This tribute appeared on DeseretNews.com (April 2008) following the funeral for Hser Ner Moo aka "Monkey". We need to learn more about this Burmese diamond from Myanmar.
How Many More
From Thailand you came to US,
A flower from Asian dirt,
Refugee camp survivor,
Your smile outlasted the hurt.
How many more like you?
Strong parents and four brothers,
You made friends very fast,
Wore out a neighbor’s doorbell,
You made each Popsicle last!
I’m told they call you Monkey.
You learned to skate on soap!
Loved hamburgers and Fanta,
I bet you could jump rope…
How many more like you?!
You taught the other children,
Could have been an engineer.
We’ll celebrate your birthday,
And wish that you were here.
My son was born just after,
You came into this world.
We have a garden for you,
More pink to see and hold.
And now a painful question,
For the ones left behind:
How many more lives taken?
I feel I must remind-
The names will never leave us,
Debi, Danielle, Destiny…
Thousands of other Lights,
Snuffed out temporarily.
A wall around the flowers,
We must, we must protect!
But walls hide all the colors,
Gardens we cannot neglect.
Lost only for the season,
The truth about Hser Ner Moo:
We learned your name and of your life,
How many more now love you!
