Sabaydii,

 

Here is the continuation of a series ‘Coming home’ entitled ‘Schools at Mahaxay’

 

Hakphaang,

 

 

Our pick-up stopped at the school

The buffaloes grazed at its field

The bell at their necks stroke

Each time they moved about

 

 

Inside the classroom we entered

Toys were lying around

On the dirt floor

Made from the very earth

The field outside made of

 

Not sure

Whether this was a preschool

Or a kindergarten

For kids aged as young as four

And as old as six

Had a day of their young lives

Pushing the toy cars

Feeding baby dolls

So on and so forth

 

 

The teacher

With her own kid

Not yet to start school

Holding on to her leg

Was radiating with pride

For no other schools

Could command this kind of luxury

 

At another classroom

A third grader was put into test

Reading what was on the blackboard

Out loud for us to hear

 

 

His Thakek or Mahaxay accent

Reverberated across the room

Reassuring me one more time

I was home

Among the things I was familiar

Among the voice sweetest to my ears

And among the faces I could die staring at

 

The bell rang

Or to be correct

The empty bucket hung by the school pillar

Was struck continuously

Awakening me from the reverie

 

Like kids everywhere

Mahaxay kids competing against one another

rushing out to the field in front

 

 

There I saw

A group of girls

Played the jumping over the rope

A group of boys

Kicked something

Looking like a ball

While buffaloes grazing nearby

And dogs running around

Adding to a mother feeding her baby

With her own very breast

At the balcony of the house nearby

What a sight to behold!

 

 

Muang Lao

What else do I need

To reassure myself

I am finally home

 

A beautiful girl walking by

Blushing all the way

Seeing me pointing a camcorder at

 

 

Amid all the poverty

The many holes in the school roofs

And the shaky chairs

About to crumble

The best of Muang Lao

Did shine through

 

Oh Muang Lao

How much I love to be with you

Again and again

 

8.19.03