A poem by Sarith Pou in Corpse Watching
No religious rituals,
No religious symbols,
No fortune tellers,
No traditional healers,
No paying respect to elders,
No social status, No titles.
No education, No training,
No school, No learning,
No books, No library,
No science, No technology,
No pens, No paper.
No currency, No bartering,
No buying, No selling,
No begging, No giving,
No purses, No wallets.
No human rights, No liberty,
No courts, No judges,
No laws, No attorneys.
No communication,
No public transportation,
No private transportation,
No traveling, No mailing,
No inviting, No visiting,
No faxes, No telephones.
No social gatherings,
No chitchatting,
No jokes, No laughter,
No music, No dancing.
No romance, No flirting,
No fornication, No dating,
No wet dreaming,
No masturbating,
No naked sleepers,
No bathers,
No nakedness in showers,
No love songs, No love letters,
No affection.
No marrying, No divorcing,
No martial conflicts, No fighting,
No profanity, No cursing.
No shoes, No sandals,
No toothbrushes, No razors,
No combs, No mirrors,
No lotion, No make up,
No long hair, No braids,
No jewelry.
No soap, No detergent, No shampoo,
No knitting, No embroidering,
No colored clothes, except black.
No styles, except pajamas,
No wine, No palm sap hooch,
No lighters, No cigarettes,
No morning coffee, No afternoon tea,
No snacks, No desserts,
No breakfast [sometimes no dinner].
No mercy, No forgiveness,
No regret, No remorse,
No second chances, no excuses,
No complaints, No grievances,
No help, No favors,
No eyeglasses, No dental treatment,
No vaccines, No medicines,
No hospitals, No doctors,
No disabilities, No social diseases,
No tuberculosis, No leprosy.
No kites, No marbles, No rubber bands,
No cookies, No popsicle, No candy,
No playing, No toys,
No lullabies,
No rest, No vacations,
No holidays, No weekends,
No games, No sports,
No staying up late,
No newspapers.
No radio, No TV,
No drawing, No painting,
No pets, No pictures,
No electricity, No oil lamp,
No clocks, No watches.
No hope, No life,
A third of the people did not survive,
The regime died.
