Stories from the archipelago | Three poems by Gemi Mohawk

Three poems by Gemi Mohawk

In Indonesian a sajak is a short, concise poem that places great importance on the language’s sounds, whether equivalence, contrast, or similarity. Gemi Mohawk writes sajak which are deeply interrogatory of his Indonesia, which lacks basic services while corruption reigns. Despite this, the gleam in his eyes never fades.

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the Author

Born in Palembang, South Sumatra, Gemi Mohawk fell in love with poetry when he was a teenager. His first book, Sirami Jakarta dengan Cinta, was published in 2008, and his second book, Indonesianus, Sajak Megak was published in 2011. He is currently working on his third book, to be published soon.

the uwrf16 anthology series

Each year, the Ubud Writers & Reader Festival accepts submissions from hundreds of emerging writers from across the archipelago. The winning entries, selected by an independent curatorial board, are compiled into a publication launched at the Festival by the contributors themselves. Our Anthology Series is just one of our initiatives to help support the vibrant future of Indonesian literature and the arts, by creating a platform celebrating Indonesian talent on a global scale.

To purchase a copy of our UWRF16 Anthology Series, containing 16 contributions from emerging writers in Indonesia, contact us via admin@ubudwritersfestival.com. Copies only IDR 50,000.