i remember there was a market
just beginning
as we left bangkok
stalls setting
up, streets
closing off

curb waiting
bus to ayutthaya
night arriving
storytelling
on the balcony
which in the morning
i discovered
was painted
peach

by the river
on steps
watching boats
at a table
drinking tea
birdcages
surrounding
looking
looking, trying
not to look

bicycles
past ruins
of stone, palaces
in grass
past lights
lighting trees
market, paying
with little stones

pink elephants
dressed up
we stole away
saw the show
from fields
for free
fireworks, shadows
of actors, a history
the old kingdom
of siam

mango sticky
rice on the side
of the road
got a ride
to ang thong
radio antenna
in air like
pencil lines
hotel corridors
mosquitoes
you are on the phone
to a friend named
lina

sing buri
someone, a kid
called his mother
a teacher, to help
translate
black marker
on cardboard
lines and shapes
new alphabet
someone, her cousin
drove us
to the next town

christmas eve
khlong khlung
7 eleven
taro buns
and rum, VIP
room, roadside
guesthouse

morning
petrol station
i remember
there were windmills
green and yellow
a bird sitting
on top
the yellow

back
of a red pick up
highway
then smaller
mountain roads
scarf around
cold wind
the driver
made a stop
bought us
corn

arriving in li
that curved arch
in shimmers
pillows outside
for prayer
looking for
rooms on backs
of scooters

we are almost
to chiang mai
i remember tall
fountain grass
a rhythm
of sunlight
passing through stems
from a car
window, back
seat closing
eyes once
twice
we are almost there-
to chiang mai