Monday, September 12, 2016

Chrysogonus #43 - Uyon-uyon (lullaby)

Uyon-uyon
(lullaby)

in the kitchen, the radio
whispers a rhythm to me
the brass gong beats
brings me far back in time

back when the river
still splashed with youngsters
bamboo leaves and the breeze
whistling like a flute

from time to time flooding
and then a dry path where the river was
dead wind on barren pavement now
bamboo can no longer dance

still shadows in my mind come dancing
in the shape of a boy who sits
on top of his buffalo that swims
dry mud browning their skins

children bathing in the stream
run barefoot, crisp with laughter
flirt with flying foam
a poem in the sound and rhythm of

            nong
neng                                        gung
                                    nong
            neng
                                                neng

who even hears the lullaby now
who has the time to sleep?

all those were dreaming
now they have cars
now they have cash
now the land is asleep

the song remains
to the radio, celluloid and elsewhere
a lullaby from my land

that has fallen asleep

2 comments:

  1. I really like this including the interruption of footsteps in the middle. It really works.

    ReplyDelete

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