AlexMasterley
IMG_2516-Ma, he's taking my photo!
Bogyoke Aung San market, Yangon (the market formerly known as Scott's, and the city formerly known as Rangoon - how the poetic-sounding certainties of one's youth change).
She's a seamstress or tailoress. They have an area upstairs at the back of the market, which is extremely large. You can see her sewing machine - quite an antique. She's gone all shy because of the camera, and she's covering her face with her long, beautiful hair. A proper Burmese girl, in fact - one must be shy.
Long hair is, or was, the sign of an unmarried girl - married women wear their hair up. Or so it used to be. Dunno about these days. Times are changing. But the delightful shyness and at the same time the curiosity and friendliness are still there.
A poem:
When I was young and had no sense
In far-off Mandalay
I lost my heart to a Burmese girl
As lovely as the day.
Her skin was gold, her hair was jet,
Her teeth were ivory;
I said, "for twenty silver pieces,
Maiden, sleep with me".
She looked at me, so pure, so sad,
The loveliest thing alive,
And in her lisping, virgin voice,
Stood out for twenty-five.
First person to provide the author's name (which will surprise you) gets a prize - a free one-way ticket to Yangon. (Sorry, can't afford a return - you'll have to walk back).
IMG_2516-Ma, he's taking my photo!
Bogyoke Aung San market, Yangon (the market formerly known as Scott's, and the city formerly known as Rangoon - how the poetic-sounding certainties of one's youth change).
She's a seamstress or tailoress. They have an area upstairs at the back of the market, which is extremely large. You can see her sewing machine - quite an antique. She's gone all shy because of the camera, and she's covering her face with her long, beautiful hair. A proper Burmese girl, in fact - one must be shy.
Long hair is, or was, the sign of an unmarried girl - married women wear their hair up. Or so it used to be. Dunno about these days. Times are changing. But the delightful shyness and at the same time the curiosity and friendliness are still there.
A poem:
When I was young and had no sense
In far-off Mandalay
I lost my heart to a Burmese girl
As lovely as the day.
Her skin was gold, her hair was jet,
Her teeth were ivory;
I said, "for twenty silver pieces,
Maiden, sleep with me".
She looked at me, so pure, so sad,
The loveliest thing alive,
And in her lisping, virgin voice,
Stood out for twenty-five.
First person to provide the author's name (which will surprise you) gets a prize - a free one-way ticket to Yangon. (Sorry, can't afford a return - you'll have to walk back).