A Parental Duty Duly Done

Dr Maung Maung Nyo

Once in a life’s time
A father’s pride a mother’s joy
Marriage of Ei to Aung signed
We celebrated it in style.

It was the 31^st of December
Cold only in the early hours
Otherwise as hot as equator
We were sweating in the parlour.

We’ve been sweating since day 18
When arrived from far away Kuching
As we hustled for every thing
From delivering gifts to seeing
Friends and elders near and dear to us
We invited them to the reception, ”a must”.

Bride and groom saw us several times
Asking this and that to determine
Whether their dresses are good
Whether the cut and color will suit
Marriage ceremony and background
They were excited and thrills abound.

Groom’s parents invited us too
To measure and wear the dresses due
To be worn at the marriage ceremony
Parents of both sides wearing similarly
Mother and mother, father and father equal
It’s to denote the union of two families as fair.

So we have been used up
Going about in several suburbs
Talking with old friends and staff
Paying homage to the elders en mass
Attending the lunch and dinner parties
We really have no time to stand and study.

However, on the morning of marriage
Many invited friends came in entourage
Tekkatho Sein Tin was the first to arrive
Followed by the golfers of groom’s side
Energetic engineers exchanging enthusiasm
They wished bride and groom in eternal union.

Then come the doctor crowd
Greeting each other aloud
Wishing the newly wed a blissful life
They greeted us as student like.

First Dean of IM2 Colonel Ko Ko Gyi arrived
With Mya Mya Sein, his brave and beautiful wife
He was over 84 years of age and still going strong
We thanked him profusely for coming along.

Later Rector of IM2 U Myo Thwe and wife
Also came to grace the ceremonial rite
So was Dr Thein Nyunt or Nyunt Wai, Katha
He has not been well with early throat cancer
He is like brother to me and bride’s godfather
He loves as his own our two daughters.

The octogenarian author Paragu appeared
With his cane and a companion follower
He said Ei is like his own granddaughter
He could not miss the occasion for any order.

Retired minister Colonel Win Tin
Accompanied by his wife Ni Ni Tin
Graced the occasion with pleasure
They're glad to see Ei in bride's attire.

Bride and groom walked down the stair stand
Accompanied by bridesmaids and best men
Friends and spectators applauded with smiles
A hotel guest exclaimed the scene so fine
He requested to take a photograph with him
We all consented, commented and posed with grin.

Bride and groom walked to the door again
They stopped in front of a mounted frame
It was Dagon Taryar’s poem written fresh
Hailing their marriage and wishing success
He is now 91 years of age still able to write
It’s great omen for Ei and Aung’s life.

When Ei and Aung walked the aisle
All the guests greeted them with smiles
They said bride was beautiful and bright
Groom was fortunate to have her for life.

Master of Ceremony started the occasion
By reading the names of newly weds and relations
Then, Nyunt Maung San ad wife graced it
By exchanging the rings and bouquets mix
To bride and groom as a sign of bliss
The ceremony was declared finis.

Food was then served systematically
A new Chinese menu cooked authentically
Pork fish and chicken mix
Guests had to eat with chop sticks.

The ceremony and dinner ended without a hitch
It took exactly two hours from start to finish
Bride groom and their parents were glad
Long awaited ceremony has thus ended
They now have time to rest and relax
They may now go about to refresh.

Marriage of a progeny is a parental duty
One has to perform it duly
“Men may come and men may go”
But marriage goes on for ever or so
We are glad we have fulfilled our duty well
Ei is satisfied and to her children she’ll surely tell!

Dr Maung Maung Nyo
18.2.2010 (original)