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I wrote this today at lunch...Its a little story/poem with a bit of sadness, success of a village Nak Muay....
I hope you can read it like a poem to understand it...if not thanks for reading and hope I havent wasted too much of your time.
Orchids and Oil
Our land she bears no fruit
and the crop will now fall,
middlemen and markets
don?t wait on idol stalls.
If I do not rise and leave
then I know my sister will,
to close her eyes and lose her pride
so we can pay the bill.
The blessed monk he sees me
before my Wai to all,
The train it takes me near to hear
the stadiums eternal call.
Bangkok lights sting my eyes
with the poisoned tuk tuk air.
As I wipe my eyes with my family?s hope
on these shoulders I now bare.
The baht it weighs heavy
in the hot in Lumpinee air,
I step the rope like a champion
as only champions dare.
I dance to the rhythm
of the sacred step.
I remember my Kru
and knowledge
which I have always kept.
When he gave it to me
to honour our proud past
I promised to give it too
and in our peoples it will last.
The moth it flies high
to kiss the stadium light,
I Nak Muay
now stand ready to fight
The ringing bell calls us
to our deadly embrace
who was once my Thai brother
now an enemy I must face.
Two scorpions we dance
like a violent sweet ballet
crowds urge me forward
to snatch victory away,
As we move to tunes
of the ancient song
The sok reigns down on me
I see my Mongkon
Blessed it protects me
from the stings of 3000 years
I must rise and fight
to save my family?s tears.
The chess game it ends
with our last fierce embrace
His flesh it gives way
to a 100mph pace.
A quick glance to him laying
With that frozen broken stare
I feel for his family
as their cupboards will stay bare.
The crowd now chant my name
for this primal deed I?ve done
I?ve earned them many riches
I?m now a stadium son.
A smiling old man collects baht
as he did not guess,
he recognized Muay Lek
in our violent game of chess.
I now return home
to expel all hollow fear,
the money I have bled
will keep us til next year,
My sister stays pure and clean
and will have her wedding day,
Forever she remembers my sacrifice
as we grow old and grey.
As the Siam moon she turns
our gods have taken my best years,
I can?t go on forever
or risk the stadiums jeers.
The crowds will no longer love me
if I cannot win their hearts,
but baht and bet have entwined
and enslaved this noble art.
So if when you see me in the field
or stamp the blooded mat,
Know my name forever
on this mortal coil
as forever I stay chained???
by orchids and oil.
By
Wayne Byrne
Muay Thai student
Dublin
Ireland
I hope you can read it like a poem to understand it...if not thanks for reading and hope I havent wasted too much of your time.
Orchids and Oil
Our land she bears no fruit
and the crop will now fall,
middlemen and markets
don?t wait on idol stalls.
If I do not rise and leave
then I know my sister will,
to close her eyes and lose her pride
so we can pay the bill.
The blessed monk he sees me
before my Wai to all,
The train it takes me near to hear
the stadiums eternal call.
Bangkok lights sting my eyes
with the poisoned tuk tuk air.
As I wipe my eyes with my family?s hope
on these shoulders I now bare.
The baht it weighs heavy
in the hot in Lumpinee air,
I step the rope like a champion
as only champions dare.
I dance to the rhythm
of the sacred step.
I remember my Kru
and knowledge
which I have always kept.
When he gave it to me
to honour our proud past
I promised to give it too
and in our peoples it will last.
The moth it flies high
to kiss the stadium light,
I Nak Muay
now stand ready to fight
The ringing bell calls us
to our deadly embrace
who was once my Thai brother
now an enemy I must face.
Two scorpions we dance
like a violent sweet ballet
crowds urge me forward
to snatch victory away,
As we move to tunes
of the ancient song
The sok reigns down on me
I see my Mongkon
Blessed it protects me
from the stings of 3000 years
I must rise and fight
to save my family?s tears.
The chess game it ends
with our last fierce embrace
His flesh it gives way
to a 100mph pace.
A quick glance to him laying
With that frozen broken stare
I feel for his family
as their cupboards will stay bare.
The crowd now chant my name
for this primal deed I?ve done
I?ve earned them many riches
I?m now a stadium son.
A smiling old man collects baht
as he did not guess,
he recognized Muay Lek
in our violent game of chess.
I now return home
to expel all hollow fear,
the money I have bled
will keep us til next year,
My sister stays pure and clean
and will have her wedding day,
Forever she remembers my sacrifice
as we grow old and grey.
As the Siam moon she turns
our gods have taken my best years,
I can?t go on forever
or risk the stadiums jeers.
The crowds will no longer love me
if I cannot win their hearts,
but baht and bet have entwined
and enslaved this noble art.
So if when you see me in the field
or stamp the blooded mat,
Know my name forever
on this mortal coil
as forever I stay chained???
by orchids and oil.
By
Wayne Byrne
Muay Thai student
Dublin
Ireland
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