Inle Lake - I

Voyeurs from distant places
taken by long - tailed boat
to luxury hotels
with lakeside views of sunset,
of exotic birds, water buffalo.
In the far distance the Shan highlands.

At the market Shan women
smoke green cheroots,
sell bamboo for packaging,
betel leaves folded with lime,
fresh green vegetables
and surprisingly tasteful tourist trinkets.
We barter for them, ashamed,
for what is it to us?
A ritual they and we expect.