[RedRaven]

I wrote this at lunch yesterday...Its a little story/poem with a bit of sadness, success of a village Nak Muay....

I hope you can read it like a poem to and know Muay Thai to understand it...if not thanks for reading and hope I havent wasted too much of your time.

Orchids and Oil

Our land she bears no fruit
and the crop will now fall,
middlemen and markets
dont wait on idol stalls.

If I do not rise and leave
then I know my sister will,
to close her eyes and lose her pride
so we can pay the bill.

The blessed monk he sees me
before my Wai to all,
The train it takes me near to hear
the stadiums eternal call.

Bangkok lights sting my eyes
with the poisoned tuk tuk air.
As I wipe my eyes with my familys hope
on these shoulders I now bare.

The baht it weighs heavy
in the hot in Lumpinee air,
I step the rope like a champion
as only champions dare.

I dance to the rhythm
of the sacred step.
I remember my Kru
and knowledge
which I have always kept.

When he gave it to me
to honour our proud past
I promised to give it too
and in our peoples it will last.

The moth it flies high
to kiss the stadium light,
I Nak Muay
now stand ready to fight

The ringing bell calls us
to our deadly embrace
who was once my Thai brother
now an enemy I must face.


Two scorpions we dance
like a violent sweet ballet
crowds urge me forward
to snatch victory away,

As we move to tunes
of the ancient song
The sok reigns down on me
I see my Mongkon

Blessed it protects me
from the stings of 3000 years
I must rise and fight
to save my familys tears.

The chess game it ends
with our last fierce embrace
His flesh it gives way
to a 100mph pace.

A quick glance to him laying
With that frozen broken stare
I feel for his family
as their cupboards will stay bare.

The crowd now chant my name
for this primal deed Ive done
Ive earned them many riches
Im now a stadium son.

A smiling old man collects baht
as he did not guess,
he recognized Muay Lek
in our violent game of chess.

I now return home
to expel all hollow fear,
the money I have bled
will keep us til next year,



My sister stays pure and clean
and will have her wedding day,
Forever she remembers my sacrifice
as we grow old and grey.


As the Siam moon she turns
our gods have taken my best years,
I cant go on forever
or risk the stadiums jeers.

The crowds will no longer love me
if I cannot win their hearts,
but baht and bet have entwined
and enslaved this noble art.

So if when you see me in the field
or stamp the blooded mat,
Know my name forever
on this mortal coil

as forever I stay chained.......

by orchids and oil.

By
Wayne Byrne
Muay Thai student
Dublin
Ireland

[Jimiboy]

You did'nt waist my time Raven, nice poem. =) I usually do not follow any Muay thai, but i can see the story here. I find it very noble & well wroten. I know we have had some champs from here, but watching fights is'nt really my thing!

I give the story 5 of 5 possible thumbs:

[RedRaven]

Thanks Jimi...yeah there are some good Swedish champs...you guys have good heart!!

[Eddie]

Wayne, it's very well written. You are a true student. I am much the same. But my holistic view of such things are now limited to the machinations of men and their undiscovered pleasures of power and motion. "Engineers know a Joy that only poets are supposed to feel" Walter Percy Chrysler

[dave-r]

Very nice Wayne. Very nice indeed.

[patrick]

Very nice, Wayne! Heavy but, Nice!

[Eddie]

Thats what 'she said' Pat!!LOL

[RedRaven]

Very nice Wayne. Very nice indeed.

Thanks Dave.

[Adrian Worman]

I enjoyed your poem Red but can you explain Muay Thai to me? I've never heard of it. Hows your Poncho coming along? Cheers, Adrian

[RedRaven]

I enjoyed your poem Red but can you explain Muay Thai to me? I've never heard of it. Hows your Poncho coming along? Cheers, Adrian

Muay Thai is a martial art from Thailand, Its my other passion.

If ya mean the fire chicken.......its sitting waitin for a new head gasket job to be done on it, I got a guy on the case..just waiting for some funds to come in and then I will get cracking, when its done I will be selling her to fund the 72 rebuild.

[Adrian Worman]

Thanks for putting me straight on that mate, kind of thought along those lines but wasn't entirely sure. I have a very good freind who is a top flight chef from Thailand. He is much older than me, early 60's I think, and has led such an interesting and varied life. His culture and veiw of life is fascinating and I can talk with him for hours. Its little wonder that you can pen such an eloquent peice itf you are a student of such a culture Red.
Cheers, Adrian.

[RedRaven]

Thanks for putting me straight on that mate, kind of thought along those lines but wasn't entirely sure. I have a very good freind who is a top flight chef from Thailand. He is much older than me, early 60's I think, and has led such an interesting and varied life. His culture and veiw of life is fascinating and I can talk with him for hours. Its little wonder that you can pen such an eloquent peice itf you are a student of such a culture Red.
Cheers, Adrian.

Thanks alot.