Lee Crowell - Cambodia

I dream of Cambodia
of white tusked elephants
plodding through your plains
of tigers and panthers lurking regal in green leaved brush
among blazing colored birds
exotic as can be conceived
I dream of coned shaped towers atop Angkor Wat
greatest temple in the world
home for all Khmer
the refuge of the people

Cambodia, Cambodia
let me taste from the bowl of your sweetest rice
and relish the fruits of your land
I dream of a walk under your monsoon sky
and I drink the soul of your rains
while the Cambodian tears gently pelt
the numbers to the ground

and I dream of the many numbers
of those who were cut down
of those who were denied their lives
of the expressions of confusion
and the need to understand
the unfolding
the inexplicable Cambodian tragedy

I dream of Cambodia
of life beyond 'brother number one'
the quarter of your brothers and sisters discarded
I am on my knees
and I feel the warmth of trust
renewed in your land
home of the great Khmer

Lee Crowell

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/cambodia/