Tag: laos (page 5 of 5)

The Gums of Vientiane

standing at attention
a column of white gums
awaits its commander’s
final orders – over the top!
down the embankment!
secure all garden plots
& fish traps! then down
the mekhong we go –
all in a row sir yes sir
drowning at attention sir
ye loyal diggers /saplings
planted when? & for
what strange reason?
in dust-blown vientiane
in the service of her majesty
ye brave snow-white gums
form a levee – but for how
long can you hold back this
determined tide of change?

Glossary

baht (t): thai unit of currency (in 1999 1 baht= AUD 0.25)

chao le (t): sea gypsies

chao phraya (t): the river that flows through bangkok

cock & football (l): a lao brand of rolling papers

farang (t): any western (read: white) person or tourist

karen (t): one of the indigenous hill tribes of northern thailand & burma

khob khun khrap (t): “thankyou very much”

kip (l): lao unit of currency (in 1999 AUD 1= 4000 kip)

soi (t & l): lane

stupa (t & l): pointed dome on buddhist temples

takraw (t): thailand’s national game, a cross between beach volleyball & soccer

thanon (t & l): street

thao rai (t): “how much?”

tuk-tuk (t & l): small three-wheeled taxi

wat (t): a buddhist temple