Rumdul

She was the belle of the kampong, before her swan song
She's reminiscent of a summer long gone
Of furtive glances, naive plans of marrying
Of stealing kisses underneath the frangipani tree
Timid in the street, but on her own, in fact candid
All about her fam', where respect is demanded
And she was askin' for little more than loyalty
And tenderness, in return you get treated like royalty
Fell for the farmer's son, well below her station
Rejected every suitor, till her father got impatient
They came from many places, to win this pearl of Asia
Her lips touched with rumdul, intoxicated fragrance
Fame is dangerous, fortune hunters come callin'
A strong sense of who she was stopped her fallin'
Still stallin', and despite her father's strong warnings
She rendezvoused with her lover before the light of morning

A Funanese diplomat, the first to take his chances
Gifted her an ivory necklace inscribed in Sanskrit
A rich Chenla gave Kouprey a breeding pair
Perfumed wood and a domesticated sun bear
Maintained her composure for the Javanese prince
But sensed devious motives and left unconvinced
Entertained a sailor from the Spanish merchant navy
Less interested in trading, more so in taking
A soldier from Siam, another from Vietnam
Who fought furiously and didn't care if she was harmed
A white knight from France vowed to protect her
But ultimately left her, to be disrespected
The American G.I. said her saviour was his callin'
But he bruised her even more than the abuser before him
Her thoughts turn again to the son of the farmer
And her heart breaks picturing him in the black pyjamas