Homework 15/12: Reflections on Visiting a Burmese Village

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Shelley Hansen
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Homework 15/12: Reflections on Visiting a Burmese Village

Post by Shelley Hansen » Wed Dec 10, 2014 4:53 pm

Well, here goes with the Kyrielle sonnet! Our recent voyage down the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar was by turn confronting and inspiring, and a rare chance to see a rapidly vanishing way of life. The most inspiring experiences involved visiting traditional Burmese villages where life goes on as it has for a thousand years. I hope more poetry will follow when my mind and heart has had a chance to digest this life-changing adventure.

Reflections on Visiting a Burmese Village

I left my footprints on your world -
a fleeting shadow - thus I came.
Your secret lives became unfurled
and I shall never be the same.

My laughter by the schoolhouse stairs
accompanied your children's game.
They sang a song uniquely theirs
and I shall never be the same.

O happy people - you seem poor
to us who measure Western aim.
Yet you will go on as before
and I shall never be the same.

I left my footprints on your world
and I shall never be the same.

© Shelley Hansen 2014
Last edited by Shelley Hansen on Tue Dec 16, 2014 6:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Homework 15/12: Reflections on Visiting a Burmese Villa

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Wed Dec 10, 2014 5:01 pm

That is lovely Shelley - well done and sounds like you have enjoyed a wonderful trip.
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
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Catherine Lee
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Re: Homework 15/12: Reflections on Visiting a Burmese Villa

Post by Catherine Lee » Wed Dec 10, 2014 6:53 pm

Love this Shelley - you put it so well, and having been in Asia for so long I can relate!
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Re: Homework 15/12: Reflections on Visiting a Burmese Villa

Post by Neville Briggs » Thu Dec 11, 2014 7:13 am

Well done Shelley. You've got the reflective mood in that. :)
Neville
" Prose is description, poetry is presence " Les Murray.
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David Campbell
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Re: Homework 15/12: Reflections on Visiting a Burmese Villa

Post by David Campbell » Thu Dec 11, 2014 9:20 am

Beautifully done, as always, Shelley.

Cheers
David
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Shelley Hansen
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Re: Homework 15/12: Reflections on Visiting a Burmese Villa

Post by Shelley Hansen » Fri Dec 12, 2014 9:44 pm

Thank you everyone for your positive feedback. The trip to Myanmar certainly was amazing.
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alongtimegone
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Re: Homework 15/12: Reflections on Visiting a Burmese Villa

Post by alongtimegone » Mon Dec 15, 2014 9:35 am

Beautiful Shelley. What an inspiring trip that must have been.
Wazza
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