the king and i

the king and i

the king and his queen
adorn the cities, towns and villages
the rural roads winding
through rice paddies villages jungles
and polluted streets of Bangkok

pensive poses
a benign hand raised in blessing
in kindly attention to the poor
a finger pointing at some
eternal unknown
thought or bright idea

always present in the moment of passing
caught forever in the
timeless pose of benevolence.

the king revered
the king a god
the king larger than life
on kingly billboards
ragged dirty signs
adorning the fences and buildings
of lovely ravaged Thailand