Euphrosyne Analyze Essay
Cecep
Syamsul Hari is Indonesian poet. He is known as a poet with musical device
skills. Recently, I read one of his poetry, entitled Euphrosyne. Euphrosyne is
first poetry on e-book 21 Love Poems bilingual edition, translated by Harry
Aveling and Dewi Candraningrum. In Greek mythology, Euphrosyne was one of the
Three Charites or Three Graces. Euphrosyne and her sister (Thalia and Aglaea)
were daughters of Zeus and the Oceanid Eurynome. Their duty is take responsible
to fill the world with joy and pleasant time. Euphrosyne itself is a feminine
form of Greek word euphrosynos
meaning “merriment”.
By Euphrosyne Cecep Syamsul Hari prove his capability on
musical devices, which very wonderful. All of the repetition exist in this
poetry, indicate how great the musical of this poetry. I like an end rhyme in
the sixth stanza, ‘A’ vowel in each line, is very good. And I found an anaphora
in sixtieth stanza. “Aku menunggu,
tidak, aku tidak menunggu, aku menunggu,// tidak, mustahil aku menunggu, aku
menunggu,// tidak, ia muskil kembali, ia mungkin kembali”. I think, it is
really beautiful. Then for figurative languages, the author use
personification. For example on first stanza “aku takjub ilalang tumbuh
sepanjang betisku”. There are several visual and auditory sense but overall kinesthetic
is most use to imagery of this poetry. For example “Andaikan firdaus,
seandainya inferno,// dapat diukur dengan kilo jaraknya// dan jarum jam
berputar sebaliknya”.
I like the translation version, the selection of words is
equal and easy to understand. The translator work so hard to not vanish the
element of musical device. Despite, not as great as the source language, the
translation still worthy. My favorite part is on seventh stanza, “But my dear
mother was far away,// and couldn’t hear a word I said”.
As
I told you before, Euphrosyna is a Greek word for merriment. Then the merriment is other word for cheer,
mirth, and joy. But this poetry do not illustrate of merriment at all. In other
contrary this poetry illustrate of regret and sorrow. For instance, on tenth
stanza “Aku terikat di tempatku. Para
filsuf menyebutnya dunia, aku menyebutnya penjara atau puisi atau jalusi musim
semi” a word “terikat” and mentionin world as “penjara” indicate how frustrated
figure “I” about something happened to him. There are also words such as,
remind his mother whose already pass away, misguided, quiescence, and other
word of dissatisfied which do not indicate of merriment. Nevertheless, with all
of the sorrow and regrettable the “I” figure still expect a better conditions. And
perhaps he asks Euphrosyna to take responsible about her duty.
Briefly,
it is great poetry from one of great poet in Indonesia. With a beautiful
musical device, ingenious figurative languages, and clearly imagery. It is such
a big deal for the readers to take reflect on peculiar figure on the poetry. But
overall the variety of peculiar figure is not bother the entire meaning of
poetry. The range of words that the author use is quiet clear to imagery the
emotion of the poetry.