The old law school
Sabaydii,

Here is the continuation of a series ‘Coming home’ entitled ‘the old law school’

Hakphaang,
Kongkeo Saycocie

The old law school

Located near Wat Sisaket
The old law school smiled at me
Hard to discern
What it was about

I remember
This law school was the place
Where they posted the list of students
Lucky enough to be sent to study abroad

Many came to see their fate
And went home with their heads hung down
Only a few was taken with joy
As their names displayed prominently on the board

Not a surprise to see
Almost all of those lucky names
Were from the revolutionary youth group

Still some with family clout
Or connection could land them a place
In the much coveted countries like the former Soviet Union
East Germany or Czechoslovakia

The less fortunate ones
Were sent to study in Vietnam
Still a better place
Than study in Laos
Aside from the medical school

For some unknown reasons
I had never entertained the idea of going to study in Vietnam

At that time
It was nicely put
Those who were strong in any academic field
Were to go to Dongdok
Becoming teachers much needed in the country

Too sad to say
No one wanted to go Dongdok
Only those having no choice
But to go there
Did so at the very last minute

As in any case
There is an exception
Some of my classmates
Being true revolutionary youth
Opted to go there
And now still trying to make ends meet
While their less academic oriented classmates
Blatantly occupying a prestigious position
With income and perks to last their lifetime

Who says life is fair?
Look at the regime
Based on that principle
How is it really doing now?

I myself well versed with the art of writing
Was sent to work at the Ministry of Information
Or KaSuang Kosana
Hardly did they know
I hated to be told
What to write
So my job lasted only a day

Seeing the place again
Really brought back a bad memory
When will the regime realize?
It cruelly stalled the growth of so many promising kids
Ruined the potential of so many young lives
And at the end
Took the country down as well

With a heavy heart
I turned my back to the old law school
And never to look back again

9.25.03

Tribute
Sabaydii,

Here is the continuation of a series ‘Coming home’ entitled ‘a tribute’

Hakphaang,
Kongkeo Saycocie

A tribute

Won’t say
You like the tribute
It’s not made of gold
Or even silver
But words from someone’s heart
Insignificant as he may be

If you like
My words are pure
With no malice to none
And no ill intention to any

That day
You lost your dad
Fighting in the useless war
I shed my tears for you

That moment
Your dad’s killer lost his life
Stepping on a bomb
I also shed my tears
For he was a Lao
Just happening to be on another side
Fighting for the cause
You and your dad also believed in
Though completely on a different spectrum

As anything in life
There is a winner
And there is a loser

Good luck for those on the wining side
The opposite gone to the other side
Still whoever you are
We are all lost

Let me lay a wreath on your tombs
Let me say a few words on our placard

We are all misled
To dream to hope
For what is not

We’re all to be blamed
This depravity of our people
This poverty of our country

Bad as it may sound
It is now in the past

Why not moves on?
Why not lay a tribute
With ourselves as one indestructible force?

What’s a tribute then?
If not dwelling into our hearts
And right the wrong with all our might

With only that and that alone
The tribute will mean something
To the lives that were lost
To the suffering that we all endure

10.17.03