After Watching Islanders Fishing In A Bay Poem by Dr Ronnie Bai

At them for sure they take a look so good –
How poor islanders are in this neighbourhood:
Loiter with bare black backs many a dude,
And girls loll underneath palms all but nude.

Back at the hotel the white tourists brood –
They’ll don the shiny drapes of modern sainthood
To help relieve th’ local depressing mood
By leaving folks in stress some coins or food.

Conclude they not to give fish, lest they should
Devour it all today, and starve they would
For’ver, unless a new livelihood
With long gill nets provide them endless food.

Huge nets come soon after th’ tourists exude
With plastic floats and leaded ropes they detrude
On th’ beach bestrewn wth barnacled driftwood
Envying the village’s big vine traps of sisterhood.

Nylon fishing nets they for sure preclude.
Dragging out the vine traps boys blare manhood
To court their girls with rubies of seafood —
More coveted it is than a knighthood.