New Taigress

Shan Culture - Poems

"Questions to The Salween River" - from Freedom's Way

Though hardships, with heavy yokes and even more carrying loads,

Never give up, Namkoeng*

Extremely heavy but better than forced porter*,

Tired but better than shoulders’ skin wounded and ruined

With determined goal, a trader of flying-tiger-cigar*

Survives month by month by being content

Oh, but can Namkoeng give any answers to my questions?

These are my questions:

Since eighty, ninety years, a hundred years ago,

During the British colonial times,

As she Namkoeng knows and experienced

Were there any peace for us Tai people?

At that time, did you see the traders like us

The traders of the flying-tiger-cigar?

When we look back to the past,

With the carrying loads of their slippers

On the Namkoeng mountains treks,

At that time, questions arose in my mind;

Answer them, Namkoeng according to your experiences,

Towards eighty, ninety years, a hundred years in the future,

Is there any possible sign to turn your banks

Into amazing places and cities?

Being overcrowded with luxurious cars along your banks,

Your country may become peacefully happy

And your banks crowded and blossomed

With money trees and golden opportunities for your people

Along your banks,

Will it be possible for harbors and a paradise city?

Is it only a dream,

Or is it our hope and vision for a better future?

*Namkoeng (Salween) is the name of the longest river cross-flow between the Southern and Eastern parts of Shan State, Union of Burma.

*Forced porter is a civilian person, who was arrested by the cruel Burmese troops and forced to carry their ammunition and stuffs, against his/her will and could face death at any time and place. Most of the forced porters were killed in the battlefields and were even inhumanely shot and killed by Burmese soldiers whenever he/she becomes extremely exhausted and disabled.

*Flying-tiger-cigar is one kind of local made cigarettes branded with a picture of flying tiger on it