Sabaydii,

 

Here is the continuation of a series ‘Coming home’ entitled ‘What a beauty to behold’

 

Hakphaang,

 

 

It was said

The women carry the country identity

On their shoulders

There was nowhere else more obvious

More pronounced than at Muang Lao

 

 

Here Lao women

Or even little girls

Wore Sinh[1] the symbol of Lao identity

With pride and dignity

 

The way Sinh hangs on their bodies

Speaks volume of how far

They’ve gone through

 

Other dresses

Great as they may be

Prestigious as they may look

Lao women left them aside

 

They come to wear Sinh

To make a statement

They are not ashamed

Of who they are

Of their root

 

With my head bowed

I saluted all Lao women

Wearing Sinh at work

At school at home

And anywhere

 

Not the least

 

I salute

The Lao little girls

Wearing their worn out Sinh

As joyfully as they can be

 

If only Lao women of the past

Could come back and see their offspring

They would be beaming with admiration

 

The enemies whoever they may be

Have failed

Their chain just couldn’t keep Lao women

From manifesting what is theirs

 

With Lao women in Laos as an anchor

Supported interestingly

By Lao women descendants in Isan[2]

Sinh is now spreading its wing

Among Lao women abroad

 

One day

I will be able to see my daughter

Wearing Sinh

The way her mother does

 

When that day arrives

The circle will be complete

And I will then close my eyes

And sleep in peace

 

For I will have seen

My part contributed

To the preservation of KhuamPenLao[3]

 

9.26.03