The True Outlook

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Introductory Note
Poet Ngwe Tar Yi (Daw Khin Yi) (16 February 1925-19 March 1958) passed away at Dufferin Women’s Hospital (as it was then called) a day after giving birth to her and her husband, poet Min Yu Wai’s (26 October 1929-29 July 2021) only child – a girl. Their only child, Dr Khin Yi Win (born 18 March 1958), became a Professor of Myanmar. In September 2025, Dr Khin Yi Win (Thamee Ngwe Tar Yi, daughter of Ngwe Tar Yi)  arranged to publish a commemorative volume on the occasion of her mother’s 100th birthday. About 30 articles, belles lettres, poems to commemorate Ngwe Tar Yi’s literary works written by various scholars, poets and writers between 1946 and 2024 were reproduced in the commemorative volume. On page 25 of the commemorative volume, Min Yu Way reproduced the belles lettres written by his wife Ngwe Tar Yi on the hospital bed a few days before she passed away. The last literary product of the esteemed poet and writer may or may not have been translated by others. I am not aware of any.  This is my own translation, and I do so to commemorate the 68th anniversary of Ngwe Tar Yi’s passing.
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Start  of translation
The majestic moon shines inside my body. But my blinded eyes cannot see that moon.
Just as the moon resides in my body, the majestic sun likewise does so.
The drum that automatically makes sound without being struck reverberates inside my body. But, Oh, my deafened ears cannot hear them.
Until humans let go of all the ‘I’, ‘this is mine’ clinging, all the tasks they have done will come to nought.
Only when the clinging, the craving ‘me’ ‘mine’ ceases, the noble person’s task will be completed.
Only that task, that effort, can bring forth the correct outlook.
As soon as the correct  outlook is adopted, the task indeed comes to completion
End of translation  

By Ngwe Tar Yi

Translated by Myint Zan

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Control smoke haze and air pollution as national responsibilities
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Prevent transboundary haze air pollution
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