Sabaydii,

 

Here is the continuation of a series ‘Coming home’ entitled ‘A young boy I met’

 

Hakphaang,

 

 

In front of Buasavanh movie theater

As I was to walk home

A young boy of maybe 14

Approached me for some changes

 

Curious to know

Why the boy of this young age

Became a beggar

As to speak

 

 

I made him tell his life story

For the little money

I could easily be parted with

 

Little by little

A fuller picture came

Dangling in front of my eyes

 

His dad once a construction worker

Broke his leg

And there went down

The income earner

 

As for his mom

A Lao from Isan[1]

With no skills whatsoever

Getting herself a career

Selling flowers

Not at a shop

But in front of Wat Simuang[2]

 

The boy himself

After primary school

Couldn’t afford to pay

For the rising fee

Public school it might be

Chose to drop out

After only a few months

In 7th grade

 

Still wanting to see with my own eyes

And not be taken as a fool

I took off with the boy

Past the old ministry[3]

I used to work

Past Wat PhaKeo[4]

And Wat Sisaket[5]

I intended to stop by one day

And past Mahosot hospital[6]

Where I was told

The poor was left

Dying for lack of money

 

There

Right in front of Wat Simuang

Stood a shack house

Made of any materials

Left unwanted at the junkyard

 

Now became a ‘house’

A place to shelter

For the family of four

 

With a gentle call

From a boy

A squeaky door opened

And there emerged

Three faces

 

Limping out

With a cane to support his body

was no one but his dad

another with a worried face

holding a baby

undoubtedly his mom

 

Enough for me on that one night

I took off

Leaving them

With a stack of ‘useless’ money

For a coconut drink

And a bouquet of lotus flowers

 

Much to be pondered over tonight

Hope I could sleep

In peace

If possible

 

8.21.03