My First Impression on my Myanmar Visit

For days
I wandered
through this Golden Land，
By planes and coaches，
By boats and bullock cart.
To witness
the raw lives of an ancient people. Not for a moment，
was I not confused and puzzled with
the contradicting realities that abound.
In this vast land with lakes and rivers aplenty,
which is further adored and nurtured
by the Mother River Irrawaddy. Yet,
it’s a land of
wretched lives.
At every sanctum
where tourist throng
One too many women and children
shabbily dressed and unshod,
begging for mercy and money,
in unmistakable English “Hello, no money.”
Time and again,
I wonder,
in this country with incalculable riches
with a myriad of éclat of the past,
the renowned Rangoon rice, logs and cheroot.
As yet,
her people has to implore piteously for
a meager comestible. Who should take the rap?
Her people or the military junta
or the Super Powers
with its economic sanctions?

Pompous reasons
do not erase the fact
Gentle Burmese
Suffer immensely
in the land deluge
with richness.