earth note 687

koh samui, 1989

it had rained a rainforest

the night before

thatched roof holding on

mosquito netting stretching over

the bungalow windows

for a sunday daybreak

all was quiet

tide washing up a steep pitch

channels in the sand

dark by dim light

i had thought it before

but never said it

     i was alone

     but not lonely

today would be a challenge

i would bicycle one and a half times

around the koh samui ring road

before the last speedboat of the day

left for surat thani

heat and rising water droplets

     breathing

from the hin lat falls

would bear witness

tuk-tuks would buzz all day

european and aussie tourists

would sing and gather on the beach

like in a quest of discovery

a farmer would pump up his bicycle tires

load his full weight in bananas

turn away from the sun

roll over the hills toward the port

     draped in a sweet smell of mango

--- e b bortz