KARTINI 

25 April 1903

Dear Stella, 

It is inexcusable  

that we did not write to you 

In the last 3 months

But a big decision was made 

We had always prepared ourselves 

For anything and everything, 

But we never thought

That we would say 

With our own free will 

“We want to stay.” 

(BEAT)

IBU DEWI 

SHE IS LYING 

AND HER HEART KNOWS…

A VOICE TELLS HER TO ‘GO,

FIGHT FOR A BETTER TOMORROW’

KARTINI

But don’t think of us, 

Think of the cause 

What will be best for that 

And there we rest our case.

IBU DEWI 

HER HEART KNOWS…

KARTINI

At this time,
it would be best for the cause 

if we stayed in Java. 

We have been through a terrible struggle,

But we threw aside our desires

They are all talking about us, Stella

All of Java knows us

I ought to strike while the iron is hot!

Win their sympathy, 

teach them to trust me

And build that girls school now

IBU DEWI & KARTINI

STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT!

WHILE JAVA IS WAKING UP

KARTINI

Patience! 

Sir Abendanon once told me,

Before we can realize an ideal, 

We first have to be realistic

I have been far too upfront with our people

I can’t impose my foreign beliefs upon them

We have to be daring,

But subtle

To be poised,

and quick-witted

Yet resilient to change.

(BEAT)