UNS – At the moment of National Resurrection Day, the Center for Science and Technology Excellence (PUI) Javanology Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta launched an anthology titled “Poetry of Five Continents: Notes on Fight Against Covid-19” on Wednesday (20/5/2020) at the Pendhapa Ageng PUI Javanologi UNS.
The book was launched directly by the Chair of PUI Javanologi UNS, Prof. Sahid Teguh Widodo accompanied by the Reviewer of PUI Javanologi UNS, Taufiq Al Makmun. In front of the press who attended the launching, Prof. Sahid stated that PUI Javanologi UNS at the National Resurrection Day inserted a message of encouragement to rise against the 2019 Coronavirus Disease pandemic (Covid-19).
“In the National Resurrection Day, PUI Javanology UNS actively participate in welcoming the National Resurrection hopefully we will be free from this disaster. As we all know today the world community has experienced a humanitarian disaster in the form of the Covid-19 pandemic. Likewise, we Indonesians must stay at home and work from home,” stated Prof. Sahid in his opening remark.
Further, Prof. Sahid conveyed that the Anthology Poetry of Five Continents: Notes on Fight Against Covid-19 has three purposes: to gather ideas, thoughts, and feelings of all elements of society in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic in the form of poetry. Second, to deliver PUI Javanologi UNS concern on the Covid-19 pandemic as historical documentation that inspires the community, especially the reliable and qualified young generation. Third, to provide an alternative as an exit or “pain relieve” as well as to give the spirit of struggle to meet a better life.
In the anthology, PUI Javanologi UNS collected 87 poetries written by 87 poets from 23 countries in five continents; Asia, Australia and Oceania, Africa, America, and Europe. Many UNS Professors who were partners of PUI Javanologi UNS also participated in sending their work.
PUI Javanologi UNS selected poetry as literature work because of its imaginative nature to express feelings, thoughts, and ideas of writers or the surrounding environments.
“This book accommodates the thoughts and ideas on the feelings that appear during the Covid-19 pandemic. All of the different feelings are accommodated. PUI selected poetry because poetry is a media that can capture the thoughts, ideas, and opinion of the media. Hopefully, the anthology can be historical notes and document which might be important for the future that all nations in the world experienced Covid-19 pandemic,” Prof. Sahid continued.
The front page of the book is decorated with the illustration of PUI Javanologi UNS building and the earth wearing a mask. The colors are dominated by brown, white, and blue which represent apprehension. The anthology can be accessed in https://uns.ac.id/pengumuman/syair-lima-benua.html. Humas UNS/Yefta