Farewell to Burma

[Seinkyaw@xxxxxxx]

	The following is the Part I of a long poem written for Ne Win, the chief
architect of military dictatorship in Burma or an undisputed "strongman" whose
octogenarian life span has prolonged proportionately the sufferings of his
fellow country people. Enigmatic, whimsical and temperamental, Ne Win has been
solely responsible for numerous policy changes in the Burmese polity, which
has demonstrated mismanagement, unpredictability and chaos under his regime
and beyond, not unlike his own personal idiosyncrasies.  In modern history of
Burma, no one has had a parallel influence on the fate of the country like him
-- paradoxically effecting  the degradation of a country whose once promises
have turned out to be perils for the majority of the people.  
	  Lately, his health has reportedly deteriorated and now he is in Singapore
for a medical treatment.  Forsaking a good Burmese tradition of giving "metta"
(good wishes) for someone in a difficult situation, the author attempts to
compose a poem which is satirical,  sardonic, a bit ominous  and yet meant to
portray a saga of a man and his country in his own way. After all, this is
merely a poem. 



Setting of the Shining Sun  (by Warazein)

When he first rose up on the horizon
He was named "the Shining Sun"
His parents meant a glorious destiny for him
Thus he came to this world with a big mission

Time transformed him into a grown-up
He turned out to be a reckless playboy
For his pals, and kin and kith alike
His dark side eclipsed his "shining" side

Fate has many a twist and turn
For a reason beyond everybody's ken
He undertook a mission
That goes far out of his character

He went through an odyssey
With some others with a purpose
Displaying his heroic acts to everyone's surprise
With his "bright" side struggling along

He nudged through the ranks of
Saviors of the down-trodden country
To become one of second-tier founding fathers
Of an army with a dubious destiny awaiting

By the bizarre stroke of the Playwright's pen,
Most of the key players on the stage lost their lives
To clear the way for the roles of
Lesser-known characters to emerge

The country was freed now
Everyone was full of joy
Hope at its zenith and wishes abounding
A brighter Burma was what they envisioned

As time went by
Sober realities outweighed wild dreams
Things were not so rosy
And people didn't feel so cozy

The captain of the boat
Lost control in the treacherous current
Despair laid its cold hand
On the usually delightful folks

The captain wished for the benevolent sun
To rip through the menacing dark cloud
His prayer was answered
"The Sun" was dispatched to his aid

"The Sun" was adroit in his task
He scared away the cloud overhead
People in the boat felt protected
They blessed the savior sun

Now life's drama began unfolding
As wished for the Son of Destiny
To shine and win people over
So he was named General Shining Sun

Whims translated into "realities"
Dogmas translated into "people's state"
Ma-sa-la(BSPP) was his brainchild
Everything was owned by the state with guns

His state was a sole provider
Of food, shelter, clothes, soaps, gas
Pills, movie tickets or you name it
It gave or it did not have them.


                  --to be continued--