Oleh Xavier Quentin Pranata, doktor pendidikan dan doktor theology, penulis puluhan buku dan ratusan kolom.

Dulu saat belajar puisi-puisi penyair Amerika di kelas “Western Civilization and Culture”, Miss Barbara mengajar kelas, termasuk saya, untuk bukan sekadar membaca melainkan membedah baris demi baris, bahkan kata demi kata puisi-puisi klasik sampai modern.

Ada satu puisi karya Walt Whitman yang menarik. Judulnya “I Hear America Singing.” Pertanyaannya, apa yang dinyanyikan?

I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,

Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,

The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,

The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,

The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck,

The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands,

The wood-cutter’s song, the ploughboy’s on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown,

The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing,

Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,

The day what belongs to the day—at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,

Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.

Ternyata lagu yang dinyanyikan Whitman beda dengan senandung Trump yang oleh para analisis politik disebut ‘sang perundung yang suka tantrum’.