sweat

white marks dry. dust in eye. smile for your life. trodden away in a thirsty sleepless night, waking only to wipe sweat from creases. we share the space, becomes laden with the smells of the street, exhaling bodies tired. meat on sticks sweating still, drinking too much sugar to dull it down. still smiling, restless mind. ive forgotten most things that used to worry me. still smiling, there;s lots to smile to, still eating, still feeling fine. nordic voices walking around, and some have been 'on the road' for too long, some say it gets to them eventually. forget who they are and why. they have a claim to some place, so they shout at others. ive forgotten my old floor, my frown lines. little girls beg to go swimming. they beg for a ride. nothing free. drum and bass remixes, everyone having a go. where shall we go? there's a bamboo hut, $2 a night. permission to breathe. still smiling.