LEADERS - not followers

Saturday, July 3, 2010

FORK IN THE ROAD

For Writers Island prompt #10 2010


ISAN MARKET DAY


















Twenty five miles of rice fields unfold
From fork to first traffic light
City limit, better watch your speed
Traffic cops are everywhere
Population, just sixteen thousand
Can’t find a parking space

Stop for roadside barbecued chicken
Stuffed full of lemon grass
One side order of sticky rice
Something wet to wash it down
Kafae ron; Doi Tung will do the trick
Served from a bicycle

Market stall holders open up now
Cuts of freshly-slaughtered beef
Pigs ears, trotters, noses, lips
Chickens, alive till sold
Just three types of chillies on the aisles
Yu-ak, chee far, khee noo

All that shopping sure makes a thirst rage
Cool drinks go down with the sun
Shophouse bar beer Chang on draught
At six point four ABV
Driver knocks back a pint of Red Bull
Won’t nod off at the wheel

Homeward; thirty five minute journey
Full beam to light the way
Step on the gas man, don’t slow down
Traffic cops’ day is done
Rewind twenty five miles of rice fields
Never a traffic light


Translations:
Kafae ron – hot coffee
Doi Tung – ‘Flag Mountain’, in Changrai province where coffee is produced
Yu Ak, Chee Far, Khee Noo – types of chilli
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26 comments:

  1. Gemma WisemanJuly 3, 2010 at 1:25 PM

    Love how the poem concludes by re-inventing the first thought! Beautifullly done!

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  2. rob kistnerJuly 3, 2010 at 3:07 PM

    Thanks for taking me to market Stan, what a wonderfully fascinating trip -- was well written and very engaging...

    ...rob

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  3. Stan SkiJuly 3, 2010 at 4:49 PM

    Yhanks to:
    GT; From one extreme to another, and back again.
    Rob; Always a good day out.

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  4. MarianneJuly 3, 2010 at 10:53 PM

    Life there sounds idyllic, although I wouldn't know what to do with "pigs ears, trotters, noses, lips!" A grand outing!

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  5. ElizabethJuly 3, 2010 at 11:06 PM

    You took each of us to this fork in the road, what a wonderful descriptive piece and gift. Thank you

    Elizabeth

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  6. Stan SkiJuly 3, 2010 at 11:15 PM

    Thanks to:
    Marianene; In a word - barbecue...!
    Elizabeth; That's what forks are for!

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  7. flaubertJuly 4, 2010 at 1:37 AM

    Stan sounds like a market trip I would like to go on!
    Pamela

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  8. Erin DavisJuly 4, 2010 at 2:40 AM

    Thanks for taking us along!

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  9. Stan SkiJuly 4, 2010 at 6:54 AM

    Thanks to:
    Pamela; 1st and 15th of every month are the 'big event' days.
    Erin; Thanks for the company!

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  10. MaryJuly 4, 2010 at 10:36 AM

    You've painted a vivid picture of the market. I'd pass on the noses and lips!

    http://inthecornerofmyeye.blogspot.com/2010/07/forks-in-road.html

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  11. Stan SkiJuly 4, 2010 at 10:45 AM

    Thanks Mary; Brains, intestines, congealed blood, and other unmentionable parts are also on display.

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  12. vivienne blakeJuly 4, 2010 at 2:52 PM

    What a great read, Stan. Took me a long way from here and had me drooling at times. My favourite bit of the pig is the cheek.
    ViV

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  13. anthonynorthJuly 4, 2010 at 3:47 PM

    You've captured this perfectly. I felt I was there.

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  14. Stan SkiJuly 4, 2010 at 4:55 PM

    Thanks to:
    ViV; Even though market had just opened, it seemed someone had already taken the choicest cuts.
    Anthony; Just twice a month - need the break after that Beer Chang!

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  15. Diane TJuly 4, 2010 at 10:26 PM

    I remember Singha beer but not Beer Chang.. which is better? Having spent time in Thailand, I can picture this well! Great description!

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  16. Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis HallJuly 4, 2010 at 10:55 PM

    http://itistimetothinkformyself.blogspot.com/2010/07/jingles-july-follower-awards-happy-4th.html

    Please pick 2 to 5 awards from the post.
    Enjoy the fun!
    Smiles!

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousJuly 5, 2010 at 2:39 AM

    like this fork in the road... especially so the 25 mile theme from there and back

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  18. Stan SkiJuly 5, 2010 at 6:08 AM

    Thanks to:
    Diane; For me, it's Chang, which has more flavour and is less gassy.
    Jingle; I'll check it out.
    Pieceofpie; Not totally unpopulated, but mainly open countryside.

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  19. WeaselJuly 5, 2010 at 6:52 AM

    Some of the meats in this piece reminds of a Michocana (meat market chain) not too far away from my area. A wonderfully written piece!

    -Weasel

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  20. Stan SkiJuly 5, 2010 at 7:10 AM

    Thanks Weasel; The beef is sold the day it's slaughtered - no hanging or ageing.
    The pig parts are popular because they're so cheap.

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  21. UmaJuly 5, 2010 at 1:58 PM

    Loved the drive through the rice fields.

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  22. Stan SkiJuly 5, 2010 at 5:45 PM

    Thanks Uma; On the back of a pick-up; the only way to travel...

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  23. RobinJuly 7, 2010 at 3:01 AM

    Wonderfully sensory! I'd love to be on that road trip!

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  24. Stan SkiJuly 7, 2010 at 1:28 PM

    Thanks Robin. I've done it a hundred times - each time is different.

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  25. totomaiJuly 8, 2010 at 10:27 PM

    pay day? very thai setting. i really e njoyed my road trips in thai too

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  26. Stan SkiJuly 9, 2010 at 8:21 AM

    Thanks Totomai; Could be right about pay day. I've seen similar scenes all over the country.

    ReplyDelete

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