Photo by Mrs Chong Ai Hwa
I asked my father in January
why the Burmese police arrest Aung San Suu Kyi;
he closed his eyes and said to me
it’s as clear as the water in the Mekong to me
you learned nothing at university
and know little of political reality.The Burmese police arrest Aung San Suu Kyi
because she buys her hibiscus from Laos, tax free.
I asked my father in February
if the Earth was where it really should be;
he chewed on his glasses, then frowned at me
it’s as clear as the moon in the monsoon to me
you learned nothing at university,
and you have little knowledge of oceanography.
Of course the Earth is where it should be;
because if it’s not here, where on earth would we be?
I asked my father in March if he knew
why the Vikings went to Greenland but not to Peru;
he put down the New Scientist and turned to me
it’s as clear as the atmosphere on Venus to me
you learned nothing at university,
and know nothing of simple astronomy.
The Vikings didn’t go to Peru,
they’re orbiting Mars, then they’ll go to Pluto, too
I asked my father in light April rain
if Tadaaki Otaka flew home to Japan by plane;
he turned off the concert on radio three.
It’s as clear as a cold glass of sake to me
you learned nothing at university,
and know nothing of Japanese musicality.
Of course maestro Otaka doesn’t go by plane.
He’s a conductor, so he would go by bus or a train.
I asked my father one week in May
why he keeps getting free books when he goes shopping in Hay;
he put down the Observer and gazed at me
it’s as clear as the mist in the Wye valley to me
you learned nothing at university,
and know little of bibliography.
The Odyssey, the Iliad, are famous in Hay,
and as they think I’m the author, I don’t have to pay.
I asked my father in one August night
if piranhas really had that vicious a bite;
he turned off the ballet and looked straight at me
it’s clear as fog on the Gower to me
you learned nothing at university,
you know nothing of simple anatomy,
Of course piranhas have a most vicious byte,
in case they and a computer virus get into a fight.
I asked my father in early September
why amoebas felt more emotional in December;
he put down Tolstoy and then lectured me
it’s clear as the smog in Estonia to me
that you learned nothing at university,
and know nothing of simple biology.
Of course amoebas are emotional in December,
because the other half is still in November.
