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UNAIR NEWS – Poetry books are not merely a vent for feelings. Often they convey social criticism or message, lessons about behavior, even history. All those aspects are reflected in the Ballad of a Scribe poetry collection written by Rio F. Rachman. The poet who graduated from master degree of Media and Communication UNAIR launched the book last year in 2016.

Until today the manuscript of 59 poetries has been discussed twice; at Mbah Tjokro Tavern Prapen by Masika ICMI East Java, Surabaya (30 September); and Pahlawan Café by Stingghil Community, Sampang (20 November).  Several reviews about it can also be read on printed or online newspapers.

The poems are considered light. The words they use are straightforward and not long-winded, let alone cliché, to the point and there are not many metaphors. A number of Islam history is revealed, where on one point, becomes the little uniqueness of it.

If being put under scrutiny, the story in the “Ballad of a Scribe” poetry, which is also the title of this manuscript, tells us about the passing away of Uthman bin Affan, one of the Prophet’s companions God promises them heaven.

As many literatures have written, the man who was the son-in-law of Rasulullah Muhammad died of rebellion. He was under siege in his house, attacked by slander-provoked people. Uthman was capable of fighting them all since the beginning. However, he chose patience, a choice the Prophet had exemplified more than twenty years before.

The story of Uthman is not the only Islam history disclosed in the Ballad of a Scribe. In “But Him,” the greatness of Ali bin Thalib is exposed.  About the super-excellence of Ali’s, the Prophet’s son-in-law and companion, in battles as well as his braveness to risk his life for the sake of his adoration. A story about a battle on Uhud Champaign in the early years of Islam struggle is told in the “Signs” poetry.

While the story of Imam Shafi’i, the leader of the most popular school in Southeast Asia, is told touchingly in “Guru”. There written how the guru of this Imam had to “throw him away” out of town to wander about. Why? Because the guru’s knowledge had been thoroughly absorbed by Imam Shafi’i.

There is also a story when Imam Shafi’i had been a successful jurist and decided to come home with a lot of souvenirs for his mother. However, his mother rejected all the souvenirs and insisted not to have him home if he wanted to bring them in. Therefore Imam Shafi’i finally handed those all out to his neighbors. He only carried a scripture when meeting his beloved mother.

As a matter of course, history depicted in this manuscript can be debatable since the stories do not have a sole source. Nevertheless, essentially, there is a red line which appears and is shown between the poetries.

Besides about Islam history, Ballad of a Scribe also tells us stories about some phenomena from present society who is all open in social media, cartoons on television, the poor’s household problems, to romance and longing. With a simple cover, this book looks nice and simple.

Book

Title                             : Ballad of a Scribe Poetry Collection

Author                         : Rio F. Rachman

Publisher                     : Penerbit Suroboyo

Number of Page          : 60 pages

Printing                       : First, 2016