PRAYER OF THE

HUNGRY
W. RENDRA
Background of the Author
Willibrordus Surendra Broto Rendra a.k.a W. Rendra
he was born on Nov. 7,1935 at Surakarta, Indonesia.
he was the famous poet who often was called as " Merak
birds"
he was an Indonesian dramatist, poet, activist, performer,
actor and director.
he was died on Aug.6,2009 at Depok City at the aged of 73.
 PRAYER OF THE HUNGRY by W. Rendra

HUNGER is a smooth black crow.

Million of crows
like a black cloud.
O God!
How terrifying crows are.
And hunger is a black crow.
 PRAYER OF THE HUNGRY by W. Rendra

Continually terrifying.
Hunger is rebellion.
Is the mysterious force
moving the murderer’s knife
in the hand of the poor.
 PRAYER OF THE HUNGRY by W. Rendra

Hunger is coral rocks

beneath the sleeping face of the sea.
Is tears of deceit.
Is the betrayal of honour.
a strong young man crying
To see his own hands
lay honour down
because of hunger.
 PRAYER OF THE HUNGRY by W. Rendra

Hunger is a devil
Hunger is a devil offering dictatorship.
O God!
Hunger is black hands
putting handfuls of alum
into the stomach of the poor.
O God!
We kneel.
 PRAYER OF THE HUNGRY by W. Rendra

Our eyes are Your eyes.

This is Your mouth.
This is Your heart
And this is Your stomach.
Your stomach hungers, O God.
 PRAYER OF THE HUNGRY by W. Rendra
How nice a plate of rice,
a bowl of soup and a cup of coffee
would be.
O God!
Hunger is a crow.
millions of black crows
like a black cloud
blotting out my view
of Your heaven.
Figures of Speech used in the Poem

METAPHOR- is a figure of speech that makes an implicit,

implied, or hidden comparison between two things that are
unrelated, but which share some common characteristics. In
other words, a resemblance of two contradictory or different
objects is made based on a single or some common
characteristics.
Hunger is a smooth black crow. – crow in this line is more
likely describe the hunger feeling itself.
Millions of crows like a black cloud. - crow in this line refer
to people who are suffering of hunger or people who don’t
have enough money to eat.
Figures of Speech used in the Poem
Hunger is rebellion. – crime is done on behalf of hunger.
Hunger is coral rocks, beneath the sleeping face of the sea.
– the coral rock is usually sharp and hard , even fisherman’s
ship would scatter in pieces if it crushes coral rock.
Hunger is a devil offering dictatorship. - people who have
power can also be blinded by hunger.
Hunger is black hands putting handfuls of alum into the
stomach of the poor. – it means the people dare to fake
foods.
Interpretation

As the conclusion, hunger which is raised by the writer

in this poetry can drive people crazy. No matters how
old are they, young or old, weak or strong, powerful
or not hunger will push them to their limit and
boundaries. The socio-culture which is raised in this
poetry is general. It doesn’t refer to one time
moment. It happened everyday, from past until now,
and maybe in the future.
 THANK YOU
FOR LISTENING!!!