Sabaydii,

 

Here is the continuation of a series ‘Coming home’ entitled ‘just anything to read’

 

Hakphaang,

 

At the end of Samsenthai road

Where Luangprabang road began

My eyes met a building

Once held many books

I was itching to read

 

Remember

I walked by

Counting the money at hand

Knowing full well

I didn’t have enough

 

With my tired eyes

I could only look

Wondering what gem

Lying inside those pages

 

No less dramatic

Many a time I frequented

The flea market by the movie theater

Audience Rama

A place where I could buy

Cheap books

And old magazines

 

Many people short of money

Sold their belongings books included

Once in a while

I would run into a book

Or a magazine

Good enough to nourish my soul

Extending my life breath

And fortifying my belief

In the goodness of human being

 

Walking down this road again

After so many years of apart

I saw myself reflected in a young boy

Holding on to a book

He couldn’t afford

 

Would this be another me in the new Laos?

Only time will tell

 

10.1.03