The sun beats down on his bare sunburnt neck
he scratches the scab on his arm
he balances in the battered basin - his toy, his joy,
his personal ride and pride
The lake is shallow this time of year
if he takes a spill he'll swim
woe if he tips over in the monsoon tide
for the swollen belly of the lake
could easily swallow a boy of six
could easily swallow a boy of six
this boy in the basin-boat
His mother and sibling ride with him
He waits for the next tourist boat
to bring some hope of change
change for his pocket with a hole
change on his father's face when he ceases to frown
when he sees what his son, barely five,
can net in from tourists that day.
His mother and sibling ride with him
in his father's old fishing boat
there's no fish to be caught these draught-laden months
so a-begging they will have to go;
a desperate mother in dire straights, a baffled baby
and the brave little boy with his slithery snake
and the brave little boy with his slithery snake
"A tip, a tip," their song they sing
"One doh-lar for skool." they chorus
one doh-lar for the snake-boy, the basin boy,
the child of the Tonle Sap.
the child of the Tonle Sap.
Click on Fresh Poets to Explore to link to Promising Poets' Cafe.
Incidental poet that I am
Accidental writer, insecure
Inexperienced, far from sure
of how to woo the words
Out of the closed doors
of my heart
Incidental poet that I am
Declaring, Here I am!
I nominate dreamingthruthetwilight for her poem "The forgotten tune"
Touching poem with great use of the occasional internal rhyme.
ReplyDeleteSo sad, the plight of some countries in the world when many in the west are so obese through gluttony. Hard hitting prose, and powerful in it's imagery without the need for the photgraph, and, sad. Good writing.
ReplyDeleteSoul Speak
This is a beautiful poem Rosie. Even in your subject's circumstance, you've capture beauty, joy, and love.
ReplyDeleteNice work!
Peggy
Serendipity Smiles
I felt as if I was witnessing the event. Lovely.
ReplyDeletevivid imagery, you have made it real to us.
ReplyDeleteHappy Rally.
A wonderful piece of work. Well written and so vivid. Love it!
ReplyDeleteWe ran into lots of these little boys in boats in Egypt. Always reminds me of the Little Match Girl, it's one of the reasons I give to UNICEF.
ReplyDeleteOh wow powerful imagery and such a sad sad state when children haven't the luxury of being children
ReplyDelete@ Jack Edwards Poetry, thanks for following. Am following you back. You've got lots of interesting for a follower to explore!
ReplyDeleteRosie@travel-i-tales
@ mindlovemisery, chromapoesy, Daydreamertoo - it is really sad, and people who have seen this understand. There are many volunteers in Siem Reap who do what they can...like a soup kitchen which opens 3 days a week to feed the children...
ReplyDelete@ Peggy, you are right there, the children have adapted to their life there, and that is home sweet home for them...fun and full of adventure
@ a-soaking-event-2, jingle poetry, Kim Nelson thank you for your kind comments.Love 'em, :-)
Rosie@travel-i-tales
Great imagery and lovely poetry. As I read the poem I actually felt as though I was there.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing :)
Genius! the combination of the visual with your words makes it even more powerful
ReplyDelete"change for his pocket with a hole
change on his father's face when he ceases to frown"
I love it! Well done, a really well deserved award