Min Yu Wai - Good Luck and Good Luck

Brown-haired

The life of a grandmother is like an old tree trunk that you see in the summer. When spring comes, the leaves fall one by one, but the trunk remains alone. Similarly, her husband and children disappear from her sight one by one, but for her, she is still alone in this world.

Buk Nyo's real name is Daw Nyo. But many people call her Buk Nyo. Buk Nyo is now 89 years old. Her husband died about thirty years ago. It has been a long time since her seven children died. Buk Nyo now has only two grandchildren as relatives. However, they are also far away from Buk Nyo. One of them is a grandson who has gone to war. The girl is married in a faraway place. Therefore, Buk Nyo has to travel alone in this vast world. But Buk Nyo is not afraid. She thinks about the events of her childhood and sings the old songs she sang back then.

Buk Nyo was born in Mandalay's Laitgyi district. Buk Nyo was well-liked by King Mindon and King Thibaw. Buk Nyo was only 14 years old when King Mindon died. Buk Bo's father was a royal courtier. Her husband was a merchant. Buk Nyo lived in Mandalay for many years, and at the age of 35, she moved to Yangon with her husband and children, where there was a large trade. After living peacefully in Yangon for a few years, she finally lost her husband and children and her property. Therefore, Buk Nyo first lived in the Hninsigone old people's home for nine years. Now, she no longer lives in the old people's home, but lives in the house of a close friend.

Our house is quite close to the house where Grandma lives. I got to know Grandma through my wife. My wife was kind to the elderly Grandma and sometimes invited her to her house and gave her delicious food. In return, Grandma would give her money so that she could spend it however she wanted.

Whenever my grandmother came to our house, she would tell us about her adventures. She would also sing old songs she had sung when she was a child. My wife, feeling sorry for her, would say, “Mom, I’m tired. Don’t sing too much,” but she wouldn’t. “Oh, it’s okay, my daughter. Mom, these are songs that were sung before we were born, so I want to sing them so that you can hear them,” she would say, and she would sing them with great enthusiasm.

For me, finding Buk Nyo is like finding a large ancient music book. Buk Nyo's melodies are unique. They become unique to those who hear them, and they bring to mind paintings from ancient times that they have never seen before.

"Hle-so-hle-so-hle-maw, the golden land of the world."

On the side, the paddler - not yet paddled,

I believe in gold.

I'm the chosen one , I'll be waiting.

Don't come, Ma Phone Maw, Khaung Ka Kyaw

"The boatman, the fortune teller."

After listening to this song, Nyo often explained the contents of the song, saying, “The song I am singing now is the song of my father, my son. My father is a big man, with beautiful hair. He wears a flower scarf on top of that. He also wears a large, loose-fitting robe and a large, loose-fitting shirt. He sings it while rowing the royal boat with a group of boatmen. It is very pleasant to listen to.”

In addition, Nyo also sang “Ma Saw Bwe Lay Choe,” which he often sang as a child.

"The honor is not equal to the honor of the king,

Don't be pretentious,

It's hot and humid.

The secret of the difficult thread,

Please continue the greeting,

A difficult and difficult task,

The way Peter spoke was strong,

Don't spread silver on the ground,

(Hidden) Your Majesty.

Because I can't withdraw money from the peacock,

If we don't get along, we have to leave.

As gentle as a golden statue,

I posted it in 2 words.

Birth father,

Thinking, not seeing,

The original virgin, the noble one,

Because of my young, beloved mother's original beauty,

Ten years, oh, I can't get up,

I will cry, my dear friend, because my fate is in danger, I will be far from the virgin, (I will not see you) only to grow sad. . . ”

Regarding this poem, my grandmother told me this. When I was a child, I heard a story in the village that once in Sagaing, a young man named Ko Punya and a young woman named Ma Saw fell in love. However, Ko Punya was poor, so Ma Saw's father did not agree. He said that he would only pay if he could pave a golden road along the road to his house. Here, Ko Punya, who was guarding the place, composed this poem sarcastically.

Regarding the death of King Thibaw, Buk Nyo often recounts the long four-stringed instrument he had received when he was young. Buk Nyo was only 21 years old when King Thibaw died. Buk Nyo was one of those who shed tears at that time. The English took King Thibaw and his queen to Madras, and it is said that soon after the queen gave birth to another daughter. Here, a poet from Buk Nyo wrote the following poem, which Buk Nyo carefully memorized and sang.

"The moon is at the top of the Thiha Pyan Palace, the conference hall is open."

From the rich, the colorful silver coins, and other forms,

On the throne of the silver-and-gold-blossoming ruby.

The golden golden palace, the moon, the award

He is a man of many fortunes, and he dwells in safety and security.

The pitiful Nwe Maha, who was buried in Sitagu.

(The signs of the zodiac are the moon, rising.)

Bring it, people, who are very eager to please,

The one who brought it is different.

The two gods, who dwell in Madras,

The unfortunate queen,

Born after seeing the torch, (Amen)

I hear it again, the sorrow in my heart, the history of the dead

Oh, my dear, I have a letter from the great master, my dear.

The king's hand, the moon above the throne

For the two hidden gods, Tapu, Htee U Myin

Like Ranan, a man of rare beauty, a man of great virtue,

Two hearts will be saddened, (Oh,

You) don't ride a train in the land of the Black King.

Sapphire, topaz, sapphire, sika

The moon, two-faced, two-faced, across the great sea of ​​Rika

Come with me, I'm sorry,

Hurry to the Kalapana, (Venerable sir)

The two daughters of the Queen Mother, Suphaya,

(hidden) Aye-mya-mya San Ngwe-la-re, tunpa,

"Be clear, son."

Not only does Buk Nyo sing songs composed by others, but he also composes his own.)

“My mother didn’t marry her dead husband out of love, my son. She married him because the elders paid her. My mother’s love was for a Chinese girl living in Sagaing. My mother was 16 years old at the time. They had a secret love for each other, but my father didn’t agree to it because he was not a Burmese soldier, so she forced her to marry my husband, Ko Toe, who was adamant. After three years of this, my mother got married when she was 19. Ko Toe was a relative who came and went from my mother’s house often. My mother didn’t want to accept it, so one day before the wedding, she wrote a letter to him in a low tone, enough for him to hear.”

"How do you mix them, mother?" I asked curiously.

Then Grandma said,

"Is that a letter from your mother?"

Saying that

"The leaves of the sycamore tree,

The corner is a little bit dark,

Ma Shwe Nyo's house.

The sun is setting, the house is being built.

(Laughs) I won't take it," he said with a calm tone. Then he continued, "When Ko Toe heard that, he felt very sad. But the elders paid for it, so he had to take it. Even though they took it like that, at first there was no love, but as a son and daughter, he gradually developed love for his son. That's why when Ko Toe sold everything in the village, my mother missed him very much. One day, the rain became so heavy that she couldn't even water it. So my mother

With a flower pot and a pot of water,

I'll put a black one on so it doesn't get dirty.

I love my husband, I love him.

"I miss you so much..." he said, and I burst into tears. As I said this, I looked at Grandma carefully and saw that she was shedding tears.

"Every now and then, when the moon comes, I miss Ko Toe and my children so much," he continued, his voice trembling.

Grandma Nyo will walk the journey of life singing this little song. At this age, singing like this.......