Scott's choral music piece about the 2004 tsunami.

As I previously mentioned, I have chosen to focus the piece on Aceh, the province of Indonesia that was hardest hit by the earthquake and resulting tsunami.

This choice is based on my travels to Indonesia in 1999 as well as my discovery earlier this year that my great great grandfather was one of the Governor Generals of the Dutch East Indies (and, as such, was responsible for the the last 'push' into Aceh that ended the thirty-year Aceh War and brought it under Dutch control).

Indonesia inherited Aceh when the Dutch left, mid-twentieth century, but Indonesian rule proved to be no more palatable to the Acehinese than that of the Dutch and the independence movement continued.

And then the tsunami hit in December 2004. Six months later, on August 15th, the Acehinese rebel rulers in hiding and the Indonesian government signed a peace treaty so as not to inflict more suffering on the Acehinese people.

I've been fascinated by this evolving subject for months - I'd just begun writing about Indonesia and Aceh when the tsunami rose its full 30 meters and washed out Southeast Asia - but have appreciated the spur working with David provided.

I hope you enjoy the poem...it's distinctly fragmentary, composed of lists and postcards 'home' and disjointed thoughts.

As a final note, I always appreciate any feedback youse guys may have on the piece, especially as my deadline draws near.

Thanks.

A.

* * *

Rust en Orde / Tranquility and Order


Dear Willem -
You kept colonies coolies and calm
then led incursions into Aceh
ships laden with the ache
of soldiers leaving the field of war
with the sway
of pierced poppies in the fields


- Bill of lading, Aceh, 1840
Silk thread
lutestring
dates
sugar candy
needles
iron nails
knives
frying pans


1901
In the bath my son didn’t displace
even as much water as a bale of tea
on a ship leaving harbour for home

In my arms my son was no heavier
than a magazine of bullets
in the pack of a soldier bound for Aceh


- Waterborne diseases, Aceh, 2004
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis E
Diarrhea
Typhoid fever


And the only thing I shared with him
a hundred years later
was leaving Indonesia


Dear Willem -
After she delivered your granddaughter
as if she was a bag of sugar
moving from the delivery room to the cemetery
your son boarded the steamer
for Indonesia and Aceh
as scheduled


- Chief agricultural products, Indonesia
Bananas
cassava
coconuts
coffee
corn
palm oil
rice
rubber
spices
sugarcane
sweet potatoes


1999
We knew we’d inherited our dark hair
from the grandmother we called Oma
but we had no idea
we were walking the roads that led him away

As the highways were treaded and retreaded
by trucks full of soldiers
the tips of their guns showing through slats
by buses full of protestors
all heading north to Aceh
in pursuit of the first free elections
in fifty years

As the water buffaloes in their paddies
lifted feet out of the muck
shifted their weight
set hooves
down


Dear Willem -
In that café in Indonesia
I thought I was no thirstier
than those that came before me
even as I stirred
another spoonful of sugar
into my tea
and watched the sweet grains
settle


Chief import, Aceh, 2004
Water
water
water
water
water


When we got home our ship sitting low
with cinnamon cochineal cotton indigo
only half his words worked


2004
They say only weather systems
are large enough to feel
the curvature of the earth
but boys in Aceh see the swirl
of water in the tub as it drains away
and know the displaced depth
of the sea
men in Aceh stand barefoot in the rain
eating a handful of rice
as soliders roam
the streets


And the mouths of the cannons then
the correspondents now
all murmur: Aceh


* * *

Notes:

1) Blogger didn't like some of my spacing...suggestions...so the poem here isn't spacially similar to the poem on the page, but I think you'll get the gist.

2) For those of you that like to compare and contrast, here's the earlier draft of the poem...