Followers

04 December 2021

 POSTCARD FROM HONG KONG

Laden down with passengers, assorted and gregarious
the Star Ferry, - Hong Kong is ready to depart.
Carrying these people to their destinations various,
seven minute crossing now - the Captain needs no chart.
Lightly garbed children hustling and bustling
on their way to picnic at the lovely Sheko Bay;
disturbing fellow shipmates with their rustling and tussling.
except for one small dapper man reading through pince-nez.
Coolies all with bare feet sporting black pyjamas,
amahs sitting quietly, relishing the rest -
watching with an eagle eye, the actions of their charges,
off to see their grandmothers, dressed in Sunday best.
Tourists snapping happily. “Left a bit more, Elmer”
“I wanna get ya centered in the foreground of the Peak”
“They sure are cutesy children - can I take their picture? - Gee,
I wish we had more time here but we do Japan next week.”
All around small boats abound, skiffs and junks and sampans
and over there, together tied, they form convenient rafts;
whilst heading for its mooring place there glides a stately liner
and onshore stick-thin rickshaw men await between the shafts.
The railway from the Peak top is sliding down the mountain
its windows twinkle gently in the golden light of morn.
A high-pitched screech from seagulls, tagged behind the fishing boat:
the passenger in front of me lets out a mighty yawn.
The scents and sounds and sights abound a jumble of cadences
a hubbub and cacophony that fall upon my ear.
Thank God the journey’s over soon, the pace is far too frantic,
and though I know I’m not at sea, - I’M FEELING RATHER QUEER!



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