On Lake Inle, in Shan State, Myanmar

On Lake Inle, in a small motorboat,
in Nyaungshwe Township.
There — on a freshwater lake,
in lovely Shan State,
nested in magestic Shan Hills …
There — I’m ferried by local fishermen
on cool freshwater at 2,900 feet.

It’s early Winter and the air is cool
as I brace myself with a woolen scarf,
enjoying the tranquil view
of local fishermen passing to and fro
with their distinctive style of rowing.
Standing firmly at the stern.

One leg wrapping the other,
as they propel themselves forward
on a lake covered by reeds
adorned with floating water lilies
and the lively lotus of the lake.

With speechless awe I observe
the passing view before me.
A parade of simple wooden houses
rising bravely above the lake …

Wooden bamboo houses
posed on bamboo stilts,
built by self-sufficient farmers
to comprise their nuclei of villages.
The villages of a multilingual people,
of a multilingual tribal people.

There — in Nyaungshwe Township …
There — on Lake Inle, in Shan State,
overlooking Shan Hills …
at elevation of 2,900 feet,
I am greeted.

I am greeted by the tribal villagers:
The Intha, Shan, and Taung Yo …
The Danu, Pa-O, and Kayah…

These villagers …
These fishermen and women …
These farmers and merchants …
These natives of the lake …
These royal hosts and hostesses
greet me.

They greet me serving me …
Serving up a popular dish …
Their local dish of htamin gyin …
So deliciously made
of fermented rice kneaded with fish
and cooked with soft potato.

A meal topped off with fried Shan tofu,
the popular local dish
that goes by the name of hnapyan gyaw.

Oh, surely, surely I must declare,
the pleasure it gives to be right there
at Lake Inle in lovely Shan State
where a traveler has need to prate
about a view nature gave us all,
there, in Lake Inle, where cool waters fall.