Every April 28, Indonesia celebrates National Poetry Day for a moment to honor the power of words and the role of poetry in expressing emotions, sparking thoughts, and voicing social issues.
Harry R. Hartanto, a student of Communication Science Study Programme at Universitas Padjadjaran, shared his thoughts on the meaning of this special day.
“Appreciating poetry can start with something as simple as picking up a pen and writing down what you’re feeling in light, heartfelt words on a piece of paper. In that way, poetry becomes the most effective ‘outlet’ in student life,” he said.
Harry also emphasized the important space poetry holds in raising social issues among the younger generation. He highlighted how today’s social media platforms have become a stage for poems to deliver criticism in beautiful language, adding a unique flavor to public conversations.
On the challenge of making poetry more accessible to young people, Harry acknowledged that many still see poetry as something difficult to grasp. However, he believes poetry actually offers freedom both in writing and in interpretation.
“There are intricate verses like those of Sutardji Calzoum Bachri, and there are simple, relatable ones like the works of Sapardi Djoko Damono. To make poetry feel closer to young people, we need to craft verses that speak their language, both in diction and meaning,” he explained. Happy National Poetry Day! Let’s keep celebrating the freedom to express ourselves! [Ed]