Grubby Heart

Grubby Heart

Any views on this (slightly modified) poem?

ART BROKEN

graffiti is this body's autograph:
a scrawl of horns and sleazy angels too;
a faded echo of an epitaph,
ten minutes' worth forgettable tattoo.
the beat of far too many unknown feet
has beaten out the life of pavement art.
now the faceghosts of strangers haunt the street:
past masters blanched as bone don't stir the heart.
no second coming here, no chance to be
born once again through art's eternal grace.
this grubby thoroughfare will never see
god-galleries of marble in its place.
our holy colours bloom and grow in vain,
emptied by the indifference of rain.

Sad sentiment.
L8 becomes cumbersome.

Nicely written.

Nick Jonas & Miley Cyrus - Before The Storm (lyrics)

Thailand - 2008 Update

Aside from this, much has altered over the last few years and, happily, pretty much all of it for the better. Before the new airport, the journey into the city was a long and even slower one than it is now, through streets so grubby that many a tourist wondered how a country with such a run-down capital could possibly contain the unspoiled nature, melancholy temples, peace and relaxation for which they yearned. The many such visitors who fled Bangkok vowing never to return are advised to give the city a second chance, as much has changed in the capital of the aptly-monikered ‘Land of Smiles’.

 

It’s immediately apparent that, for all its blatant corruption, the recently-ousted Thaksin government didn’t back-pocket all the tourist dollars, euros, yen and pounds that have recently flowed into the country. The expressway into Bangkok from the airport is lined with lovely bronze statuary and flows past ultra-modern sky-scrapers, whose impact is only enhanced by often being situated amidst shanty-style shacks sporting corrugated-iron roofs. Many Thais bemoan the fact that the tarmac on the Suwannananan runways already, only a year after opening, needs to be repaired, due to ‘cost-savings’ in the construction project. Visitors have hopefully nothing to worry about, as the too-thin tarmac on the affected runways is being thickened in ways that are more safety-conscious than usual for the country.

 

It is no accident that Thailand is by far and away the most popular destination in southeast Asia, as it has pretty much everything, bar snow skiing, that any holiday-maker could ask for and is populated by a gracious people unsurpassed anywhere on the planet for their friendly, fun and warm-hearted nature. Thailand’s tourist success is due to the number of visitors who return time and again and, whilst the kingdom’s climate, topography, sports, culture, religion and food are huge draws, it is the people themselves who keep visitors coming back.

Whilst in Thailand, why not visit out one of the country’s currently best three beach destinations:

 

Koh Lao Liang: http://www.andamanadventures.com/kohlaoliang.shtml

 

Ao Nang: http://www.andamanadventures.com/ao_nang.shtml

 

Railay/Tonsai: http://www.andamanadventures.com/railay-tonsai.shtml

 

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About the Author

Runs Andaman Sky Co., Ltd, specialising in climbing and diving trips to Thailand’s best beach destinations.

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