afternoon, (iii)

Malaya 1955: Ode to a Boy in the Barracks


the precious blond boy
in their care was adored and
cooed over with heavenly smiles

the natives called him pu-pu
(they spoke bahasa-melayu)

the women traced his name
in the sand and they played
with pu-pu for hours on end

he ate with them too: soto,
longan and pulut, and they
bathed him every night before bed

the kambing betina would giggle
at the soiled folds she uncovered
and tickled on the pale pudgy boy

then she sang him to sleep
as he lay in her arms and pu-pu
would dream ever so long and so deep
.