An evening in the fog by the beach
I wait in the garden, the mosquitoes trying to get a bite
whilst I try to photograph a blushing bird or two
but escaping by virtue of sharp eye and thought
the fungi on the base of extinct tree, a worm escaping
I try to photograph a small bird, the camera
from time to time retracting, without warning
the bird in self-defence eyeing a new joint to hang out in
a choice mansion, the bamboo tree
The Malay girls opposite are students, I think
with fasting-break bite grub in small hanging bag
come back on bike, baju kurung waving in the air
another woman, short sleeve, man go past on the desert track
With a dog in tow, scratching kerb grass, a pretty Chinese woman
greeting me, walking on in slight embarrassment, maybe
my son and comrades, bicycle cowboys, enjoying the zero-breeze
a group of young Malay men go by on taut motorcycle
I watch, through a gap in the palm tree
the setting sun winding up for the night, the filthy air, hazy, thick
here, where the half-light of the extinct evening might almost be gone
A fog in the evening by the beach
My wife came back with a bag of three eggs
I waited in the car in evaporating cheer
before she came out, complaining, a surprise, she was hot
it wasn’t just me who had a tough time
where heat and humidity throw out a beating exhaustion
Jalan Pantai, a gloom on sea, air, cars with lights on pre-7 pm
Malay group beginning to eat, under mock-mushroom umbrella
motor-bike in tow, a couple in love’s gaze
to Kuala Dungun, going in slow, air con moaning
the new and old buildings, the bright-lit Green Apple
burgers and chips no doubt, of generous ration
I, in ignorant prejudice, not having gone there
watching the workers, the absence of customer, then
in the Fuji shop, behind the counter, the mother of two
former young girl students.of mine, the dual-carriage traffic-bare
check on absent progress of daughter’s French book
which is why she is out now 22 07
along Jalan Paka of empty restaurant, although the Pattani
a Thai-Malay, was full, a popular place, others inferior
a small portion of customer, watery table, undercooked chair
through narrow lane near-collision motorcycle race
yet another cold night at this juncture,
yet another Hamburg cold beer, on high
here, where the half-light of the extinct evening might almost be gone
