Kit sat on the terrace
Of the high-rise apartment building
On the outskirts of Bangkok
With about a hundred neighbors
“Braving” the mild Bangkok winter.
The lights were off,
The clouds obliged by staying away,
The sounds of the city had died hours ago;
The silence was interrupted now and then
By the thundering noise of the take off
Of yet another airliner from Don Muang airport.
And also by the loud cheering
That was more or less done in chorus
When celestial debris
Transformed from solid to nothing
In a matter of seconds
Leaving behind a blazing trail
That lasted a second or so longer.
Never before, I told myself,
Has debris been cheered so much by so many!
My eyes were glued to the skies
In order not to miss the spectacle.
However, my mind was in Afghanistan
Where, just days ago,
A similar fireworks display
Would have sent young Abdullah
And scores of his countrymen and women
Into temporary hiding;
Only to come out as soon as the sound died away
And start running for their lives,
God only knows where.
I thought to myself:
Whether it is debris blazing a trail,
Or missiles raining on a helpless people;
The world cheers along
As long as it does not affect loved ones.
Who gives a damn about others, anyway?
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...Michael