{"id":1922,"date":"2025-07-15T06:57:52","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T06:57:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/?p=1922"},"modified":"2025-07-15T07:05:50","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T07:05:50","slug":"ma-beda-still-wearing-her-flower","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/2025\/07\/15\/ma-beda-still-wearing-her-flower\/","title":{"rendered":"Ma Beda \u2013 Still Wearing Her Flower"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An homage to Zawgyi\u2019s timeless poem, reimagined in the spirit of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi\u2019s journey<\/em>
By DARZKKG for MMNN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The name Zawgyi<\/em> (1907\u20131990) shines among the greatest luminaries of modern Burmese literature. A poet, scholar, and translator, he was a pioneering figure in introducing Western literary styles to Burmese poetry while preserving its lyrical soul. One of his most beloved creations is the symbolic and enduring poem series about “Ma Beda”<\/strong>, the graceful yet resilient water hyacinth<\/em> (Eichhornia crassipes<\/em>) that floats in the tidal streams of the Irrawaddy Delta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Zawgyi’s verse, Ma Beda<\/em> becomes more than a flower \u2014 she is a metaphor for womanhood, for dignity in the face of hardship, and for the indomitable human spirit. She is bruised by the elements, kicked by ducks (stand-ins for the cruelty and indifference of society), and repeatedly swept under \u2014 yet always rises, still proudly wearing her flower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many Burmese readers, especially women and those facing political or personal turmoil, have drawn strength from Ma Beda\u2019s quiet defiance. For those of us reflecting on the life of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi<\/strong>, once the icon of democratic resistance, Zawgyi\u2019s Ma Beda<\/em> offers an apt allegory. She, too, was once gracefully afloat above the tide of history, then battered by betrayal and power, yet may still one day rise \u2014 not for personal glory, but to inspire a people once more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following is a poetic English adaptation of Zawgyi\u2019s “Ma Beda”, reimagined in light of DASSK\u2019s journey \u2014 from being the beloved daughter of Burma\u2019s hero, to a Nobel Laureate under house arrest, to a leader navigating impossible compromises, and now a prisoner once again of the same tides that once lifted her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Ma Beda \u2013 Still Wearing Her Flower<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

(After Zawgyi, with reflections on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In moon-kissed creeks where tides do play,
Floats Miss Beda, washed far away\u2014
A violet bloom adrift and fair,
With jasmine dreams pinned in her hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She longed to rest by gentle shore,
But waves betrayed and pulled once more.
A coconut husk came striking by,
And bruised her side beneath the sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No shelter found, no easy grace\u2014
Just swirling currents, ruthless pace.
Dragged down again, denied her claim,
Yet rose she did, though not the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To float again\u2014no simple feat\u2014
The stream grows fierce, the ducks compete.
A hundred peck and splash and bite,
But still she glides, holding her right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alone she bears the rough assault,
And none but her can halt the fault.
She bites her lip, but does not break\u2014
Still wears her flower, make no mistake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With neither crown nor gold nor cheer,
No chorus sings, no allies near.
Yet in her poise, her quiet stance,
She claims her truth: a second chance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O tides may drown, and thrones may fall,
But Ma Beda outlasts them all.
She doesn\u2019t rule with sword or flame\u2014
She floats, she bears, she earns her name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is my way,\u201d the flower says,
\u201cThrough storms and stings and silent days.
No puppet\u2019s path, nor easy fame\u2014
But still afloat. And still the same.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Epilogue:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Just like Ma Beda, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi<\/strong> was not always perfect \u2014 but she endured what few could. Tossed by fate, worshipped, criticized, and used, she is now once more in the dark waters of repression. Yet if she ever rises again, wiser and scarred, let us remember: even a flower torn by tide can teach us more about resilience than any banner or crown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

May this poem remind Myanmar\u2019s youth and all readers that true strength is not loud<\/strong>, nor adorned with medals. Sometimes, it is quiet. Sometimes, it is a violet hyacinth still wearing its flower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I got this better translation later. Above was my translation.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source of poem below- \u201cKeep on flowing Ayeyarwaddy\u2026\u201d- anthology of the Myanmar Poetry \u2013
<\/a>Zaw Gyi : Hyacinth\u2019s Way  \u2013 This is My Way<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rejoicing in the tidal creek, the blue coloured Miss Beda,
Giving pretext of the jasmine flower,
She wants to dock at the shore near.
Rejoicing in the tidal creek, Miss Beda of a bluish colour,
Giving pretext of the belle lady,
She fancies to stop at the shore here.
Rejoicing in the tidal creek, bluish Miss Beda,
Giving pretext of the small stupa,
She desires to land at the shore hither.
With a sail aloft while I glide,
The words of the piper I have learned to abide,
Wearing like a sash the noble wish of escape, bluish lady
Beda
Flowing up and dawn in the tidal creek\u2019s water,
She says, this is my way; no other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Noble wish of escape.
The wish of escape from endless births of Samsara, and
taking the other way round, it means the attainment of Nirvana<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1015\u1014\u103a\u1038\u1015\u1014\u103a\u101c\u103b\u1000\u103a\u1015\u102b”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u100a\u102d\u102f\u1015\u103c\u102c\u1015\u103c\u102c\u104a \u101c\u1010\u102c\u1015\u103c\u1004\u1037\u103a\u1001\u103c\u1031\u101b\u1004\u103a\u1038\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u101c\u103e\u102d\u102f\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1010\u1000\u103a\u101b\u102c \u1017\u1031\u1012\u102b\u1010\u1000\u103a \u101c\u103e\u102d\u102f\u1004\u103a\u1038\u101e\u1000\u103a\u101b\u102c\u1006\u1004\u103a\u1038\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1006\u1004\u103a\u1038\u101b\u101c\u1032\u1019\u101e\u1000\u103a\u101e\u102c\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1021\u102f\u1014\u103a\u1038\u101c\u1000\u103a\u1000\u103c\u103d\u1031 \u101b\u1031\u1015\u1031\u102b\u101c\u1031\u102c\u104a \u1019\u103b\u1031\u102c\u1005\u102f\u1014\u103a\u101c\u102d\u102f\u1037\u101c\u102c\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1021\u1006\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1014\u1032\u1037\u1021\u101c\u102c\u104a \u1019\u1017\u1031\u1012\u102b\u1021\u1011\u103d\u1031\u1038\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1021\u102f\u1014\u103a\u1038\u101c\u1000\u103a\u1000\u103c\u103d\u1031 \u101e\u1030\u1014\u1036\u1037\u1018\u1031\u1038 \u1006\u1031\u102c\u1004\u1037\u103a\u1001\u1032\u1037\u101b\u101e\u1031\u1038\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1006\u1031\u102c\u1004\u1037\u103a\u1001\u1032\u1037\u101c\u1032\u1019\u101e\u1000\u103a\u101e\u102c\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1014\u1031\u102c\u1000\u103a\u1010\u1001\u103b\u102e \u1012\u102e\u1010\u101c\u102f\u1036\u1038\u1000 \u1016\u102f\u1036\u1038\u101c\u102d\u102f\u1000\u103a\u1015\u103c\u1014\u103a\u1015\u102b\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1019\u103c\u103e\u102f\u1015\u103a\u101c\u1031\u1015\u1031\u102b\u1037 \u1015\u1031\u102b\u103a\u1019\u101c\u102c\u104a \u1019\u1017\u1031\u1012\u102b \u1021\u101c\u103e\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1010\u101c\u1036\u1000\u103d\u102c \u101c\u103e\u102d\u102f\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1021\u1000\u103c\u103d\u104a \u1015\u1031\u102b\u103a\u101c\u102d\u102f\u1000\u103a\u1015\u103c\u1014\u103a\u101b\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1015\u1031\u102b\u103a\u1015\u103c\u1014\u103a\u101c\u1032 \u1019\u101e\u1000\u103a\u101e\u102c\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1001\u103b\u1031\u102c\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1021\u1006\u103d\u101a\u103a \u1019\u103c\u1031\u102c\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1004\u101a\u103a\u1011\u1032\u1000\u104a\u1018\u1032\u1011\u103d\u1000\u103a\u101c\u102d\u102f\u1037\u101c\u102c\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1018\u1032\u1021\u102f\u1015\u103a\u1019\u103e\u102c \u1010\u101b\u102c\u1014\u103e\u1005\u103a\u101b\u102c\u104a \u1017\u1031\u1012\u102b\u1010\u1015\u1004\u103a\u1011\u1032\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1021\u101a\u1000\u103a\u1021\u1000\u1014\u103a\u1001\u1036\u101c\u102d\u102f\u1037<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1017\u1031\u1012\u102b\u1015\u102f\u1036 \u1021\u1036\u1000\u102d\u102f\u1001\u1032\u104a \u1015\u1014\u103a\u1038\u1015\u1014\u103a\u101c\u103b\u1000\u103a\u1018\u1032\u104b \u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“\u1017\u1031\u1012\u102b\u101c\u1019\u103a\u1038” \u101e\u102e\u1001\u103b\u1004\u103a\u1038<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u100a\u102d\u102f\u1015\u103c\u102c\u1015\u103c\u102c \u101c\u1010\u102c\u1015\u103c\u1004\u103a\u1001\u103c\u1031\u101b\u1004\u103a\u1038<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u101c\u103e\u102d\u102f\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1010\u1000\u103a\u101b\u102c \u1017\u1031\u1012\u102b\u1010\u1000\u103a\u104a \u101c\u103e\u102d\u102f\u1004\u103a\u1038\u101e\u1000\u103a\u101b\u102c\u1006\u1004\u103a\u1038\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1006\u1004\u103a\u1038\u101b\u101c\u1032 \u1019\u101e\u1000\u103a\u101e\u102c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1021\u102f\u1014\u103a\u1038\u101c\u1000\u103a\u1000\u103c\u103d\u1031\u101b\u1031\u1015\u1031\u102b\u101c\u1031\u102c\u104a \u1019\u103b\u1031\u102c\u1005\u102f\u1014\u103a\u101c\u102d\u102f\u1037\u101c\u102c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1021\u1006\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1014\u1032\u1037\u1021\u101c\u102c\u104a \u1017\u1031\u1012\u102b\u1019 \u1021\u1011\u103d\u1031\u1038<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1021\u102f\u1014\u103a\u1038\u101c\u1000\u103a\u1000\u103c\u103d\u1031 \u101e\u1030\u1037\u1014\u1036\u1018\u1031\u1038\u104a \u1006\u1031\u102c\u1004\u1037\u103a\u1001\u1032\u1037\u101b\u101e\u1031\u1038\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1006\u1031\u102c\u1004\u1037\u103a\u1001\u1032\u1037\u101c\u1032 \u1019\u101e\u1000\u103a\u101e\u102c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1014\u1031\u102c\u1000\u103a\u1010\u1001\u103b\u102e \u1012\u102e\u1010\u101c\u102f\u1036\u1038\u1000\u104a \u1016\u102f\u1036\u1038\u101c\u102d\u102f\u1000\u103a\u1015\u103c\u1014\u103a\u1015\u102b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1019\u103c\u102f\u1015\u103a\u101c\u1031\u1015\u1031\u102b\u1037 \u1015\u1031\u102b\u103a\u1019\u101c\u102c\u104a \u1019\u1017\u1031\u1012\u102b\u1021\u101c\u103e<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1010\u101c\u1036\u1000\u103d\u102c \u101c\u103e\u102d\u102f\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1021\u1000\u103c\u103d\u104a \u1015\u1031\u102b\u103a\u101c\u102d\u102f\u1000\u103a\u1015\u103c\u1014\u103a\u101b\u104b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1015\u1031\u102b\u103a\u1015\u103c\u1014\u103a\u101c\u1032 \u1019\u101e\u1000\u103a\u101e\u102c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1001\u103b\u1031\u102c\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1021\u1006\u103d\u101a\u103a \u1019\u103c\u1031\u102c\u1004\u103a\u1038\u1004\u101a\u103a\u1011\u1032\u1000\u104a \u1018\u1032\u1011\u103d\u1000\u103a\u101c\u102d\u102f\u1037\u101c\u102c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1018\u1032\u1021\u102f\u1015\u103a\u1019\u103e\u102c \u1010\u101b\u102c\u1014\u103e\u1005\u103a\u101b\u102c\u104a \u1017\u1031\u1012\u102b\u1000 \u1010\u1015\u1004\u103a\u1011\u1032<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1021\u101a\u1000\u103a\u1021\u1000\u1014\u103a\u1001\u1036\u101c\u102d\u102f\u1037<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u1017\u1031\u1012\u102b\u1015\u103b\u1036\u1021\u1036\u1000\u102d\u102f\u1001\u1032\u104a \u1015\u1014\u103a\u1038\u1015\u1014\u103a\u101c\u103b\u1000\u103a\u1018\u1032\u104b \u104b (\u1007\u1031\u102c\u103a\u1002\u103b\u102e – \u1010\u1000\u1039\u1000\u101e\u102d\u102f\u101c\u103a \u1021\u102d\u102f\u1038\u101d\u1031\u1019\u1002\u1039\u1002\u1007\u1004\u103a\u1038\u104a \u1041\u1049\u1046\u1040)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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