The Indonesian Literature Program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Padjadjaran University (FIB Unpad), held a discussion of the poetry anthology Menungguku Tiba: A Collection of Poems 2022–2024 by Isbedy Stiawan ZS on Tuesday (May 26). This event provided a space for literary discussion, bringing together academics, members of the cultural community, and students to appreciate and analyze the meanings contained in the works of this senior poet from Lampung.
The discussion featured Isbedy Stiawan ZS as the poet, Dr. M. Irfan Hidayatullah from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) at Padjadjaran University (Unpad) as the moderator, and Baban Banita from the Indonesian Literature Department at FIB Unpad and Dr. Ipit Saefidier Dimyati from the Indonesian Institute of Arts and Culture (ISBI) in Bandung as panelists. The event was also attended by members of the academic community from various universities, cultural groups in Bandung, journalists, and the poet’s friends.
In this poetry analysis, the discussion focuses on three main themes: the sea, love, and motherhood. These themes were chosen to guide the discussion and to illustrate how Isbedy Stiawan ZS uses the sea—both as a setting and as a metaphor—to convey various life experiences.
According to the source, the anthology conveys the message that love and longing can give meaning to life and encourages readers to be humble and work hard. These values are considered to remain relevant amid various social issues that are still marked by conflict and hatred.
In addition to discussing the anthology’s contents, this event also provided students with an opportunity to learn firsthand about the creative process of a senior Indonesian poet. This poetry analysis session served to strengthen the ties between the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Unpad and the literary and cultural communities, while also contributing to the festivities marking Indonesia’s Independence Day.
This initiative supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), by strengthening literacy, fostering an appreciation for literature, and developing critical thinking skills in academic settings.
