The Richest Man
“Look, there she is, the jamu (bitter-sweet-hot health-drinks) vendor with her bakul (basket) jamu on her back. Her great riches - as she’s young, healthy and as fresh, beautiful, lovely as morning - appear despite her poor living conditions.” So said Pak Arif.
“I, myself am full of riches almost bursting.
Riches through my eyes of finding a paradise almost anywhere;
Through feeling when I’m stepping in pure, fresh, streaming, flowing mountain water and cup it in my hands;
Through hearing it rushing in a river, gurgle, murmur, splashing in a brook or sawah (rice-field) water;
Through breathing deeply the pure, fresh air;
Through wetting myself in raindrops which so wonderfully seem to fall from heaven;
Through walking barefoot to feel the dew, cool floor;
Through a healthy hunger and being alive.
“Then there are the riches, treasures of being healthy, being happy, being free;
Of loving and being loved;
Of the carefree young and of the old with ripened thoughts;
Of those who became mothers;
Of infinite thoughts and fantasy;
Of being able to give and receive the most precious gifts;
Of …
“The richest man
Without much effort, exertion, he has a huge income,
Stolen he doesn’t become poor, suppose it could be stolen,
The more he gives, the more he receives, instead of becoming empty,
He receives a lot and doesn’t have to pay.
“He is a wandering fortune.” I thought someone had said this, but if I’m mistaken, it must be me, as I would have found it myself. Ha, ha, ha.” So said Pak Arif to me.
“Look, there she is, the jamu (bitter-sweet-hot health-drinks) vendor with her bakul (basket) jamu on her back. Her great riches - as she’s young, healthy and as fresh, beautiful, lovely as morning - appear despite her poor living conditions.” So said Pak Arif.
“I, myself am full of riches almost bursting.
Riches through my eyes of finding a paradise almost anywhere;
Through feeling when I’m stepping in pure, fresh, streaming, flowing mountain water and cup it in my hands;
Through hearing it rushing in a river, gurgle, murmur, splashing in a brook or sawah (rice-field) water;
Through breathing deeply the pure, fresh air;
Through wetting myself in raindrops which so wonderfully seem to fall from heaven;
Through walking barefoot to feel the dew, cool floor;
Through a healthy hunger and being alive.
“Then there are the riches, treasures of being healthy, being happy, being free;
Of loving and being loved;
Of the carefree young and of the old with ripened thoughts;
Of those who became mothers;
Of infinite thoughts and fantasy;
Of being able to give and receive the most precious gifts;
Of …
“The richest man
Without much effort, exertion, he has a huge income,
Stolen he doesn’t become poor, suppose it could be stolen,
The more he gives, the more he receives, instead of becoming empty,
He receives a lot and doesn’t have to pay.
“He is a wandering fortune.” I thought someone had said this, but if I’m mistaken, it must be me, as I would have found it myself. Ha, ha, ha.” So said Pak Arif to me.
1977
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