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Soi Cowboy

I remembered what it is i do,
and after a long while, walked a route
i haven't yet.

so i ended up at this strip i'd find still
awake the many 2 a.m.s and 3a.m.s
that i am too.

from my window, it seemed like just a few
neon signs, but down here, feet on
asphalt, it was a revelation.
on the pretext of dinner shopping,
i stood by a bbq stall and watched
the parade.

women in knee-high stilleto boots,
tight cheongsams, bikinis, pekpek skirts,
fishnet blouses, all-white outfits.
cowgirls, school girls and well, bar girls. hehe.
too bad it wasn't my thing.

they milled about in groups
in front of their respective haunts.
they eyed passing men and passing men eyed them.

in the middle of the street, there was woman
who looked older than most of the girls there.
she was seated on a bar stool, a placard framed
between her elbows and knees.
she was wearing too-red blush on and too-red lips.
and she didn't look to happy. i didn't see her
smile at anyone once. i guessed her to be about
50+, and i hoped to God she was a mama-san.
Unless she was just too old to be a prostitute,
so they used her as a signboard na lang :S