HYACINTH'S WAY BY ZAWGYI

Hyacinth's Way (7)

WITH ASSORTED MELODIES

Prattling charmingly,
Miss Caucal moans sweetly along,
The plaintive reed-piper plays a Mai Bwe song.

With a tree-shaped stand, various offerings are hanging,
Intended for offering monks of many years standing,
At the bow of the boat displayed proud,
The reed-piper plays a ceremonial Si Byaw tune aloud.

On the edge of the sandbank,
The first rising waters rushed by the wind,
Makes the waters mad, white and gushing,
The reed-piper plays a Bein Baung tuning.

The dead body of the animal,
Mingling with the rising water with the south wind in a spree,
The reed-piper plays a Ngo Gyin song that agrees.

Unaided by the oar,
With a bulging white sail the long-boat skims above water,
The reed-piper plays a Bwe Kyo theme over.

Peeping and appearing,
The Dhani islad jutting out is forming a sandbank,
The reed-piper plays a Thar Chawt song meant.

The songs are varied and unending,
And Ma Beda is ever with the water, going up and down,
With assorted melodious sounds.

Zawgyi
(University of Rangoon Annual Magazine, 1957-1959)

NOTE
Mai Bwe: A longing maiden's descriptive song
Si Byaw: A ceremonial big and long drum playing
Bein Baaun: A fighting contest's tune
Ngo Gyin: A mourning song
Bwe Kyo: A classical song celebrating a particular theme and usually played on the harp
Dhani: Nipa palm (Nipa fruticans)
Thar Chawt: Baby soothing song