In Quick Bangkok Poem by John a'Beckett

In quick Bangkok mid-rush
on Rasamanthan Square
the lush flow, teeming Thai
humanity where everyone
from all directions comes
but managing- miraculous! -
not to collide bang-slap-but
clock up in a beat pizzazz
a thonged throng, far
from Hong Kong; click in
an instant all the universe,
Snap sheer spontaneity,
turn it to film and stand

still stock to catch the man
a bright fish flashing jazz
through the oceanic cram
of putt cars, bikes, pedestrians
that all amazingly avoid
the traffic jam- gesticulating
there! Now! at the tram,
his calm beaming light
dashing in his sheer pluck
alighting from a tukatuk

this moment, no baroque
team of a Tiepolo can
recreate; the water world
when half-amphibian-us
in galoshes and a dashed-
on plastic mackintosh in
a monsoon surprise- Peep
in the din of traffic at
the dinked girl, the pacific
of her deep. She’s
sound asleep.