Kerikil Tajam (literally: "Sharp Gravel") is one of the three major poetry collections published during Chairil Anwar’s lifetime. It was released in 1949, the same year he passed away. The book reflects both the sharpness and fragility of a young poet who lived with intensity, but for a short time.
This collection is considered a definitive anthology of Chairil Anwar’s poetry and was first published by Pustaka Rakjat. It is divided into two sections. The first, titled Kerikil Tajam, contains approximately 32 poems. The second, Yang Terampas dan Yang Putus, includes around 11 poems. The collection has become a cornerstone of modern Indonesian literature and has been reprinted several times. One notable edition was published by Narasi in 2018 as a 120-page volume that brings together many of his most celebrated works.
The poems in Kerikil Tajam are darker, more personal, and deeply existential in tone. In these pages, Chairil explores death, love, memory, and failure. His language is both stark and lyrical, filled with the urgency of someone who knew his time was limited. More than just a literary milestone, this collection stands as Chairil Anwar’s raw and unfiltered farewell to the world.
Description:
Kerikil Tajam (literally: "Sharp Gravel") is one of the three major poetry collections published during Chairil Anwar’s lifetime. It was released in 1949, the same year he passed away. The book reflects both the sharpness and fragility of a young poet who lived with intensity, but for a short time.
This collection is considered a definitive anthology of Chairil Anwar’s poetry and was first published by Pustaka Rakjat. It is divided into two sections. The first, titled Kerikil Tajam, contains approximately 32 poems. The second, Yang Terampas dan Yang Putus, includes around 11 poems. The collection has become a cornerstone of modern Indonesian literature and has been reprinted several times. One notable edition was published by Narasi in 2018 as a 120-page volume that brings together many of his most celebrated works.
The poems in Kerikil Tajam are darker, more personal, and deeply existential in tone. In these pages, Chairil explores death, love, memory, and failure. His language is both stark and lyrical, filled with the urgency of someone who knew his time was limited. More than just a literary milestone, this collection stands as Chairil Anwar’s raw and unfiltered farewell to the world.