Slow Boat

the engine rumbles like a thunndergun
the roof threatening to break
under the weight of heavy-burdened feet
carting cargo - cauldrons and fry pans.
the woman at the back picks her nose
before wiping my coffee cup with the finger
while her youngest sprawls out on the baggage
and flicks a worn-out zippo
his small fingers embracing a scantily clad model,
covering and uncovering "love".
a mom pulls the cushions off empty seats
and lays her leg--kicking baby on the floor.
only 16 hours more of the engine's roar.

the boat stops to let locals off.
the captain buys a basket of birds,
green, blue, purple, yellow.
the boys pester them through the holes
then take them out, pinning their wings
before putting a couple into plastic bags
and tying tight knots.
the youngest returns to picking locks
until he finds a coke can and upends it,
crushes it, flings it into the river.
his brother plays with a bottle opener.
i show them how to use my video camera,
and they fight over it, shooting frenetically,
until i reclaim it before it ends up overboard.
jamie sleeps and rice cooks in the back.
only 8 hours more.

TBC...