BURMESE DAZE

I HAD A DREAM THE OTHER NIGHT

THAT I WAS FALLING

A TIGER TIGER BURNING BRIGHT

IN THE HEART OF DARKNESS

AND THE DEVILS ON HORSEBACK RIDE OUT

IN THE GREY GREEN HEART OF DARKNESS

THE GHOSTLY HOMES OF BRITISH CIVIL SERVANTS

PROVIDE ROOM ENOUGH FOR MARBLED GIANTS

RED BRICK

SLATE ROOFED

EAVES AND GABLES

TOWERS AND PORCHES

WREATHED IN IVY LIKE EASTBOURNE

CLING TO THE EMPIRE

SECURE IN THE KNOWLEDGE

THAT HIGH ALTITUDES IMPROVE MORALS

COLD SHOWERS CRICKET AND GIN

ARE PROOF ENOUGH AGAINST THE OPIUM DREAM

THE DEVILS ON HORSEBACK RIDE OUT

LADIES LIKE MOTHS

DRESSED IN SILKS

BRUSH MARKED AGAINST THE EVENING SKY

NIGHT FLAMES

BHUDDA SMILES

AND THE DEVILS ON HORSEBACK RIDE OUT

CONSPICUOUS TRAVELLERS

NEW BLONDE GIANTS IN A MARBLED LAND

THE ONLY GUESTS IN A TWENTY ROOM BURMESE MANSION

LEAVE THEIR CAMERAS AND PASSPORTS BEHIND

AND BOARD THE TRAIN TO GOKTIEK

THE TRAIN IS DELAYED

LIKE A MOVIE CAUGHT IN A GATE

AND THE TOURISTS HAVING STUMBLED OVER THEIR STOMACHS

INTO THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE RED FLAG GUERILLAS

FIND NIRVANA OF SORTS

FLOATING FACE DOWN

IN THE IRRAWADDY RIVER

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN PUTAO AND MANDALAY

THE RAIN FALLS

THE WIND CURLS AROUND THE TEMPLES

FLOWERS BLOOM

LEAVES GREEN AND NEVER WITHER

AND THE DEVILS ON HORSEBACK RIDE OUT

STAINED BLOOD RED

AS POPPIES

AS FRESH CUT TEAK

AS HISTORY

AS THE PRINCIPLE OF NEGLECT

THE NIGHT FLAMES

THE BHUDDA SMILES

AND FLOATS AWAY ON A MELON BOAT

CARRYING A SAFFRON UMBERELLA

BURMESE DAZE

THE TRAINS THE TRAINS

THE HEAT THE HEAT

THE RAINS THE RAINS

THE TRAINS THE TRAINS

THE HEAT THE HEAT

THE RAINS THE RAINS.....................................

//////////////////////////////////////////

Back to Index