Maruti's Graduation Speech

A long time ago, in a quaint city, far far away...
EPISODE IV
A NEW HOPE

It is now a period of uncertainty,
Whether surrounded by beers, rebelling peers, and clouds of smokes,
or oranges in the winter under the warmth of your home, kotatsu, and loved folks.

Together, we too have managed to UNITE.
(Do excuse, these Indonesian Week references that pulses through us)
To gather in living rooms,
to gossip and mock common frenemies,
Hidden, then forgotten, but still well in sight.

To better our friendships,
In kanpais and cheap grilled meats
faltering otsukares, now broke from uchiages,
and personal hansekais as hobbies on the side -
Words now used too often, back home
It may sound more like the menu read out loud
instead of ways for us to fire up and ignite.

Together, here we are now,
poured straight in deadlines,
dripping down in word counts,
bleeding in caffeine,
 a sugar rush stirred through the night.

Drenched in Beppu’s worst,
we still stand tall as a pride
No need for umbrellas, stolen and broken,
To face all the surprises
these storms and blizzards could hide
In any weather now, we can now survive in might
Pushing one another off the cliffs to take flight
As come nears the end of the mark
to the strings of our kite

As much as we would choose to hold on tight
Strings fray to sway without knowing which way is right
Singe lessons, a scar on our edges,
as we dare to go unarmed to nearing suns, stars, and futures that are too bright


Some strings shall tangle,
though most shall part,
as fate shall mingle with the desires of our hearts.
...At farewells like these, where should I even start?

Dare not to get attached for we wish to soar,
Dancing, singing, screaming for an encore,
Our backs and throats have yet to sore,
As Gaga drummed his way up again and again
to year four

Dare not to bid adieu for goodbyes are a bore
This steaming city have rooted itself deep in our core
Cute ojisans and obasans as sweet as the hearts they`d pour
Along with the cute - sadly - mormons knocking at our door,
And the cute little kids running around campus
Asking about our favorite color
All whom some of us would choose to dodge and ignore

Till now though, my curiosity have yet to meet Beppuwan`s wild boar
But troubles are only troubles, big as they are, when your mind wishes to enstore.

We will not have this later on in our journey, Beppu
In all of its tiny details of rustic glory, youthful gore, and galore.
It all indeed has been a swell ride; dare we ask for more?
Thank you all, for being a friend.

Student Hall, APU
October 2018
Farewell Batch 30 - 31