Essays from a Bomb-shelter

Aung Way

1. Survive on the run
In the small dark rooms while I was hidding, it seemed there was a Nightingale's sacrifice lamp lightening upon me.
From the murky bottlenecks when I was fleeing, it seemed there was a Madame Lenin's lover lamp following me closely.
Through the black haunted wilderness where I was crossing, it seemed there was an Aung San Suu Kyi's unafraid lamp guiding me to freedom.
Hello! My sweet enemies, do you know how I can survive on the run for so long because the sun always rises in my mind.

2. If – and –Then
If you're only strong in proposal politics and nobody is fighting in the front line then it's like a bird singing in a cage-nothing happen.
If you're only hungry in future democracy and nobody is protesting on the urban streets then it's like a tiger starving in a gaol-nothing happen.
If you're only interested in junta's dialogue and nobody is rallying under the revolution flag then it's like a storm blowing in a tea cup-nothing happen.
Oh! My comrade poets, If you're only crazy in poetry and poetry and nobody is screaming at a red squre of the deaths then it's like a sword rusting in a scabbard-nothing happen.

Aung Way
14-10-2007