MONKS OF PEACE

 

Monks of peace, saffron robed

March with quiet dignity

Arm in arm with their countrymen

Marching for democracy

Joy written on every face

As they march to free Burma

From military dictatorship

 

Monks of peace, saffron robed

March to end the tyranny

Cheered loudly by the people

In the face of western hypocrisy

As they march to free Burma

From Than Shwe’s vicious regime

 

Monks of peace, saffron robed

March with quiet dignity

Marching for Aung Aan Suu Kyi

Hope in every heart

As they march to free Burma

From an unjust government

 

Then the peace is violently shattered

Tear gas grenades explode

And laughter turns to screams

Joy to terror

Hope to despair

Shots ring out

Volley fire over head

Then soldiers approach 

Rattan batons in hand

Monks of peace, saffron robed

Stagger with bloodied skulls

Saffron stained with blood

Fear etched on every face

Screams ring out

As people run for safety

Before the Army’s advance

 

Monks of peace, saffron robed

March on with determination

Until the peace is shattered again

By rifles crack

And in the echoing percussion

Monks of peace lay dead

The peaceful to rest in peace

While tyrants live to kill again

And the west looks on in shame