Rendition: "Pariaman Panjang" 08/01/2015
Performance: Malam Bagurau for a wedding
Place: Suayan
Date: August 1, 2015
People:
- Padendang:
- Te E
- Nor Cingkariang
- Tukang Saluang: Bujang Rao-Rao
Structure:
Lyrics:
Pantun 1: Te E
Batang
Minangkabau:Ka balai mambali kain
Mambali sitin ba karatan
Di Payokumbuah hari akad
Lah dapek kain saukuran
Baguntiang bajaik balun
Dek tuan tolong manyudahkan
Talatak apo kagunonyo
Indonesian:
Ke pasar membeli kain.
Membeli kain satu potong
di pasar Payakumbuah hari minggu
sudah dapat kain satu ukuran
sudah bergunting belum dijahit
dek tuan tolong menyudahkan
terletak apa ke gunanya
English:
Going to the market to buy cloth
To buy a length of cloth
At the Payokumbuah market on Sunday
I got one measure of cloth
It was already cut but not yet sewn
Sir, please help me finish it
To be put into place the use for it.
Isi
Minangkabau:Ambo mandapek kaba angin
Lah kambang si bungo intan
Pamenan allah jo Mohamad
Biarlahnyo bungo larangan
Kumbang baniak nak ka kiyun
Tagak dek balun dapek jalan
Kini mamadang jauah sajo
Indonesian:
Saya mendapat berita.
Sudah kembang si bunga intan
Hadiah Allah dengan Muhammad
Walaupun itu bunga larangan
Kumbang berniat ke sana
Tapi karena belum dapat dijalan
Sekarang memadang dari jauh saja.
English:
I’ve received some news
The bungo intan (jewel of a flower) is already flowering
It's a gift from God
However, it's a forbidden flower.
The bee is interested in searching there
But because he has not yet received any (nectar) in his journey.
He’s forced to look from afar.
Interpretation of Pantun 1
Batang: This verse is largely descriptive, about buying cloth at the market for a project, and the padendang suggesting the person listening should define a need for it. It also makes mention of a specific place.Isi: This verse could be read on many levels. On one, it can be taken quite literally: a bee looking for nectar in a flower. On another, it could taken metaphorically to mean a man looking for a woman. Finally, the context at this performance offers a different interpretation. When I asked Pak Ketua why there was so much laughter, he explained that Te E, a dear friend of his, was teasing him specifically through this lyric. She was inferring that he was the bee and that I was the sparkly flower.