This poem was originally submitted in Bahasa, the official language of Indonesia. It has been translated into English by Ariel Santikarma and Leslie Dwyer. 

Says the north, if there were no sun the world would freeze

Says the south, were there no darkness, the world would be too bright

Oh God, so few people give you thanks

So few people give you thanks

Mother Earth, so kind and beautiful

Our footsteps cross the archipelago

this is their home.

May 2, 2017, from Sabang to Merauke

from Miangas to Rote

The glorious, bright gate to the future has been opened

for the sake of educating the world of Indonesia

Education in Jakarta

must be the same as in Ambon

Teaching in Sumatra

should be the same as in Papua

Educational facilities in Kalimantan

must be as good as those in Bali

1,128 ethnic groups, 700 regional languages

Indonesia is where the world comes to learn about difference

But difference is not a reason to look away

or a reason to not unite

Reflect on the rainbow

with different colors but still one

With a sense of "Unity in Diversity"

difference looks beautiful

That is our responsibility

For the Mother Earth of the Indonesian archipelago

Kata orang utara, andai matahari tiada duniapun membeku

Kata orang selatan, andai Kegelapan tiada duniapun terang

Ya Tuhan, Tak banyak orang yang bersyukut padaMu

tak sedikit pula orang yang bersyukur padaMu

Bumi Pertiwi yang elok nan permai

tempat berpijak seluruh nusantara

disinilah rumah bagi mereka...

2 Mei 2017, dari Sabang sampai Merauke

dari Miangas sampai Rote

Gerbang masa depan cerah nan gemilang telah terbuka

demi mencerdaskan Bumi Indonesia

Pendidikan di Jakarta

harus sama dengan di Ambon

Pengajaran di Sumatera

semestinya sama dengan di Papua

Fasilitas Pendidikan di Kalimantan

harus sama bagus dengan di Bali

1.128 suku, 700 bahasa daerah

Indonesia tempat dunia belajar perbedaan

Perbedaan bukan alasan tuk berselisih pandang

melainkan alasan tuk bersatu

Bercerminlah pada pelangi

berbeda warnanya tapi tetap satu

Dengan rasa "Bhineka Tunggal Ika"

perbedaan terlihat indah

Itulah tanggung jawab kita

Para Insan Nusantara Bumi Pertiwi INDONESIA.