Together

                  Together

            A poem by George of Thailand

              For Chang and Eng of Siam

Together,                                        

Joined from before birth,

Separated only by death,

You,

Chang and Eng,

The original Siamese twins,

Never left each other’s side:

Don’t we all long for

Such a life companion?

Be careful what you wish for!

Together

You fathered 21 children,

Chang 11, Eng 10,

Chang’s children had their mother

Eng’s children had their mother,

Separate mothers,

Mothers who were sisters!

Together

You toured the whole world;

You who were born

Poor in a small Thai village becoming

Rich Southern Gentlemen Farmers,

Plantation and slave owners in

North Carolina.

Together

You became poor again,

Losing your slaves

In a war between peoples

Who wanted to separate

Just as you did.

Together

You died,

On the same day,

At the same hour:

You, Chang, of natural causes,

Followed by

You, Eng,

Who on seeing your dead twin,

Died, some say, of fright.

Scared to death, indeed!

When first I learned of this,

My reaction was:

Not of fright but of love!

I’m such a romantic!

Now, many years later,

Eleven years older than you,

Chang and Eng

When you died,

Separated from my twin

These 22 years,

I too believe you, Eng,

Died of fright.

Together,

Oh, so very much

Together for 62 years,

The mere thought of

Living alone,

A Lone Twin,

Scared you to death.

Together,                                                         

We, Jimmy and Georgie,

Thank you

Khop khun krap!

For being not afraid

To die

Together.

July 23, 2011