Category: Creative Writings

Creative Writings Poem

Childhood Trauma

I’ve learned in this short story

that pain is a painting

Once stroked, it will last to stain

Create a masterpiece titled “Incision of the Insane”

Back when I was “Too Young”

Strokes of words made their mark on me

Not knowing

that tainted me with impurities called “Trauma”

Thought it would be gone eventually

But the stain never comes out

Even with the worlds-best whitener

and even then, I’ve lived with it this far

I will have to live with it a thousand more

Author: Gregorius Beryl S.S.

Editor: Sitti Aminah Intan Utami, Vonna Meisya Saputra

Illustrator: Betsy Mariana Agoha

Creative Writings Poem

Moving On

This feeling of warmth soothes me,

Every time I pass by this tree,

Memories of joy fills me,

Your kind smile ensures me that we will be together.

The air was soothing with nostalgia,

How did I miss this feeling of joy?

That feeling of calmness, being with you

Your spirit shatters the void that surrounds us.

You fell gracefully from heaven

Lending me your hand like an angel

Your presence grants me peace

The one that I truly loved

I wish I could turn back time

The mistakes that I anguish

The choices that I regretted

It was I who drove us apart

Though you’re always beside me,

I tarnished those moments

No smiles, only sadness, I convey to you

It seems you’ve grown weary of my antics

I wish I could fix it

I hoped that I could help you too

I regretted my choices

but sadly, I’m only human

Now I stand by the tree

That brings me joy and dread

Standing here, reminiscing about the past

Wishing it were but a dream

But I’ve learned to let it go

And move on from the past.

To forge a better future

From the gleaming past that haunts me

I hope you are happy wherever you are

Because I’m grateful for those moments

Author: Putu Beryl Putra Widyadhana

Editor: Nanda Pratama Putera Tomasila, Vonna Meisya Saputra (QC)

Illustrator: Kenar Syalaisha Kanayana

Creative Writings Poem

A Bittersweet Goodbye

As the season changes, and the moments flow

I find you in the shadows.

I recall all your kindness,

Where our heart used to glow.

I find your twinkling smile and tears,

The sweetest smile of yours

That I can’t bear.

Unfamiliar steps have carried us away.

I’m about to let go of that long night.

Hope we can find our way.

After one last hug, I’ll release the rope

That bind us to the memories we strove.

Goodbye, for now,

Beshine under the moonlight

Nostalgia lingers a bittersweet delight.

Author: Erica Rafaella

Editor: Desca Geovani Kristi, Ruth Tirza Arina (QC)

Illustrator: Betsy Mariana Agoha

Creative Writings Features

The Guilt: A Short Movie at the Screening Premiere by String Movie Maniacs

Post author By integrity.usd@gmail.com
Post date November 13, 2023
No Comments on The Guilt: A Short Movie at the Screening Premiere by String Movie Maniacs

(Question and answer session with the director, writers, cast, and crews of the The Guilt short movie. Photo taken on August 18, 2023 by Dulce.)

The short movie The Guilt premiere screening was held on 18 August 2023. This movie was produced by String Movie Maniacs (SMM) and was directed by Ruth Loemaria. The Guilt tells the story of two best friends, Alice and Max, who have their own problems yet make bad decisions for them in the end.

There are some moral messages that Ruth and everyone involved in this movie want to convey. “Through this movie, we want to convey a message to not self-blame, and also try to communicate your problem with those close to you to avoid miscommunication, as happened to Alice and Max in this movie.” She then added, “If a friend of ours tells their story and needs help, listen to them and do not underestimate the problem.”

Ruth states, “The process of making this movie was quite facile.” She said the process went smoothly because of the dedicated cast, crews, and all parties involved. Although the film-making process went smoothly and took around two to three months, some problems appeared during pre- and post-production. “Most of our problems happened when we shot in open spaces, especially during street scenes because many vehicles or people were passing by while filming, so we had to cut many times.”

Apart from the producer, the cast and crew also had several problems. According to Carmelia Maria Widyandari, who played Alice, she had experienced constraints as an actress. “My problem happened during the screaming scene that had to be repeated many times due to external problems, and I felt bad enough for disturbing the locals if I kept screaming.” The crew who took part stated that they also encountered problems when their recording tool kept beeping, and he also had mood swings when editing the film that he needed more time to edit.

As one of UKPS String Movie Maniacs’ projects, The Guilt will be shown at the Potluck Party event to attract the interest of new English Letters students as SMM’s prospective members. Apart from that, this short movie is expected to be included in three film festivals in Yogyakarta, which are the Jogja Film Academy and Seoul Screening, which have been included in community forums, and at a film festival held by ISI (Institut Seni Indonesia) Yogyakarta. The Guilt has entered the submission process to participate in the Jogja Film Academy Festival.

Journalist: Dulce Cicilia Sariri

Editor: Yohana Satvika Wahyuveda, Ruth Tirza Arina (QC)

Reporter: Valentina Pascalia

Creative Writings Poem

Either Way, I’m a Star

Clumsy, clumsy me

for what I used to be.

I’m a jester in a circus of life.

Unaware of reality

So gullible

So naïve.

I traced back to my past.

Looking at how funny I am

to trust whoever nears me.

Fancy, fancy me.

I’m the main course of a ballet show, or so I thought.

I looked back then, I knew

My friend isn’t with me, nor for me.

They’re just there

Waiting me fall

Watching me fall.

I used to think that I’m a star

of, at least, a fancy ballet show.

But in reality,

I’m a mere jester in a circus

Whom they wait in line to see,

falling.

Either way, I’m a star,

The fallen star to be seen

And to entertain.

Author: Valentina Pascalia

Editor: Desca Geovani Kristi, Ruth Tirza Arina (QC)

Illustrator: Kenar Syalaisha Kanayana

Creative Writings Poem

Hiraeth

For my years away from home

To settle down the pilgrimage

To bloom like a hyacinth

In one big breath

My heart is prepared to go home

Step one foot onto the terrace

For I have been caught by my mother’s eye

Who greeted me with a big smile

My memories burst along with the dust

Under the moonlight

Singing the hymn, reminiscent

That I can finally place myself in her seat

Author: Dulce Cicilia Sariri

Editor: Yohana Satvika Wahyuveda, Ruth Tirza Arina (QC)

Illustrator: Ajeng Suci Hati

Creative Writings Poem

Fourteen

If you swipe the calendar

Roll the dice to 18 – 3 – 18

Cut its day’s wrist, there you’ll find

the fourteen-year-old version of me

cursing for another living year

Be not surprised by my purple thorns

the thoughts of death had grown

into a monument of piled masks

Spell the mantra every reveal, still

My villain regenerated

as it reflected resistance

to the last page

Switch my body night

Paint my heart obscure

Scar my skin slanted red

The devil hid me and had fused

confused me about my identity.

Author: Agnes Seraphine

Editor: Sitti Aminah Intan Utami, Vonna Meisya Saputra (QC)

Illustrator: Angelita Dayang Diva

Creative Writings Poem

Ashes of Desire

Do you feel comfortable beneath the wet soil in your backyard?

Clammy hands dig deep into the grainy and muddy soil,

worms slithered on your fingers,

and nails painted with ashes.

If I had never met you in August’s gloomy grey,

I wouldn’t have buried three crows beneath the pine tree.

Do you remember the time when I put you in a fragile glass bottle made from our memories?

Memories of your eyes locked into mine for the first time,

Memories of gentle eyes hidden behind thin glasses,

Memories of your blue shirt,

Memories of your sweet smile towards me,

Memories of your chest falling up and down while you slept on the bench,

phone held tightly to your chest after you called your childhood sweetheart.

I remember the vast, hollow night skies shimmered with thousands of fireworks,

and we danced beneath the fiery fireworks until the somber sky rolled up and took you away from me.

If I had never met you, the smear of red from my lipstick on your lips wouldn’t be fading away in the rain.

Do you feel comfortable knowing how much I love you?

Although I know your heart always longed for the other dove to fly.

Do you feel comfortable beneath the scythe that lies snugly on your neck?

I got hooked on the desire,

the adrenaline,

the greed,

the carnality,

of ending our passion and turning it into ashes.

Author: Kenar Syalaisha Kanayana

Editor: Nanda Pratama Putera Tomasila, Vonna Meisya Saputra (QC)

Illustrator: Angelita Dayang Diva

Creative Writings Poem

Winter, 44

Hash has been melted slowly

Rotten prey smells peacefully

Sunken myself out of the unholy

Love is one thing that can save me.

“You are as warm as summer,”

Said those weavers.

Replenishing the fear of blue,

As the sky starts to sing in gloom.

The warmth has been consumed.

Has the lotus started to bloom?

Has God finally met His doom?

As we reminisce, the past has gone too soon.

The hash, unfortunately, has reached its intent

As Heimdall cold-handedly closed the border.

We blindly curse at the boulder

While hell already bashed our end.

Author: Sultan Mahesdewa

Editor: Yohana Satvika Wahyuveda, Ruth Tirza Arina (QC)

Illustrator: Ajeng Suci Hati

Creative Writings Poem

No One’s Fault

Mother said it was supposed to be the place

Where he could rest until the kingdom came.

Mother said they should not grimace.

What kind of people had they become?

They flaunted their tyranny

As metal teeth were against the wooden cross,

Cutting down the symbol of victory,

The rest watched as eyes were blanketed with gloss.

His beloved wife could not do anything—

She was weeping with her wet, sorrowful eyes in silence.

Inside her was a soul prone to dying,

Yet she ought to embody acceptance.

“Mother, will we be alright?”

I asked my mother while thinking about the future.

Looking down at my small figure, her eyes not so bright,

“We will be alright,” she murmured, sounding unsure.

Standing in front of the mirror

I saw my mother’s reflection

Wearing an expression of horror,

Sitting on the chair without motion.

Her shirt, as gloomy as the night.

Her eyes, as empty as the void.

Her fingers, trying to conceal fright.

Her mind, thinking what we could not avoid.

Mother once told me it was not our fault,

That it was no one’s fault.

I started to change my mind, however,

As fear started taking over.

(inspired by: https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/indonesia-46604707)

Author: Catharine Juliana/204214051

Editor: Sitti Aminah Intan Utami, Vonna Meisya Saputra (QC)

Illustrator: Betsy Mariana Agoha