Cornered in a park
hours into living
on this side of the world
students ask to practice
their English
I said What is the most beautiful thing
in this country? the young man
answers first The ow yai
the traditional dress that goes like this
and he showed me with his hands how it’s cut
up the leg
I said But I mean like a place?
and the girls suggest a town
in the mountains
All the teachers wear them except one[1] and
in pairs they cross the school’s courtyard
weaving between
regiments of students
lining up for class
long silk tunics trailing
bold prints and floral patterns
behind them
[1]Twee says Some people say
the ow yai is the best national dress
better than the Malaysia or Japan or Korea or do do do do
because if you have a nice body it will show it. But
some people say it is the worst
because if you have a bad body
she finishes her sentence with a nod
and a wave
The high school uniform for young men is a short sleeved shirt and slacks
Young women wear the ow yai[2]
Nervous though she shouldn’t be
One is fidgeting with her tunic
I ask What do you hope to do?
She says I hope to
wraps her fists up in tunic
To become
unfurls the the white silk
A petroleum engineer
and gets a perfect score
she smooths her ow yai
drapes it over her knees
Yes. To make a lot of money
[2]Twee likes them all white
I ask Like a student’s?
she nods and I say I think that with black pants
looks nice
Oh. she says They wear that in the west
really!
Because they take boats to school
so they will get dirty
The text book asks Is your country
more traditional or modern?
and Mr. John says Traditional
I think so. Yes.
Women side straddle on motorbikes
in tight skirts and cute helmets
designed to keep their hair in place
even the ow yai belies his choice
to me[3]
I ask Really?
[3]Twee says That is called the magical triangle
Looking through her fingers and thumbs with one eye
at me Or mystical? Emotional? I don’t know
waves the little shape away
The cut of the tunic
and trousers waist
don’t meet but frame
a bit of skin
on the woman’s side
about the size of a nose
At Lunar New Year Twee’s sister says
In the city the market women saw my mother and said
Oh. We have heard about the ow ba ba but never seen one
And she wears it in all the pictures
standing next to Twee who’s
for the first time that I’ve seen
wearing an ow yai
and I on her other side am thinking of
that young man in the park
###
hours into living
on this side of the world
students ask to practice
their English
I said What is the most beautiful thing
in this country? the young man
answers first The ow yai
the traditional dress that goes like this
and he showed me with his hands how it’s cut
up the leg
I said But I mean like a place?
and the girls suggest a town
in the mountains
All the teachers wear them except one[1] and
in pairs they cross the school’s courtyard
weaving between
regiments of students
lining up for class
long silk tunics trailing
bold prints and floral patterns
behind them
[1]Twee says Some people say
the ow yai is the best national dress
better than the Malaysia or Japan or Korea or do do do do
because if you have a nice body it will show it. But
some people say it is the worst
because if you have a bad body
she finishes her sentence with a nod
and a wave
The high school uniform for young men is a short sleeved shirt and slacks
Young women wear the ow yai[2]
Nervous though she shouldn’t be
One is fidgeting with her tunic
I ask What do you hope to do?
She says I hope to
wraps her fists up in tunic
To become
unfurls the the white silk
A petroleum engineer
and gets a perfect score
she smooths her ow yai
drapes it over her knees
Yes. To make a lot of money
[2]Twee likes them all white
I ask Like a student’s?
she nods and I say I think that with black pants
looks nice
Oh. she says They wear that in the west
really!
Because they take boats to school
so they will get dirty
The text book asks Is your country
more traditional or modern?
and Mr. John says Traditional
I think so. Yes.
Women side straddle on motorbikes
in tight skirts and cute helmets
designed to keep their hair in place
even the ow yai belies his choice
to me[3]
I ask Really?
[3]Twee says That is called the magical triangle
Looking through her fingers and thumbs with one eye
at me Or mystical? Emotional? I don’t know
waves the little shape away
The cut of the tunic
and trousers waist
don’t meet but frame
a bit of skin
on the woman’s side
about the size of a nose
At Lunar New Year Twee’s sister says
In the city the market women saw my mother and said
Oh. We have heard about the ow ba ba but never seen one
And she wears it in all the pictures
standing next to Twee who’s
for the first time that I’ve seen
wearing an ow yai
and I on her other side am thinking of
that young man in the park
###
