We went out after the storm
and sat on the flat roof.
A few orchids in their pots
dripped in the moonlight.
We watched vultures
circle the floating market,
while Bangkok put on
its neon mask.
You said that your village was your heart,
not this city apartment,
a place where people
disappear into tomorrow.
On the train station platform
a deluge of rain and people.
Rain fell heavily.
I could not tell if you were crying
but I knew I would be,
even as the sunshine returned.
In life like Muay Thai,
We learn to keep punching,
Not to give up after we miss,
Become stronger after training.
Falling down, getting up,
Miss the punch, learn to defend.
Every pain, every sweat is growth.
The main thing is not the wins
It's not the one who never fell
But the one who gets up again and again.
The restaurant we like is far;
We wanted something closer.
To walk an extra mile or so?
My answer would be, “No, sir!”
I went to Google on my phone -
“Thai food” is what I’d enter -
But suddenly, “Thai Food Near Me”
Was listed, front and center.
The place looked good, the menu fine,
Until it tried to steer me
To a restaurant some mikes away;
I found out “Thai Food Near Me”
Is the name of the establishment,
A trick for those not knowing.
A simple check of the address
Confirmed we won’t be going.
Thai seafood is very tasty
Naturally by fishers hand
Fresh so well done little salty
Thai seafood is very tasty
Cheap price and so good quality
Their seafood so good like their land
Thai seafood is very tasty
Fast frying like using a wand.
Yoo--Hoo, ain't your time to play Pick-That-Guy,
You knew, thank your lucky stars, my oh, my,
No request, not even ask,
Careless, though just curious,
Masked male couple picked well, was mine, he's Thai.
Their eyes follow the slow grace
of each gesture.
Hands curl, flare, and flex,
a ballet of fluent fingertips.
Long nails as red as tongues
turn in a polished eloquence.
Delicate arms hold aloft
delicate hands,
wrists arabesque,
palms turn like pages.
You hear the voice of the hands,
see the song of the hands,
your feet shuffle wanting to emulate,
participate, relate,
but your own hands are in love and angry,
they cannot speak; for you missed
the moment
when these dancing women
became open flowers upon a flowing river.
Your clenched fists
are a kind of bare knuckled poetry,
one that only a sinuous water can read.
All you can do now
is watch the words that hands make
as if you were a mute stone
around which a river flows.
The green tea in its blue and white
porcelain tea cup is full of sunlight.
The dark eyed fortune teller’s
delicate hands
pass over the small cup -
swans skimming low
above a green pond.
“She will love you forever”
she says,
one pearlescent nail
tracing my life in the tea leaves.
Then:
“but you will never meet her.”
There’s this Thai food truck,
where everybody goes.
The food is really good,
I believe it has a soul.
Vibrations that you feel,
Will put your heart at ease.
Shumai and sticky rice,
brings you to your knees
Loving their guests,
With a joyful attitude.
In love with their craft,
As they cook with gratitude.
Inspirational beings.
Yes that's who they are.
Uplifting the guests,
Those near and far.
Treating us like family.
In a small alley tucked.
Crazy what I learned,
At this thai food truck.
6/5/2020
Sponsored by: Regina Riddle
Kindness Poetry Contest
We went out after the storm
and sat on the flat roof.
A few orchids in their pots
dripped in the moonlight.
We watched vultures
circle the floating market,
while Bangkok put on
its neon mask.
You said you would leave in the morning,
that your village was your heart,
not these apartment rooms,
this place where people
disappear into tomorrow.
On the station platform,
a deluge of rain and people.
The rain smashed into eyes
making it difficult to see
even to talk and embrace.
I could not tell if you were crying
but I knew I was, and would be
even in the sunshine.
Harvesting Festival
And thank giving celebration
Predominantly for farmers but all
People of Tamilnadu despite their religions, celebrate the
Year harvest festival when the sun starts its journey towards north horizon
The first day is celebrated as bogi in
Honor of Lord Indra and people burn old and unwanted things
And second day is Thai pongal,third day is Mattu pongal
In honor of cattle especially cows and bulls,4th day Kanum pongal
,where get together of families take place in a public spot
People celebrate pongal- 4 daylong festival
On Jan 14- The beginning of thai month
Nearly 90 out of 100 people in Tamlinadu celebrate
Gleefully by making a rice dish(sweet pongal) outdoor
And buying sugar cane and tamarinds,to
Light up farmers lives and to thank The Sun
Note:Pongal is a sweet dish made with rice ,jaggery and milk
Ladies used to draw Rangoli(kolam) on the streets
Traditional games like Jallikattu,cock fight,
uriyadi(using a pole when blindfolded to smash a hanging pot) are celebrated in the rural areas if Tamilnadu...
And when the pot of the milk boils over ,we shout PONGAL O PONGAL...
Thai By
This place gets under your skin. Slowly creeping in like black Texas gold. I said I'd never partake in the cat house girls. Seeing them each day for eighteen months was routine. Walking past the 'venues' to my shop. Usual hi's and hello's.
Then one fine humid day, bang! I happened. I changed. Cabin fever? I walked into Suzi's Place. I put my cash on the counter and grinded the mamasan first. Then her two daughters followed by every other girl in there. It took thirteen hours.
I totalled twenty eight girls. Most were nice. I can't tell my wife. My mate could, his wife's cool. Mine isn't. I'll say I was busy inking from dawn to dusk. I'm not sure what came over me. The Thai air got under my skin. That day tattooing could wait.
Maybe I'll do it again. Invite my wife and her toy boy. Did I say that people are strange here? I fit in well...
Ta Ta Ta Thai Thai Thai Thei Thei Thei Ya Ya Ya
©Rajat Kanti Chakrabarty, 10th November 2014
Ta Ta Ta Thai Thai Thai Thei Thei Thei Ya Ya Ya
Danced the prince of Ku and Princess Ki Ka Hu Hiya
They fell into a ditch
As black as preachy pitch
That’s the kick, brick and brick, cat and mouse, yea yea yea
Eight years of staying in a far away land
Looking for a greener pasture in the country of Thailand
Meeting people whom I call a friend
To be with them and my love extend
They are so loving and trusting
Help you if they can till the end
Show gratefulness like a sister/brother
Enjoy each other's company together
The friendship that I have with them
Many years will passed its still the same
Save it in my heart forever
My Thai friends, it will not be over
Thailand….land of smile they’ve called
It suits them ‘coz I like them all
Though I will leave them soon
I will always remember them just by looking at the moon
For PD's Contest
2nd Place Winner
Effective and tough
Made to get the job done fast
Beautiful and sweet
Thai fish festival
Frenzy fish, scent of monsoon
Smell feeds the frenzy
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