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
I really like this including the interruption of footsteps in the middle. It really works.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan :)
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