{"id":5073,"date":"2026-04-04T13:48:53","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T13:48:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/?p=5073"},"modified":"2026-04-04T13:50:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T13:50:11","slug":"burmese-poem-%e1%80%99%e1%80%97%e1%80%b1%e1%80%92%e1%80%ab-%e1%80%86%e1%80%9b%e1%80%ac%e1%80%87%e1%80%b1%e1%80%ac%e1%80%ba%e1%80%82%e1%80%bb%e1%80%ae-zaw-gyis-hyacinths-way-this-is-my","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/2026\/04\/04\/burmese-poem-%e1%80%99%e1%80%97%e1%80%b1%e1%80%92%e1%80%ab-%e1%80%86%e1%80%9b%e1%80%ac%e1%80%87%e1%80%b1%e1%80%ac%e1%80%ba%e1%80%82%e1%80%bb%e1%80%ae-zaw-gyis-hyacinths-way-this-is-my\/","title":{"rendered":"Burmese Poem: \u1019\u1017\u1031\u1012\u102b-\u1006\u101b\u102c\u1007\u1031\u102c\u103a\u1002\u103b\u102e Zaw Gyi’s “Hyacinth’s Way \u2013 This is My Way” (with English Translation)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dedicated to Ethnic Minorities and Religious Minorities in\u00a0Myanmar<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes<\/em>) is known as “Beda” in Myanmar. It grows in the deltaic creeks and streams, floating up and down with the ebb and rise of the tide. Throughout his series of poems, the poet Zaw Gyi uses the word “Ma Beda” \u2014 meaning “Miss Beda” \u2014 as a metaphor, likening the lovely hyacinth to a young woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saya Zaw Gyi wrote a long series of poems about Beda, portraying her as a resilient woman struggling against the hardships of the world. One of the most beloved poems in the series is “Still Wearing the Flower”<\/em>, in which Miss Beda \u2014 swept along by a rapidly flowing stream \u2014 encounters hundreds of ducks (representing men), withstands their harassment, endures the rough weather and turbulent waters, and emerges still wearing her flower. This poem has given strength and courage to countless readers facing difficulties in their own lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Still Managed to Keep the Flower on Her Head”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(The author’s own translation)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Rejoicing in the tidal creek, the blue-hued Miss Beda longs to dock at a nearby shore.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • A floating coconut drifts into her side and strikes her \u2014 a painful blow \u2014 pushing her away from the gentle landing she had hoped for.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • She is struck again by another tidal wave and pulled under.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • But she struggles and rises back to the surface.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Even resurfacing is no easy thing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Out of the drains and into the stream come the ducks, swimming toward her.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Alone, she endures the kicks and jostling of hundreds of them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • But Miss Beda never gives up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • She bites her lip, holds her smile, and keeps the flower upon her head \u2014<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • all while struggling through the rapidly flowing stream.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    A Better Translation (sourced later)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    From “Keep on Flowing, Ayeyarwaddy\u2026” \u2014 an anthology of Myanmar poetry<\/em> Zaw Gyi: “Hyacinth’s Way \u2013 This is My Way”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Rejoicing in the tidal creek, the blue-hued Miss Beda \u2014 giving pretext of the jasmine flower \u2014 longs to dock at the nearby shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Rejoicing in the tidal creek, Miss Beda of a bluish colour \u2014 giving pretext of the belle lady \u2014 fancies stopping at the shore right here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Rejoicing in the tidal creek, bluish Miss Beda \u2014 giving pretext of the small stupa \u2014 desires to land at the shore hither.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    With a sail aloft as she glides, she has learned to heed the piper’s call. Wearing the noble wish of escape like a sash, bluish lady Beda flows up and down in the tidal creek’s water \u2014 and says: this is my way; no other.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Note on “Noble wish of escape”:<\/strong> This refers to the Buddhist aspiration for liberation from the endless cycle of rebirth (Samsara<\/em>) \u2014 in other words, the attainment of Nirvana. (Source: Wikipedia \u2014 Saya Zawgyi)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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