Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Aung Khin Myint

National Anthem 35

the blizzard came
dressed as a military policeman
no, no!
the exact opposite is what I wanted to say
the incessant warning on the radio tells
every citizen to stay indoors
if one has to go out inevitably
one should keep a turkey brand brolly handy
since this is wartime
one has to play two parts
simultaneously —
the part of the living & the part of the departed
like scrawny horses
which have been fed nothing, but moistureless promises
on the revolutionary’s mustache
are winter, snow & blood drops
in yours truly
as-cool-&-clean-as-argent-snow nation

National Anthem 35

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National Anthem 35

the blizzard came
dressed as a military policeman
no, no!
the exact opposite is what I wanted to say
the incessant warning on the radio tells
every citizen to stay indoors
if one has to go out inevitably
one should keep a turkey brand brolly handy
since this is wartime
one has to play two parts
simultaneously —
the part of the living & the part of the departed
like scrawny horses
which have been fed nothing, but moistureless promises
on the revolutionary’s mustache
are winter, snow & blood drops
in yours truly
as-cool-&-clean-as-argent-snow nation

National Anthem 35

the blizzard came
dressed as a military policeman
no, no!
the exact opposite is what I wanted to say
the incessant warning on the radio tells
every citizen to stay indoors
if one has to go out inevitably
one should keep a turkey brand brolly handy
since this is wartime
one has to play two parts
simultaneously —
the part of the living & the part of the departed
like scrawny horses
which have been fed nothing, but moistureless promises
on the revolutionary’s mustache
are winter, snow & blood drops
in yours truly
as-cool-&-clean-as-argent-snow nation
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