Eye-Glasses

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Phnom Penh, 1976

I throw away my glasses lest I die.
Can you wear glasses safely where you are?
Here, Khmer Rouge are killing the bourgeoisie.

Glasses mean books, which mean modernity,
which means the power to question those in power.
I throw away my glasses lest I die.

If I don't squint and act as if I see,
I may escape the guardians of the pure.
Khmer Rouge are murdering the bourgeoisie.

There's politics in wearing glasses. Why
not? The world's gone mad. Not yours? Are you sure?
I throw away my glasses lest I die.

To hide a university degree,
I simply render everything a blur.
Khmer Rouge are rooting out the bourgeoisie.

You're free to wear glasses? What a luxury!
So read a book while you can. I'll play laborer
and throw away my glasses lest I die.
Here, Khmer Rouge are killing the bourgeoisie.