Labor and Capital

The softness of this motel bed
On which we made love
Demonstrates to me in an impressive manner
The superiority of capitalism.

At the mattress factory, I imagine,
The employees are happy today.
It’s Sunday and they are working
Extra hours, like us, for no pay.

Still, the way you open your legs
And reach for me with your hand
Makes me think of the Revolution,
Red banners, crowd charging.

Someone stepping on a soapbox
As the flames engulf the palace,
And the old prince in full view
Steps to his death from a balcony.

© Charles Simic
De: New and Selected Poems 1962-2012
New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013

Kerja dan Kapital

Kelembutan katil di motel ini
Di mana kita berasmara
Membuktikan padaku dengan cara mengagumkan
Keunggulan kapitalisme.

Di kilang tilam, ku bayangkan,
Para pekerja sedang bersuka-ria.
Hari ini Ahad dan mereka bekerja
Lebih masa, seperti kita, tanpa upah.

Tapi, cara kau membuka pahamu
lalu menjangkau tanganmu kepadaku
Membuat aku mengkhayalkan Revolusi,
Panji merah melayang, marhaen memberontak.

Seseorang berceramah dari peti sabun
Ketika api melanda istana:
Sang putera tua, di depan semua,
Melangkah ke mautnya dari balkoni.

Terjemahan ke dalam Bahasa Melayu oleh Pauline Fan