I shouted to them
they looked puzzled and were staring at me
I shouted again
and they kept looking
their eyes were like those watery eyeballs of fishes
this time I tried very hard
still they were looking, completely baffled
finally they shouted back
I tried to listen carefully-
so carefully that I wouldn’t miss anything
but I heard nothing
they kept shouting
and I was listening
at last I decided to say I didn’t hear
and I shouted that
again they were looking
I could see those watery eyes
and the shouting went on

~

Maung Day is a Burmese poet, writer, artist and translator. He has edited a few literary and art magazines. He now lives in Thailand.

Photo of evening falling over Yangon by Sharon Chin