Category: Publication

by Hla Min

Updated : September 2026

• The poem was written to honor the Sarsodaws (Writers) who struggled for Burma’s Independence.
• It was published in the Forward Magazine.
• Taw Hlan Yay (Resistance) is celebrated on March 27.
  It was later renamed as Armed Forces Day (to downplay the participation from all walks of life).
• Independence Day is celebrated on January 4.
  It is still unclear why 4:20 AM was chosen to replace the Union Jack with the Union Flag.

by Hla Min

Updated : September 2026

Element of Poetry

• Rhyme (or Kar Yan ကာရန်) is an essential element of Poetry.

Outer Rhyme

• In most English poems, the end of specific lines rhyme. Some Burmese will call them “Ah Pyin Kar Yan အပြင်ကာရန်”(Outer Rhyme).

Rhyming Patterns

• A B A B
  (where the first and third lines rhyme & the second and fourth lines rhyme).
• A B B A
  (where the first and fourth lines rhyme & the second and third lines rhyme).

Rhyming Dictionary

• I received “The Rhyming Dictionary” for taking part in the Debate held by RIT English Association.
• Sayas Des Rodgers, Sao Kan Gyi (GBNF) and U Khin were the judges.
• I gave the book to my mentor Ashin Ananda (Laureate Poet).

Inner Rhyme

Most Burmese poems use the “Ah Twin Kar Yan အတွင်းကာရန်” (Inner Rhyme).

For example,

o o o x
o o x o
o x o o
x o o y
o o y o

…

• The first rhyme (x) starts with the 4th position in the first line. It moves to the 3rd position in the second line, then to the 2nd position in the third line, and finally hits the 1st position in the fourth line.

• A second rhyme (y) can be started in the line where the first rhyme ended.

Differences in Style

• Some poets have their opinions & preferences. They may not strictly follow the rhyming rules. A few tend to use rhymes sparsely or not at all claiming that rhythm and ideas are sufficient ingredients of a Kabyar (poem).
• Dr. Nyunt Wai (Victor, SPHS63) wrote that moderate use of Kar Yan ကာရန် is acceptable, but excessive use of Kar Yan can transform a verse or poem into Ah Kar Ah Yan အကာ အရံ (secondary).

by Hla Min

Updated : September 2026

• Men On The Moon
  In honor of Apollo 11 mission in July 1969
• The Apostle of Non-violence
  For the Centennial of Mahatma Gandhi
• To The Fallen Warrior
  Scholars who fought for Burma’s Independence
• The Ngapali Beach
  Vacation with friends
  Vacation with family
  Guest lecturer at Shwe Wah Gyaing Luyechun Camp in 1988
• The Phaungdaw-u Festival
  Inlay Khaung Daing Luyechun Camp in `1964
  Vacation with friends
  Vacation with family
• SAYA PUZAW PWE
  Written for the First RIT Grand Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe in San Francisco in October 2000
• HTAY LWIN NYO
  Written for an alumnus of RIT and UCC who passed away unexpectedly in San Jose, California

Men On The Moon
by Hla Min

The Eagle made a soft descent
And perfect rendezvous
Does not the module represent
A fantasy come true

To travel through that cold void space
To have that faith in science
To face death squarely in the face
Yes, man acted with defiance

Man set foot on an alien world
In July Sixty Nine
That small step from the bravest man
Was a giant leap for mankind

The walk in one sixth gravity
Rock samples from the moon
Three men who spoke with brevity
For science what a boon

No event can ever equal
That sublime unique mission
The Apollo’s triumph will make the people
Extend their own vision

Are we not brothers here on earth
So let us all unit
There will be heaven here on earth
If we all cease to fight

The Apostle Of Non-violence
By Hla Min

A man of true principle
With spirit invincible
He sacrificed his pleasures
Faith and freedom were his treasures

No arms did he carry
No threats made him tarry
No torture or prison
Could change his decision

He led all protests
Despite threats and arrests
All races and creeds
Revered his deed

He could not see his dreams come true
The whole world grieves his loss too
Though he cared not for fame
His name will indeed remain
In history, O Great Gandhiji

To The Fallen Warrior
By Hla Min

You fought your foes not with your bows
But with a mighty pen
You sang a song and made us long
To free this sacred land

“Look at the colonialist tyrants
They’ve made a living hell
Let’s drive these murderous giants
Brothers, fight and rebel

If you have faith in the Lone Star
Against the red background
I say Independence will not be too far”
Why your advice was too sound

But you died somewhere on duty
Before Burma blossomed in dawn
So you could not share the real beauty
Of freedom now that you’re gone

The Ngapali Beach
By Hla Min

The intriguing splendor of the East
Where the soft wind melts your heart
Where lavish nature gives you a feast
And a truly cool refreshing bath

Mountainous tides roll in like thunder
Then lie helpless on the shore
Fishing boats rush out all set to plunder
The ocean’s unending store

To sit under a shady palm
To drink a cup of juicy milk
To see the raging waters turn
Into undulating silk

A variety of multi-colored shells
Lay on the fine grain sand
No place on earth can match the spell
Of this enchanted strand

The luring dragons bid you “Welcome”
To this real paradise
There’s lots of fun, excitement, beauty
What’s more there left to advertise?

The Phaungdaw-u Festival
By Hla Min

Phaungdaw-u, oh Burma’s grandeur
Can truly make our hearts sublime
Its mystic charm and rhyme-less splendor
Have firmly stood the test of time

It lies deep in the heart of people
It gives them courage and inspiration
No wonder this festival has no equal
It promises joy and veneration

On board the Karaweik so scintillating
Stood the four images of Lord Buddha
For the Noble Truth are we vindicating?
What lies deep under the completed tour?

But one statue was left behind
Because in writings we do find
That should it ever leave the shrine
There will be thunder and storm
Thus a happy reunion on the morn of the full moon of Thadinkyut

From floating islands the leg rowers came
To take part in the race
With their muscular frame, with might and main
Their oars flashing at a rapid pace

Festivities last all night long
Dances to the company of ozi and gong
Oh, prayers that fill the cool evening air
May loving kindness prevail everywhere

SAYA PUZAW PWE
By Hla Min

Seems like it was only yesterday
At our alma mater in a land far away
You taught us to work, play, laugh, even cry
And coaxed us, forced us to aim for the sky

Problems in real life, lab, computation, survey
Understand concepts, design, display, …
Zeal, zest, ardor, grit, passion to make it “our day”
Architects, engineers, we’ve come here to say
We honor your metta, your cetana — we fully can’t repay

Presently we meet, alum from five decades we greet
With memories true, fond, sweet
Ecstatic yet sad that the GBNF could not join this memorable fete

HTAY LWIN NYO
By Hla Min

Tribute to Dr. HTAY LWIN NYO (ex-rit, ex-ucc)
Part-time Professor, EE, SJSU
(1951 July – 2000 April)

He was a genius, a researcher, a friend
Teaching was his passion to the very end
A jack of all trades, a doctorate of one
You name it, he knows it! there’s a lot he has done

Long ago he gave away a patent for a dollar
With a heart so big and true, real worthy of a scholar
Invest, movie script, cook, paint, car repair, …
Never showed off wealth and prizes; he’s a gem so rare

News of his death — alone at home — rocked throughout the land
Young, old were shocked, but they all flocked to give a helping hand
On this day in May of Y2K we pray from the bottom of our heart

“Htay Lwin Nyo, we’re proud to say
that though you’ve passed away
you’ve done a huge part
to unite kindred spirits
your legacy is here to stay.”

by Hla Min

Updated : September 2026

TEDx InyaLake

U Nay Oke (St. Paul’s) gave a talk on two poets — Minthuwun and his mother Daw Khin Saw Mu — at TEDx InyaLake in 2016.

Minthuwun (U Wun)

• Founded Khit San Sar Pay with Theikpan Maung Wa (ICS U Sein Tin) and Zawgyi (U Thein Han)
• Laureate Poet
• Author
• Lexicographer (Myanmar Abhidan, Burmese-Japanese Dictionary)
• Head, Translation Department, Rangoon University
• Professor, Burmese Department, Rangoon University
• Visiting Professor, Osaka University, Japan
  Collaborated with Professor Harada (Chit Mann Nwe)

Daw Khin Saw Mu

• Khit San Kabyar
• Statuette in “Bagyi Aung Nyar De” (short story)
• Siblings : ICS U Tin Tut, U Kyaw Myint, U Myint Thein, Dr. Htin Aung, Daw Khin Mya Mu, Daw Tin Saw Mu
• Spouse : ICS U Ba Tint
• Children : Daw Khin Saw Tint, U Nay Oke Tint

TEDx Talk

• Two Poets and their Legacy on Kabyar
• Main Characters from “Bagyi Aung Nyar De” : ICS U Tin Tut (Bagyi Aung), Minthuwun (Maung Chit), Daw Khin Saw Mu (Statuette), ICS U Ba Tint (Merchant / Buyer of Statuette)
• All four have passed away
• It’s time to debunk the myth about “Bagyi Aung”. Many thought that he was Dr. Htin Aung.