Sabaydii,

I thought of writing a series of 'Coming home' for a

long time. I guess now is the time. 

Without further ado, here is the first one entitled

exactly as the series 'Coming home'.

Hakphaang,

Kongkeo Saycocie

Flown leisurely

at the top of the flagpole

the full moon flag[1] is looking at me

indifferently

Over 20 years ago[2]

I fled home

With only a bag of clothes

And no hope of coming back 

again

That day 

in fact night

I still remember

My eyes moist with tears

The fact that I had to leave 

this motherland 

for good

just settled in me

like a sharp knife

cutting through my flesh

for the very first time

Muang Lao

How could I put into words?

I love this land so much

Why did I have to leave her?

Only heaven knows

With my eyes defiantly raised

I then look at the flag

The very flag

That shuns me for so long

Like the Mekong that flows 

uninterruptedly

No matter what the flag on this land

Looks like

I kiss the ground

Put the Lao sacred soil on my head

And let my eyes moist with tears

Flow for the very last time.

7.24.03