Near the Market

This was written while living in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Life there can be very very hard.

Hop stepping, stick agile
Faded kakhi pinned at knee
Disarmed, army cap at hand
"Som Loi"
Wheeling over comes a brother-in-arms
His unleg-ged twin
"Ngum Bai"

Road tax
Charity ground zero
Ground down I,
Heart hardened,
Tight fist the bank roll

Ruined, the Apsara girl
Dances past my eyes
Comatose cot case
Carried, craddled
Sunken eyed, skeletal skull
Her eyes
Three quarter closed

Hurry past
Look Foward
No small change at hand
For hopeless hands
Held out in hope


note:
Som loi = please, money
ngum bai = food "eat rice"