Khin Aung Aye

Achilles Heel
I can knock your jaws off. So the story goes In that corner, Delousing or debugging Almost ending up in sex. A poem I slept with a night too late, What Ive been imbibing for four/five years, All have come into being just now. The flowers that dare to sing The restless midnight bells The wild buffalos petrified of dreaming. Above floating curtains History in the form of a silk lace. These are just portrayals By milestones we have passed And ashes in our clenched fists. As for me, He whos using talcum powder, He whos using fragranced soap. Ahead of us, Doors opening ajar, one after another, And an obsequious dog who knows exactly his masters desires. The dark cloud sinning to the end of the samsara. I had to swallow a bit of arak. Then, After a lot of thens, I was sold by my own street-smartness. All I get in return are gilded footsteps Futures fashioned by a stray. Listen As if just waking up, The mouth thats about to be nitpicking me, Like picking mushrooms and bamboo shoots, The look about to bury you alive, Along with them, A pair of hypocritical hands. Between the two of us, There never was a misunderstood kyat. Now you want to murder me? What day was it yesterday?

As our child jingles at home, I am still drowning in the mire of lies outdoors. Poisonous liquid, DailyVita, Existentialismwhatever. In such perfect pitch Who are you to resist Before everything is squandered At a snap of my fingers, The social affairs are executed. All of a sudden, In this lovelorn evening With suicidal tendencies, I kiss the twilight, I sing a song of agony. Translated by Ko Ko Thett

Pandora
The Sniper
When you see others on a flag march Repress your swelling bugs No mortar shells, no hand grenade explosion This battle must go on quietly With a calm mind, in cold blood With sharp shooting, trained hands Hone your skills when the sun shines Camouflage like a chameleon Be immovable as a sleeper Dont blink, dont doze off Dont miss any chance If necessary, play dead Dont flinch, even if they walk all over you Blame your fate if they shoot you point-blank To double-check your death Your life may end up in anticipation in lethe There isnt much of a choice to make For example Five enemies are approaching Five bullets are all you have. Translated by Ko Ko Thett