Tanteku -

“Mlaku ngoyak tanpa tapi” (Walking chasing without a limit – 8 syllables)

Don’t boast of your wealth Power without selflessness Life is only temporary Someday you will face (the truth) Example 3 (Spiritual reminder) Javanese Gusti iku ora sare (e – but folk allows e for a if context fits) Mirsani saben tumindak (a) Sing apik bakal dibalesi (i) Sing ala kesasar lakumu (u) tanteku

| Element | Rule | |---------|------| | (syllable count per line) | 8, 8, 8, 8 or 8, 8, 7, 7 | | Guru lagu (vowel ending per line) | Fixed pattern: u, a, i, a (for 8-8-8-8) or u, a, u, a (for 8-8-7-7) | | Cacah gatra (lines per stanza) | Exactly 4 | | Purwakanthi (internal assonance) | Optional but encouraged for flow | Example pattern (8,8,8,8 – vowel endings u,a,i,a) Line 1: ends with u Line 2: ends with a Line 3: ends with i Line 4: ends with a Example (8,8,7,7 – u,a,u,a) Line 1: ends with u Line 2: ends with a Line 3: ends with u Line 4: ends with a 4. How to Compose Tanteku (Step-by-Step) Step 1 – Choose a theme Common themes: criticism of arrogance (gumedhe), warning about gossip (omongane wong), simple living (urip mung mampir ngombe). “Mlaku ngoyak tanpa tapi” (Walking chasing without a

Speech is holy, heart is dirty Holiness only on the lips Sweetness is just a pretty face Turns out the heart is bitter with anger Example 2 (Advice for youth) Javanese Ojo dumeh sugih banda (u – variant) Kuwasa tanpa pamrih a (a) Urip iku mung sementara (i – 9 syll. allowed in folk style) Suk mbesuk bakal ngadepo (a) allowed in folk style) Suk mbesuk bakal ngadepo (a) 1

1. What is Tanteku? Tanteku (Javanese: ꦠꦤ꧀ꦠꦼꦏꦸ ) is a form of traditional Javanese oral poetry, typically performed as a monologue with rhythmic vocalization . It shares similarities with dolanan (children’s folk songs) and parikan (Javanese riddles/rhymes), but differs in its structured stanzas , moral or satirical content , and use of distinctive syllable counts .

Example: “Aja kaya kebo kaburu” (Don’t be like a buffalo being chased – 8 syllables)

“Sing bener kuwi sejati” (What is true is that which is real – 8 syllables)