Sleight
A beggar at the crack of dawn comes with
an empty cup, just as a line of monks
serenely with their bowls set out for alms.
All day until the market ebbs
a shop-woman will stretch the truth,
while from around the temple ring the sounds
of dealing amulets and talismans.
Later in the day will be a magic show
set in the market’s central square,
while in the temple miracles will be proclaimed.
A man of stunts will confront a cobra
as men of faith face down their worldly lusts.
Suppressed, the serpent has no power to harm;
Subdued, such cravings have no power to heat.
Soon, they’ll unleash a mongoose on the snake;
of making merit, the temple chimes on still.
Into the temple, lots of people crowd;
as many, too, to see the show.
A little boy bursts through the ranks in time
to catch them take the snake out of a sack.
Back home, his mother shows off a phallus charm,
while he raves about the cobra, spitting as he speaks.
You’re making too much of what you saw, dear.
They only took a snake out of a sack.
Everywhere we go, corruption seems to be in perpetuity—from huge open yards to the littlest crevices there are. Saksiri Meesomsueb’s third and best poem book “That Hand Is White” is a collection that takes on all manner of contemporary woes: wealth disparity, environmental destruction, the adverse desensitizing effects of urban life, and the inroads of capitalism into Buddhist practice. Under this impressive assemblage is “Sleight”, he transports us to a liminal zone between a Buddhist monastery and a marketplace.
Assembled first at the crack of dawn, was a beggar with an empty cup and a line of monks serenely with their bowls set out for alms. As the poem goes on, monks encourage worshippers to donate inside temple walls, shop-women “stretch the truth”, merchants outside deal in religious icons, and a snake charmer subdues a hooded cobra. A child is enthralled by the latter stunt, he raves about it back home—spitting as he speaks. Much to his disappointment, his mother tells him that he was making it a big deal when they only took a snake out of a sack, while she shows off a phallus charm.
Meesomsueb’s “Sleight” displays deceitful craftiness in an exuberantly almost-free verse filled with unexpected rhyme. It is also pervaded with strong visual elements of fantastic quality, the scenes unfolding like tableaus. In the opening of this rousing poem, all of the men reach out for charity; one has lost his worldly possessions, and the others have voluntarily given theirs away. This muses upon the question of what makes one holier and the answer is interposed when it was later stressed that the monks incite devotees to bring offerings inside temple walls. To be direct, the author insinuates that the monks advise the people to solely give money to them and no one else; making them selfish. The beggar, on the other hand, is simply asking for help with no hidden intentions.
The atmosphere of the poem grows murkier when female vendors exaggerate the quality of their products to attract customers. At the same time, the merchants associate their amulets and talismans with superstitions—outrightly deceiving shoppers. Concurrent as well, a man suppresses a snake: an old parlor trick disguised as an otherworldly feat. To conclude the poem, it was exhibited that the mother warns her son to not be conned by such deceptions. Ironically, the mother lectured the child while holding a phallus charm—herald as a thing intended to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits—which means that even she is hopelessly charmed by false beliefs.
Deception will not reveal itself to you, you have to recognize it. The short poem seeks to teach its readers that society is pestered with fakery and cunning people. We cannot foolishly believe the surface level of things that are shoved into our faces. We must look beyond what is presented before our eyes and speculate about their reliability. Morality instructs us to not lie, and to be honest at all times; it is our moral obligation, to tell the truth. Doing so makes it possible for people to have freedom and trust in each other. Some people dare to deceive others, but we shouldn’t fall victim to their iniquitous tactics and keep the goodness of our hearts intact.
As I live my day-to-day life, I witness situations wherein deceitfulness prevails. Whether it be on social media, inside the jeepney, or on the streets I pass by. I agree that truth is often a matter of perspective but people’s perspectives are also twisted. They modify their principles according to their situations and do not conform to universal laws earnestly. To be honest, humanity renders me hopeless most of the time but Meesomsueb made me learn one meaningful lesson: Only with clean hands can we clean the world. It is now my life’s mission to receive the commendation, “That hand is white”.
Reference:
from That Hand Is White – Asymptote. (n.d.). https://www.asymptotejournal.com/poetry/saksiri-meesomsueb-that-hand-is-white/
wordsandwallows 
You must be logged in to post a comment.