Joko Pinurbo's Great Legacy for Indonesian Literature

Joko Pinurbo's work shows new possibilities in the Indonesian poetry landscape while simultaneously depicting social realities.

KOMPAS/HARIS FIRDAUS

A number of people prayed near the poet Joko Pinurbo's body that was laid to rest at the PUKJ Funeral House in Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region on Saturday (27/4/2024).

Poet Joko Pinurbo passed away leaving a great legacy. Through his poems-poems that utilize everyday objects while presenting humor, Jokpin has shown new possibilities in the Indonesian poetry landscape. On the other hand, Jokpin's works are considered successful in depicting various problems in society.

Joko Pinurbo died on Saturday (27/4/2024) morning at Panti Rapih Hospital (RS), Yogyakarta. His body was then buried at the Funeral Home of the Jogjakarta Death Affairs Association (PUKJ), Bantul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY). According to the plan, the poet's body will be buried in Sleman Regency, DIY, Sunday (28/4/2024).

Jokpin's wife, Nurnaeni Amperawati Firmina, stated that her husband had been treated at RS Panti Rapih since Thursday (25/4/2024). Jokpin was taken to the hospital because he complained of shortness of breath. However, after being treated for some time, the Sukabumi-born poet from West Java, born on May 11, 1962, breathed his last breath.

Jokpin died at the age of 61 years. He is survived by his wife, two children, and two grandchildren. Previously, in November 2023, Jokpin was hospitalized for some time. In an interview with Kompas at that time, Nurnaeni said that Jokpin was experiencing lung complaints.

See also: Joko Pinurbo, the humorous poet dies

KOMPAS/HARIS FIRDAUS

Residents passed by a row of condolence flower arrangements for the death of poet Joko Pinurbo at PUKJ Funeral Home, Bantul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, on Saturday (27/4/2024).

Nurnaeni remembered Jokpin as a humble figure. "I knew him as someone who was humble, not flashy," she said when met at the PUKJ Funeral Home on Saturday afternoon.

Jokpin's name as a poet became widely known after he published his first book of poetry entitled Pants in 1999. Jokpin's poems were considered to offer novelty because they dealt with everyday objects, such as trousers, sarongs, cell phones. , and bathrooms, which rarely appear in the works of previous poets.

Also read: Joko Pinurbo dies, Indonesia loses its best poet

In Jokpin's poems, everyday items are present as entry points to discuss various themes. In the poem "Celana, 1" created in 1996, for example, Jokpin uses pants to talk about a child's yearning for their mother.

Then he ran away

without pants

and wander

looking for his mother's grave

just to ask:

”Mom, where do you keep the cute pants

the one I wore when I was a baby?”

In the poem "Mobile Phone," Jokpin uses a mobile phone to talk about love affairs. In the poem, the mobile phone serves as Jokpin's means to narrate about a man who longs for a woman he met at a party.

He was lying on his back, still in his socks

and the suit he wore to the party,

and the cell phone never goes away

from the grip. Mobile phone:

a little paradise that you don't want to leave behind

Kompas

Poet Joko Pinurbo visited the Kompas Daily Editor at Kompas Tower, Jakarta, Friday (28/6/2019).

Separate plot

Poet Hasan Aspahani said that great Indonesian poets, such as Chairil Anwar, Sutardji Calzoum Bachri, Sapardi Djoko Damono, and Goenawan Mohamad, could be said to have had their own plots in the poetry landscape in Homeland. This is because the poets' works have unique characteristics that are different from other poets.

According to Hasan, Jokpin is a poet who has successfully paved his own way in the landscape of Indonesian literature. This is because Jokpin's poems present a new and different way of expression compared to previous poets' works. That's why some parties also consider Jokpin as one of the innovators in the tradition of Indonesian literature.

Under these conditions, Jokpin's works are also considered to enrich Indonesian literature.

"The poems of Jokpin make the landscape of our poetic expression very rich and vast. We see many possibilities," says Hasan, who admits to having learned a lot from Jokpin's works while making poetry.

Hasan explained that Jokpin's works successfully bring a freshness to Indonesian poetry which previously tended to have a gloomy tone. Jokpin's works also demonstrate that everyday objects can be utilized in the creation of poetry.

Also read: Joko Pinurbo and Beauty in the Everyday World

KOMPAS/HARIS FIRDAUS

Poet Joko Pinurbo speaks at the launch of a book of his poetry collection entitled Epigram 60, Monday (16/5/2022), at the Gramedia Sudirman Bookstore, Yogyakarta.

Apart from that, Jokpin also follows technological developments, such as the internet and social media, to enrich his poetry. In fact, he once published a book entitled Haduh Aku Di-Follow which contains a collection of poetwit or twitter-poetry.

Another important element in Jokpin's poems is humor. According to Hasan, humor is combined with various other elements in Jokpin's poetry, such as tragedy and romance. "Therefore, humor becomes a distinct feature in Mas Jokpin's verses," said the literary figure who is also the First Deputy Chairman of the Jakarta Art Council.

Also read: Uncovering the Mystery of Words with Joko Pinurbo

Writer Okky Madasari said that Jokpin is one of the great Indonesian poets whose works must be read. According to Okky, Jokpin's works have inspired many young writers and their readers.

"Mas Jokpin's works can be our friends in all situations," he said.

According to Okky, although not protest poetry, several of Jokpin's poems actually capture issues in Indonesian society, including those experienced by young people from the Z generation.

"Mas Jokpin is a poet who has succeeded in capturing the anxieties of the times, has succeeded in expressing the dynamics of society, including generation Z," he said.

KOMPAS/HARIS FIRDAUS

Information about the burial of the body of poet Joko Pinurbo at the PUKJ Funeral Home, Bantul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Saturday (27/4/2024).

The editor of the Gramedia Pustaka Utama publisher, who has been editing the books of Jokpin and Mirna Yulistianti, said that Jokpin is one of the best poets in Indonesia after Sapardi Djoko Damono. Despite this, Jokpin always maintains a humble attitude when interacting with various parties.

"There is absolutely no arrogance in Mas Jokpin, whom we know to be one of Indonesia's best poets," said Mirna, who has been Jokpin's book editor for 17 years.

Also read: Joko Pinurbo, Spiritual Excursions in Poetry

Mas Jokpin is a poet who has succeeded in capturing the anxiety of the times, has succeeded in expressing the dynamics of society, including generation Z.

Jokpin has always been cooperative with the publisher of his book, always present when asked to be a speaker. "There were a few instances when he was actually sick, but he still managed to make time to attend our book discussions," said Mirna.

Mirna explained that Jokpin always supports young poets in Indonesia. Even as a senior poet, Jokpin is willing to write dedication poems for a number of young poets, such as Aan Mansyur and Adimas Immanuel.

"Mas Jokpin also often recommends several authors to publish their books. "This is important for regeneration," he said.

KOMPAS/HARIADI SAPTONO

Sapardi Djoko Damono and Joko Pinurbo at an event. Both were great poets and now they have all passed away.

Apart from Pants, Jokpin has published a number of poetry collections, for example Under the Fluttering Sarong (2001), My little girlfriend (2001), Mobile Phone (2003), My Lover (2004), Twilight Boyfriend (2005), To Kiss (2007), Tahilalat (2012), and Moon Shirt (2013).

Jokpin's other poetry books include Bulu Matamu: Padang Ilalang (2014), Coffee Letters (2014), Letters from Yogya (2015), < i>Happy Poetry Service (2016), Tonight I Will Sleep in Your Eyes (2016), Sleep Practice Book (2017), Banquet Khong Guan (2020), One Picnic (2021), A Piece of Heart in Angkringan (2021), News of Joy (2021) , and Epigram 60 (2022).

Apart from poetry, Jokpin has also published other literary works, for example the novel Srimenanti (2019) and the short story collection No Asu Among Us (2023).

Jokpin has received various literary awards, such as the Jakarta Arts Council Poetry Book Award (2001), Sih Award (2001), Lontar Literary Award (2001), Tempo's Selected Literary Figure (2001 and 2012), Language Agency Literary Award (2002 and 2014), Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa (2005 and 2015), and South East Asian (SEA) Write Award (2014).