“The death of my Grandfather”

18.09.2013



I am not sure,
I should feel guilty or sad.
I really don't know how I should feel.

His name is U Tun Kyi.
He lived in Myit Kyi Nar,
Kachin state in Myanmar
He was ethnic Shan and
A short man
Professionally a veterinarian
A good one, according to my mother.
He was a President in the Town Administration Office
Well respected man.
Kachin state has so many jade mines
Business men came to him with big bags full of money
He kicked them out together with their bags
Never allowed himself to be corrupted
His family lived poorly.
He got 13 children with my grandmother.
My mother was the eldest one.

The other side of him was not so good to tell

He was a wild man,
who beat his wife
He was a wild man,
who had slept with many women.
He was a wild man,
who drank too much
He was a wild man,
who beat his children too
He was a wild man,
who sold the big land and a house for a diamond ring
And this ring was lost a few days after.
He was a wild man,
who brought a young wife to my grandmother’s home
She had to cook for both of them

He was my grandfather,
who I never know how to judge.
Now he passed away
14.09.2013- 13:30 hour.
This is his story I know
Not much though.

I haven't seen him the last 15 years I guess.
He is gone now
No more chance to see him

This man was my grandfather,
part of my history
He is free now
But I am not

I still don’t know
What should I say to myself?