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Sally Murphy, Australian author

Poetry Friday: Footpaths

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Since arriving in Hanoi I have spent a lot of time walking. Sure, there are lots of other ways to get around, but where possible (in the heat and depending on distance)  I like to walk, because then I get to see and hear and experience so much more.  But walking around a busy bustling city is not always easy. Many streets have no footpaths and, when they do, often the footpaths are used for anything but walking.  So often the walking has to be on the road, which can be perilous. But hey, I like an adventure!

 

Here is a glimpse at some of the things happening on Hanoi’s footpaths:

 

 

And, of course, my thoughts on all these sights  spurned a poem so that I had to hurry home from one of my walks to draft a poem about Hanoian footpaths.

Footpaths

Footpaths are for

cars and motorbikes

and more motorbikes

and even more motorbikes;

bicycles;

selling stuff

spread out on cloths on the ground

or piled high on stalls;

little stools;

food stalls

bia stalls

tea stalls;

dogs

and cats

and chickens;

rubbish;

sitting on

sleeping on

exercising on;

trees;

signs;

more motorbikes;

and

very

very

occasionally

walking on.

 

(Poem copyright Sally Murphy, 2018)

In spite of the cluttered paths, I’m certainly clocking up some steps on my step counter. In fact, I’m off now for another walk! But later I’ll be stepping out around the blogosphere reading the other Poetry Friday posts. You too can see this week’s roundup at The Poem Farm.

 

 

PS. This post, and my visit to Hanoi, are made possible by the amazing Asialink Arts Program, and with the funding support of the the Western Australian Government through the  Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.

Comments

    • Thanks Kay. The poor Philippines indeed! The images and stories from there are heartbreaking. Hanoi was very fortunate – the storm changed paths and we had almost no effect. Just a little wind and a little rain. Good for Hanoi, bad for those who were hit instead.

  5. Thanks for the “Footpaths” adventure through your poem and video–I hope you are staying clear of those many, many motorbikes. I too saw your posting regarding the typhoon that’s due to hit Hanoi–my thoughts will be with you and all the people there, be safe.

    • Thank you Michelle. I am definitely keeping away from the motorbikes. And I will be staying inside and dry for the duration of the storm. I feel most for those who don’t have solid homes or who live on the coast.

  6. Oh, how fun! What a great sharing of Viet Nam with us. The video of the chair and the tree propped up with the easel shaped scaffold crack me up. I adore street market photos. I just love them. The colors and the way foods and goods are arranged just appeal to me. You make me want to visit! Your list poem is fun and funny while really telling us what a foot path is for–and not.
    What’s a bia stall?

    • thanks Linda. Bia is Vietnamese beer. I haven’t sampled it – it is brewed and drunk same day, sold on the roadside in plastic cups or glasses.

  7. Your slideshow then poem makes me feel as if it’s no leisurely walk you’re taking, but then perhaps it’s the music that was hurrying. It is an amazing adventure, full of new things, like that three-legged chair & the awesome colors at the market. Love the ‘list-full’ poem.

    • yes, the music was hurrying – but it is hard to walk slow when you are surrounded by bustle, so I have been keeping a good pace. That chair cracks me up – and has a twin with four legs (just) but still some scaffold and even a brick to keep it in place.

  8. You and your adventurous spirit! And feet! And pen!
    Thanks for sharing, and congrats on this journey. (Saw your comment on Ruth’s post; please stay safe over there. As we traveled this week to steer clear of Florence, I’ve been keeping all who are facing these hurricanes/typhoons in my thoughts & prayers.)

    • Thanks Robyn. Strangely I have had trouble commenting on your own post – possibly because I was working on my ipad, so will try again now. Yes, so many storms wreaking havoc. I worry most for the people in villages and near the coast. I feel reasonably safe where I am.

  11. It sounds like the “foot” of “footpath” is mostly dog, cat, chicken, and salesperson feet! Thanks for taking us with you as you walk. Stay safe on the road!

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